Live rent free as the other units pay for your rent and as tenants move out rehab their units to increase the value of the property and the allowable amount of rent you can charge.

I grew up in Nashville and I am quickly becoming a novelty in a town filling with transplants. 

I live rent free (trade work hours for rent/utilities on an animal sanctuary) in a very low cost of living town in southwest New Mexico.

Could be more difficult to cash flow as an investment property once you move out (if not renting out by the room)More affected by a vacancy (if not rented out by the room)More labor-intensive if you rent out by the room.Not able to apply rental income to increase buying powerMFR ProsPrivacy/separation from your tenantsStill have the ability to rent out rooms in your unit for extra incomeLess affected by vacanciesAbility to apply rental income to your income thus allowing you to increase your purchasing powerAbility to scale fasterMFR ConsMore expensiveCan be difficult to live rent-free in high cost of living marketsCan be more difficult to sell (but not always and/or if priced correctly)Lending rules change when purchasing 3+ unitsBest of luck and I look forward to hearing how it goes!

If the rent is cheap or you currently live rent free, then you can still buy a multi family and that cash flow will be there.You could also wait but as a lender myself interest rates rising at the same time the houses potentially decrease are still going to make the houses less affordable.A lot to think about haha.

Should I buy it now and let him live rent free? 

I have a great place to live, rent out, and/or pull equity out of for my next deal!

Lenders have tried factoring bonus, prorating the bonus for 2022, saying i live rent free but nothing seems to work here.

Not only does it offer you the opportunity to be around others that live real estate, when you find a property you ant to invest in you get a commission for buying it. 

I just moved to Charlotte so not familiar with the city at all, but have learned that South Charlotte is where people want to live. Rent