House Hacking with Jen Narciso | Ep. 54

• Tiffany recounts meeting Jen at FinCon and encouraging her to start the Investor Mama Podcast using the free recording booths available at the conference.

Everything you want is on the other side of fear.

• Jen explains house hacking: buying a duplex, triplex, or fourplex, living in one unit, and renting out the others. She calls it a low-risk way to get started in real estate.

I could do anything for a year.

• Jen breaks down using FHA loans requiring only 3.5-5% down payment, making real estate accessible without needing 25% down.

• She also discusses the FHA 203k loan which rolls rehab costs into the mortgage, allowing tenants to effectively pay for property improvements.

• Jen explains that FHA 203k loans require approved contractors and milestone-based payments, which protects buyers from contractor issues.

The bank won't release the money until you finish this. You got it.

• Jen and her then-boyfriend bought their first duplex for $280,000 with 5% down. The property allowed them to live in a desirable area they couldn't otherwise afford.

• They refinanced to pull equity for their second property rather than using a HELOC.

• Jen shares the chaotic experience of moving into their second property during a rehab while pregnant, including staying in a motel when construction wasn't complete.

• They lost their son Nathan at birth and struggled with an 8-month vacancy that drained savings, but the property still proved worthwhile long-term.

• Jen explains they designate properties for each child and involve their daughter in the real estate process to teach financial literacy.

We never teach her toys or things like that, but we use it now so that now that I recently lost my job... we're okay.

• Jen describes real estate as allowing someone else to pay for your retirement while providing tax benefits and appreciation - benefits no other investment vehicle matches.