What counts is what you actually put in your pocket and are able to keep. 

Hi Daniel, Please do count me in!

Will section 8 count bedroom in basement as official bedroom? 

I would also add a couple other potential methods that would count as "house hacking."1.

The Leavenworth area is already at it cap and wont be excepting new STR applications until the existing count of grandfathered in STRs has dropped off to be lower than the cap....which wont happen for a long time.

I don't think the front porch would count since the front porch is likely visible from the street. 

If the figure comes back negative it will count towards your DTI.

Usually people try to push bedroom counts up thinking that it will increase the rent or value.

Not counting closing cost and other fees.

If you truly lost 2 months of rent you could have lowered your rent 15% and been ahead even before counting the savings from someone else paying the utilities.