House hack quiz · 13 questions · About 3 minutes
Could house hacking fit your life?
House hacking means buying a home you live in and renting out part of it, like a spare room or the other side of a double, to help with the cost.
It works well for some people. It also makes you a landlord. These 13 questions look at both sides, so you can see if living next to tenants is worth it for you.
Who this is for
Buying your first home,
or planning your next one.
Renting, and curious
If you land on a house hack path, you see what it would ask of you, in plain words, before you tour anything.Buying a first home
You don't have to want tenants. If you don't, the quiz points you to a home that's all yours, with steps to get ready.Already own a home
The quiz works for your next home too, whether you want a place of your own or space to rent out.
What you get
Your next steps
to homeownership.
See what to work on, which buying path fits, and what to talk through with a lender and me.
One path, with its tradeoffs
The path that fits your answers, what it asks of you, and the honest downsides.
See where you currently stand
Four areas, each described in plain words. You never see a number.
- Lifestyle fit
- Landlord readiness
- Money readiness
- Timeline
Tangible next steps
Three next steps written for your path and your answers.
Questions to bring
Three to five questions for me and a lender, shaped by what you say you want help understanding.
A copy to keep
Your results are emailed to you with a private link back to them. You can also download a PDF report or print the page.
Tools for the numbers
On a house hack path you also get the Roots house hack calculator and guide, to try a real building yourself.
Where you could land
Two traditional paths.
Two house hacks.
The quiz checks money readiness first. If that looks like the thing to sort out, you land on Build the base first, even if a duplex is what you picked.
Build the base first
Start with the money side.The house hunt can follow.
You land here when money looks like the thing to sort out first, like no lender conversation yet or credit still in progress, along with no savings set aside for a repair.
Traditional home now, house hack later
A home that's all yours, for now.House hacking can wait.
You land here when you'd rather not have renters, you want a home just for your household for now, or the house hack paths don't fit your answers yet. If you don't want renters, the quiz won't recommend a house hack.
Multi-unit house hack
Live in one unit.Rent the others.
You land here when you pick a duplex, triplex or fourplex, or when you want to rent out space but not share a kitchen.
Rent-by-the-room house hack
Your home.A spare room or two for rent.
You land here when you'd rent a spare room or two in a single-family house, and a shared kitchen or living room is fine with you or you're not sure yet.
Who's asking
I explain it
like a teacher.
I'm Kyle Hoffman, an Indianapolis native and a REALTOR® with Roots Realty Co. I help people buy their first home or a home they can live in and partly rent out.
Before real estate I taught high school Anatomy and Physiology for five years and coached basketball and baseball. I still work that way: one step at a time, in plain words, with room for your questions.
Follow along on Instagram at @khoffx (opens in a new tab) and @househackindy (opens in a new tab).
Before you start
Questions people ask.
Short answers on time, your email and what comes next.
Don't see yours?
Send me your questionHow long does it take?
About 3 minutes. There are 13 questions, one per screen. Most are a single tap, and the last one, where you can add a note, is optional.
Do I need to be ready to buy?
No. "No set date, I'm exploring" is one of the answers to the timeline question, and you can say you're still working on credit or savings. Those are normal answers. They shape the path you get and the next steps that come with it. Most of buying a home is the preparation, so starting early helps.
What do you do with my email?
After the last question I ask for your first name and email, then show your results. I email you a copy with a private link back to it and a link to a PDF report. Your phone number is optional, only for if you would like a call or text back. I use your details to follow up about this quiz, and nothing else unless you ask. Joining my newsletter is a separate box that starts unchecked.
Does it tell me what I can afford?
No. It isn't a pre-approval, financial advice or a promise about rent or savings. A lender tells you what you may qualify for.
When a building catches your eye, you can try its numbers yourself: Roots house hack calculator (opens in a new tab), Roots house hack guide (opens in a new tab).
What counts as house hacking?
Buying a home you live in and renting out part of it: a spare room in a house, or the other units of a duplex, triplex or fourplex. The rent can help with the cost. It also means tenants, leases and repairs.
Is it only for Indianapolis?
The questions are about you, not a place, so anyone can answer them. I'm a REALTOR® in Indianapolis, so if you're buying here, I can help with what comes next.
Do I have to talk to you afterward?
No. Your results stand on their own. If you'd like to go through them together, there's a Book a call button, and no pressure to buy anything.
Find out
if it fits.
13 questions, no score, and a plan you can take to a lender and to me.