Buying a duplex and renting out the other side almost seems like a housing cheat code.

So why don’t more people do it?

If you’ve spent any time watching real estate videos on YouTube, you’ve probably heard the term “house hacking”.

The idea is pretty simple. You buy a property with multiple units. You live in one and rent out the others to help pay your mortgage and other housing expenses.

Here’s the problem. Most duplexes in the DMV aren’t set up for it.

Most are owned separately. Each side is often sold independently, almost like two attached townhouses. That means buying one side usually doesn’t give you the opportunity to rent out the other.

If you want a multifamily property in our area, they generally start with four units.

Even so, I still think house hacking is a concept worth understanding.

While buying a true duplex in the DMV can be difficult, there are still plenty of ways to accomplish the same goal.

I’ve seen people buy single-family homes and rent out bedrooms to friends or roommates. Others rent out a finished basement with its own entrance. Some properties even have accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that can provide additional rental income.

The goal is the same. Instead of letting your home be nothing but an expense, find a way for it to help pay for itself.

It’s not for everyone. It comes with added responsibility. But for the right person, it can completely change the math on your biggest monthly expense and accelerate the path to building wealth.

If you’re curious whether a property you own or are eyeing could work for something like this, happy to talk it through.