I helped a house hacker client earlier this year get a good deal (purchase price below appraised value + $3,000 in seller paid closing costs) on a turn-key SFR in Edinburgh Gardens. 

I recommend house hackers to try to get detached units. 

I put together a spreadsheet here to help potential house hackers quickly analyze whether or not a property qualifies.There are other FHA requirements concerning which you should contact your local lender, but determining whether or not a triplex or fourplex meets the self-sufficiency rule is a good place to start as this rule will immediately eliminate many properties from your search, especially in expensive markets.

Not to mention the house hacker avoids throwing money away on rent every month. 

I have heard of many house-hackers that do this when they live in the illegal in-law unit in the basement and rent out the other legal units. 

If you want to build a rental portfolio you need to defend your cash, and that means taking advantage of the lower down-payment (3% & 5%) loans available to owner occupants and house-hackers. 

@Gene Hacker - Thanks Gene, I've barely scratched the surface of reading of all the relevant archived topics so I'm sure I'll be returning many times.

@London Stewart The big pro for a house hacker is that you wouldn't be using your FHA loan so when you get your own house down the road or want to house hack again you can still most likely get and FHA and get the 6% sellers concession if you want it.  

@Michael Hacker Don't be sorry, this is exactly why I asked for input and I appreciate your perspective.

House hacker ...