“What if I can’t sell this later?” Valid concern. I have a book of tips, but here are 2:

1. Widen your buyer pool.
If your first house doubles as a solid investment (it should), you’re not limited to families shopping for a forever home. You can also attract investors chasing cash flow and appreciation. Run it like a buttoned-up investment now, and you’ll have more buyers later.

2. Know your future buyer.
Before you buy, ask: who will I likely hand this off to? An investor? A forever-home family? Another first-timer?

Take today’s Denton student housing deal: it’s a fantastic play for a house hacker or investor, but not something a $600K forever-home buyer would chase. Since your end-buyer is an investor, the property needs to be a no-brainer investor deal when you exit. If you don’t want that work, skip it.

In short: Make sure your deal is either attractive to multiple buyer types, or a slam dunk for one.

Onward,

1) Fort Worth Duplex | $420K
📍 5344 Wonder Dr, Fort Worth TX
💰 Cash to Close: $24K
🏠 Est. Monthly Payment: $3,557
🙂 Income While Occupying: $2,650+
💸 Income When Moved: $3,800
📈 Equity Position: YR 5 = $110K | YR 10 = $225K
📝 Completely updated, prime location. Both units are 3/2/2. One side leased at $1,850 through May ’26. Live in the other + rent a spare room for $800–1,100. Duplexes under $450K in good locations are the safest, strongest bang-for-your-buck entry point right now.

2) Fort Worth Duplex | $440K
📍 4555 Altamesa Blvd, Fort Worth TX
💰 Cash to Close: $25K
🏠 Est. Monthly Payment: $3,772
🙂 Income While Occupying: $2,950
💸 Income When Moved: $3,900
📈 Equity Position: YR 5 = $114K | YR 10 = $236K
📝 Same seller as Wonder Dr. The edge here: an extra half bath is now used by any guests either of you host giving your roommate their own full bath. Plus the two-story layout adds more privacy and separation of living.

3) North Dallas SFH + Studio | $350K
📍 3021 Allister St, Dallas TX
💰 Cash to Close: $20k
🏠 Est. Monthly Payment: $3k
🙂 Income While Occupying: $2k
💸 Income When Moved: $3k
📈 Equity Position YR 5: $91k
📝 Affordable way into North Dallas. Main home + small studio apartment. Great for a young professional or mid-term travel nurse. Furnish for less than $1K and it’s Airbnb/Furnished Finder-ready for $1400+/mo (utilities included). OR live in the studio and lease the main house to a long term tenant at $2000/mo

4) Denton Student House + Apartment | $450K
📍 211 Second St, Denton TX 76201
💰 Cash to Close: $25K
🏠 Est. Monthly Payment: $3,785
🙂 Income While Occupying: $3,200
💸 Income When Moved: $4,150
📈 Equity Position: YR 5 = $116K
📝 5 bed / 4 bath + separate 1/1 apartment. Live in the apartment, rent 4 rooms in the main house at $800 each. Exit strategy: line up new leases and max rents before selling so the next investor has a turnkey cash-flowing property.

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