Investor representation

Invest in South Philly multi-family

Bottom line: South Philadelphia’s duplex and triplex stock lets owner-occupants house-hack — live in one unit while rent covers most of the mortgage — and gives investors steady rowhome-scale returns.

Before you ever offer, you see the real numbers: verified zoning on Atlas, realistic rent comps, licensing requirements, and a deal model you can hold me to.

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How we underwrite a deal

Zoning & legality check

Atlas (phila.gov) records confirm whether that “duplex” is actually legal — before you fall for it.

Rent & expense model

Real rent comps and realistic expense loads — taxes, insurance, licensing, maintenance.

Financing fit

FHA house-hack at 3.5% down, conventional, or DSCR — matched to your plan.

Offer & inspect

Multi-family-specific inspection focus: separate systems, egress, fire separation.

Close & license

Rental license, lead-safe certification, and a smooth handoff to management (yours or a referral).

Common questions

What is house-hacking?
Buying a small multi-family (2–4 units), living in one unit, and renting the others so the tenants carry most of the mortgage. FHA allows 3.5% down on an owner-occupied 2–4 unit, which is why it is the usual route in. The catch on 3- and 4-unit buildings: FHA applies a self-sufficiency test, meaning the property’s net rental income has to cover the entire monthly mortgage payment on its own. That rules out a lot of listings, and it is the single most common reason a house-hack deal falls apart. Two-unit properties are not subject to it. We run that math on a building before you write an offer.
What licenses do Philadelphia landlords need?
At minimum a Commercial Activity License and a Rental License, plus lead-safe certification for most pre-1978 units. Requirements change — we verify current rules on phila.gov before closing.
Are the numbers still good in 2026?
On the right blocks, yes — but only with honest expense loads. Bring any listing and we’ll model it together before you offer.

Run the numbers before you offer.

Send an address — get back a straight-shooting deal model, usually within a day.

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