Over the span of 5 years you will have paid $77,220 towards rent.However, you're $22,500 downpayment invested into the S&P index fund at our assumed rate of 10.13% compounded annually will be worth $36,236.48Leaving you a net living cost of $36,236.48 - $77,200 = ($40,963.52)Overall numbers after 5 years of house hacking:Expenses include: Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, Repairs/Maintenance, and Private Mortgage Insurance.You will have paid $164,239.76 towards your principal and interestYou will have paid an estimated $20,914 in property taxes and insuranceYou will have paid $5,400 in private mortgage insuranceYou will have paid an estimated $10,859 towards repairs and maintenanceFor a total expense of: $164,239.76 + $20,914 + $5,400 + $10,859 = $201,412.76However, here are the positives to your net worth: Appreciation, Loan Paydown, Rent payments from TenantsYou're home will have appreciated to an estimated value of 560,7812 an increase of $110,782You will have paid down your loan by $26,742Your tenants will have paid $154,439 in total rentThe total benefits add up to: $110,781.87 + $26,742 + $154,439 = $291,962.87House Hacking net worth boosters minus expenses = $291,962.87 - $201,412.76 = $90,550.11(The home equity for year five is calculated using the downpayment + appreciation + loan paydown)House Hacking Vs RentingHouse Hacking net worth after 5 years: $90,550.11Renting net worth after 5 years: ($40,963.52)Leaving you a net worth benefit of $90,550.11 - ($40,963.52) = $131,513.63Here is a screenshot from our calculator on the difference in monthly payments between Renting vs House HackingThe winner is clear.

If they talk about professionalism and present a very tight, buttoned up presentation, i.e. - good on the phone, great with the answers, everything sounds almost too good to b true, but when you meet in person what you see doesn't match what you heard, then that is an issue. 

The blog has great articles, and the tools are great for analyzing properties and finding professionals in your area to help.

If they would be open to a private equity lender, who can fund in just a couple of days, PM me. 

I am now a Private and Hard Money Lender and help clients across the US with rehab fix and flip, DSCR and many other types of loans. 

@Henry SimsThe more professional way would be to have Note and Mortgage document drafted by an attorney. 

I am currently experiencing a similar challenge to yours and have been developing software designed to assist real estate professionals like ourselves in lead organization and scheduling of showings automatically.

I also want to add that hard money and private lending aren't necessarily the same thing.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Hi,I am looking to buy an investment property for MTR to traveling medical professionals in or around Colton, Highland, Redlands, Riverside CA.