Most beginners still use the 2% rule to evaluate deals. Problem? Almost nothing passes that test in 2026. Here's the filter I actually use: 1. Can tenants cover 100% of PITI? (mortgage, taxes, insurance) 2. Is the property in a rent-growth market? 3. Can I add value (extra bedroom, ADU, short-term rental)? 4. If you hit 2 out of 3, you've got a deal worth running numbers on. Stop waiting for unicorn deals. Start stacking smart ones. What filter do YOU use to evaluate a deal? Drop it below.

Let me be real with you for a second. I keep hearing people say 2026 isn't the right time to buy real estate. Rates are at 6–7%. Home prices are still elevated. "Wait it out," they say. And that's exactly why I need you to read this. Here's what the sideline-sitters are missing: While everyone else is waiting for the "perfect market," house hackers are doing something different. They're buying 2–4 unit properties with as little as 3.5% down (FHA) — living in one unit, and letting the tenants pay their mortgage. Sometimes all of it. That's not a loophole. That's the system working exactly the way it's supposed to. Here's what's actually happening in the market right now: 📌 FHA loans are your #1 weapon. 3.5% down. 1–4 units. And here's the kicker — lenders will count 75% of projected rental income toward your loan qualification. That means a duplex pulling $1,500/month on the other side adds over $1,100 to your qualifying income. You can buy more than you think. 📌 VA loans are the most slept-on tool in real estate. If you or someone in your family served — $0 down, no mortgage insurance, up to 4 units. If you qualify and you're not using this, we need to talk. 📌 ADUs are the new house hack. Accessory Dwelling Units — a garage apartment, a basement suite, a backyard unit — are exploding as a creative income stream. Cities are loosening zoning. Builders are catching on. This is a wave worth riding. 📌 Seller financing is back. With buyers struggling and sellers motivated, creative deals are getting done. Subject-to, seller carry-backs, lease options — the people getting these deals aren't lucky, they're educated. The bottom line: Rates being "high" just means less competition for the people who know how to move. That's you, if you're in this community. Your mortgage is a liability. Your tenant is the asset that pays it. Stop letting a 6% rate scare you out of a strategy that's been building generational wealth for decades. The question isn't whether the market is perfect. The question is: are YOU ready?