@Abby H.Shifting from house hacking to small multifamily is a great way to scale, and securing a JV partner is all about networking, credibility, and structuring a win-win deal.

So if you buy a 5 bedroom house and rent the spare 4 bedrooms = you can still sell tax-free under the 121 (you just pay back depreciation) If you buy a duplex and rent 1/2 and live in 1/2.

The agent works "for free" until the house sells, so taking them out of the deal is theft, and immoral."

And you are wondering if you should spend lets say $125,000 on a house you have never seen ? 

I think the success of str's are going to be very market specific. 

In my area these are rare so they are difficult to set market rent, and I imagine get a lot of wear and tear with a lot of occupants living there. 

We live well, have a nice house which I built from the ground up and saved 200k off the top. 

For example, you might choose to take a blanket mortgage covering all properties, BUT perhaps the market softens and later you wish to sell a property.

I don't know how much you have but a build to rent triplex all in our market is 150k liquid normally with full return of capital in 9 months.

This cultural preference for renting creates a steady demand for rental properties, ensuring reliable cash flow for property owners.Additionally, many Germans face a significant shortage of affordable housing, particularly in major cities like Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg.