House Hacking
Buying a multi-unit or shared property and renting part of it out to offset your own housing cost.
In plain English
House hacking means living in one unit of a duplex, triplex, or fourplex (or renting out a room or basement of a single-family home) while renting out the rest — using the rental income to reduce or eliminate your own housing payment.
This strategy can also unlock owner-occupant financing (like a low-down-payment conventional or FHA loan) for what's functionally a small investment property.
Where you'll run into it
Guides and tools on TheBuyingPath that cover house hacking in context.
Related terms
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