House Hacking ROI Calculator
Property Details
Duplex=2, Triplex=3, Fourplex=4
Financing
FHA allows 3.5% for 2-4 units
Rental Income
What each tenant pays
What you'd pay to rent elsewhere
Monthly Expenses
Property tax, insurance, maintenance, utilities, HOA (not covered by tenants)
How to Use This Calculator
House hacking is when you buy a multi-unit property (duplex, triplex, fourplex), live in one unit, and rent out the others. The rental income reduces or eliminates your housing costs.
The Strategy:
- Buy 2-4 unit property with low down payment (3.5-5% FHA)
- Live in one unit, rent the others
- Tenants pay most/all of your mortgage and expenses
- You live for free while building equity
- After 1 year, move out, rent your unit, and repeat
Tip: This is one of the fastest ways to build real estate wealth with minimal capital.
Estimate the ROI impact of offsetting owner-occupied housing costs with rental income from additional units or rooms.
Formula
Effective Housing Cost = Owner Expenses - Rental Income; ROI = Annual Savings / Cash Invested * 100
Worked Example
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this include vacancy and maintenance risk?
You should include vacancy, maintenance, and turnover assumptions to avoid overestimating realized returns.
Is house hacking mainly a cash flow strategy?
It can be both cash-flow and wealth-building, especially when owner financing terms and appreciation are favorable.