Pretty ingenious, actually, and certainly just. yes i know it is to discourage rentals but i think there is a difference between someone who owns say 5 units in the building and rents them out vs 1 unit ... I

For me personally, I am looking to do a furnished unit and use my creativity to design a unit. I

I also wouldn't be opposed to using a 203k loan to finance and renovate a multifamily to house hack and rent out (I know it's a lot more work and harder to achieve but I think the potential could definitely make it worth while, especially with the up coming changes going into effect soon). 

My unit is in San Jose, so bonus points for those in the Bay Area!

. - there are numerous ways to achieve sweat equity from boring but true rehabs, to development, to various localized sophisticated options

For a family earning slightly higher income than median wages, driving to work to the city and living about 30 mins away with reasonably good house on a > 400 SQM land parcel was possible and totally achieveable.

That's a huge achievement, and it sounds like you navigated some real challenges along the way.Your story reminds me of a project I took on years ago.

https://youtu.be/7eoE9oaDEzMThis is a 2Br/1bd per side duplex, 1848 sqft.The interior of one unit is very bad, but the other unit is fine.

Now I have to register every year with the "housing protection department" because my unit is "available for rent".

We are working to resolve the leak, which only stains ceiling tiles and does not drip into the unit. I