HUD 4000.1 (I believe) is the latest HUD handbook and it goes over all requirements for originating the loan, including but not limited to occupancy requirements and exemptions.FHA occupancy : "At least one Borrower must occupy the Property within 60 Days of signing the security instrument and intend to continue occupancy for at least one year."

.✔️ Your house hack is more than a 2-unit property and requires more oversight.✔️ You’d rather pay for peace of mind and legal compliance.Final ThoughtsIf you’re house hacking a small multi-unit (like a 2- or 3-flat) and are comfortable being hands-on, self-managing can be a great way to save money and learn the business.

If you don't have a US-based bank account, I would get one as that's a requirement by most lenders.

What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.?

Private notes require more work than Stocks / Bonds, is the added return worth the extra work?

For the first 4 loans or so, lenders are going to be less aggressive (requiring more down) than if you have several under your belt.

For example, State Farm typically requires the latest inspection report for underwriting on multi-family properties that are over 30 years old.

When evaluating a property management company, it's important to look beyond just the management fee and consider the full scope of services and costs involved.For example, at our company, we charge a 10% monthly management fee, a $250 lease renewal fee (unless it’s a takeover tenant, which requires additional effort to establish a strong relationship - because usually people are changing pm companies for a reason), and the first month’s rent as a leasing fee.

Piling on...all occupants who are 18 or older (or legal emancipated minor) should absolutely be required to make application. 

For 2024, the annual gift tax exclusion is $18,000 per recipient (rising to $19,000 in 2025), and amounts above this require filing a gift tax return (Form 709).