If you want a place that blends into everything else go for it, but discerning owners can do much better by spending some time picking a theme and outfitting to suit.

Lastly, when it comes to HELOCs, you have to analyze your blended rate to see if it makes sense to grab a LOC or just refinance, 1031 or sell.

If you're trying to blend the two strategies I guess you could call it rent-to-own or lease-to-own.

Now, since I have owned several properties for many years now this really isn't relevant anymore for me as everything kind of "blends together".

Even if you eventually grow and hire a property manager the education you get from house hacking is unparalleled in my opinion to anything needed to buy and invest in rental real estate.

@Casey AdamsI like a blend of cashflow and equity multiple, they don’t need to be mutually exclusive.Negative cashflow is ok for a little bit of time like max 1 year while I stabilize a property.

Their SFR quarterly (ranked) median home sales data is unparalleled.

Sheets are 70/30 cotton poly blend Big One from Kohl's.

In that case, an appraiser will want to focus on sales of properties with similar houses.Your situation might be a blend of both, down to a micro-market level, which will make it very difficult for an appraiser to really nail it down.

I think a blend of the two is a great place to be.