Kyle Hoffman · Roots Realty Co.
Your first Indy home. Your way.
Meet Kyle
I'm Kyle Hoffman.
I'm an Indianapolis native. I help people buy their first home or a home they can live in and partly rent out.
I was a teacher before I got into real estate, and I still work like one. I break a big decision into small steps and leave room for your questions.
Through Roots Realty Co., I can connect you with lenders, contractors and other resources as you buy and settle in.
- Focus
- First homes and house hacks
- Team
- Roots Realty Co.
- Brokerage
- @properties
- Where
- Indianapolis
What is house hacking?
Live in one.
Rent the other(s).
You live in the home and rent out part of it, a spare room or the other units of a duplex, triplex or fourplex. The rent can help with your payment.
Which fits me? Take the quizA double, in plain numbers
Monthly payment
Mortgage, taxes and insurance on the whole building.
Unit B rent
What the other side brings in each month.
You pay
The part left to cover, before repairs or vacancies.
Double example: $1,850 monthly payment minus $1,150 rent leaves $700 for you to cover. Rent covers 62 percent; you cover 38 percent. Example only, before repairs or vacancies.
The honest part
It comes with real work.
Tenants, leases, repairs and shared walls. An empty unit means you cover the full payment; upkeep costs come on top.
Find out if it’s right for youThe other path
Buy a place that’s all yours.
No tenants and no landlord duties. Plenty of people buy this way.
Find your place in IndyHow it works
From first questions to keys.
Both paths follow the same process. You set the pace.
Talk it through
- Your goals and timeline
- Questions you want to work through
Choose your path
- A home of your own
- A room or another unit to rent
Talk to a lender
- Loan options you may qualify for
- A monthly payment you can live with
Tour, offer, close
- Tour homes that fit your list
- Offer, inspection and closing
From buyers on Google
What working together feels like.
5.0 rating · 11 Google reviews
Kyle recently helped me buy my first home. He was incredibly knowledgeable. He was always pointing out nuanced details that I should look out for in a house. I felt that he was timely in his communications and accommodating with his schedule to view properties. He taught me a lot about the home buying process. I’d recommend him as a realtor to anyone.
From the blog
Articles I've written
for Indy buyers.
How to buy a house in Indianapolis, step by step
Buying a home in Indianapolis follows the same steps every time. Here's each one in plain words, with what it asks of you and where buyers tend to get stuck.
How to choose a real estate agent in Indianapolis
The right agent depends on what you're buying and how you like to work. Here's how to check a license, what to ask, and what keeps a purchase on track.
How to find an Indianapolis neighborhood that fits your life
The right Indianapolis neighborhood depends on your week, not a ranking. Here's how to sort what you need from what you want, and what to check for each address.
On Instagram
Indianapolis through my eyes.
Questions
Questions buyers ask.
Answers about house hacking, first homes and how the quizzes work. Loan details vary, so your lender has the final word on those.
Don't see yours?
Send me your questionWhat is house hacking?
House hacking means buying a home you live in and renting out part of it, like a spare room or the other units of a duplex, triplex or fourplex. The rent can help with your housing costs. It also makes you a landlord, with tenants, leases and repairs to handle.
Can a duplex be my first home?
Often, yes. If you live in one of the units, many loans treat a 2 to 4 unit building as your primary home. Your lender confirms what applies to you.
Will the rent cover my mortgage?
Sometimes a large share of it, rarely all of it, and never guaranteed. On each building I work through the payment, the likely rent and what you'd pay in a month with an empty unit.
To try it on a property yourself: Roots house hack calculator (opens in a new tab), What the numbers look like in 2026 (opens in a new tab).
How much do I need saved?
It depends on the loan and the price, and your lender gives you the real figures. Beyond the down payment and closing costs, plan a cushion for repairs and for a month when a unit sits empty. Most house hack stress comes from spending everything at closing.
For the full picture of what goes into the numbers: Roots house hack guide (opens in a new tab), How house hacking works in Indianapolis in 2026 (opens in a new tab).
How long do I have to live there?
Loans for a home you live in usually expect you to move in and stay for at least a year. Your lender gives you the exact rule for your loan, and it's worth asking before you pick a building.
Do I have to house hack to work with you?
No. A home that's all yours is a good way to buy, and house hacking is only one option.
What do the two quizzes do?
The house hack quiz asks how you want to live and how much landlord work you're up for, then shows which way of buying fits and what it asks of you. Find Your Place in Indy takes 8 quick questions, about 90 seconds, then your first name and email, and opens a personality, an Indy neighborhood match and a Neighborhood Alter Ego right away, with a copy in your inbox. The house hack quiz also asks for your name and email before it shows your results. You only join my newsletter if you say yes.
Do I need to talk to a lender first?
Not before you and I talk. When you're ready, a lender tells you what you may qualify for, and I can connect you with a few who work with first-time buyers and small multi-unit homes.
Who is Kyle Hoffman?
I'm an Indianapolis native and a REALTOR® with Roots Realty Co., licensed in Indiana. Before real estate I taught high school Anatomy and Physiology for five years.
How do I get started?
Take one of the quizzes, or send me your questions. There's nothing to decide on a first call.
Buying your first home?
Start with your questions.
Tell me what you're weighing, whether that's a house hack, a first home or your next one. I'll write back, and you decide what comes next.