VA House Hack Calculator (2–4 Unit)
Zero down on a 2–4 unit primary residence, with tenants in the other units.
Enter your own assumed interest rate above to see estimated results.
We do not publish or preload rates. Any rate you enter is your own assumption, not a quoted or available rate.
Educational estimate only—not a Loan Estimate, credit decision, commitment to lend, or guarantee. Actual eligibility, rates, fees, payments, and terms may differ.
Separate cash flow from qualifying income
Purpose and assumptions
This tool models an owner-occupied 2–4 unit purchase and compares full housing expense with rent from the units you do not occupy.
The displayed 75% rent amount is an educational illustration. A lender decides whether and how projected rent can be used after reviewing appraisal rent schedules, experience or management, reserves, occupancy, and the complete file.
Interpretation and next step
The effective-cost row subtracts gross rent for a simple cash-flow view; it is not the qualifying payment used by an underwriter.
Vacancy, repairs, capital expenses, property management, utilities, closing costs, and tax effects are excluded. Review a real property and documented market rent before using the result in a purchase decision.
Inputs to verify
- Purchase price, units, and rent per non-owner unit
- Down payment and funding-fee status
- A user-supplied rate and term
- Monthly taxes, insurance, and HOA
- A hypothetical appreciation assumption for equity
Reading the output
Compare the full PITI and HOA obligation with net operating cash flow, not gross scheduled rent. The lender may use a different rental-income amount after reviewing leases, appraisal rent schedules, experience or management arrangements, reserves, and the complete file. The displayed 75% figure is an educational underwriting illustration; it is neither spendable cash nor an automatic payment offset. The borrower must genuinely occupy one unit as a primary residence, and the full housing payment remains due when another unit is vacant.
Rental operating worksheet
Start with hypothetical scheduled rent of $2,400 from the non-owner units. Subtract a $200 vacancy allowance, $300 for repairs and reserves, and $150 for owner-paid utilities or management: $1,750 remains before the full mortgage payment. These are illustrative—not required—allowances. Build a property-specific budget from leases, market-rent evidence, condition, utilities, and management needs.