When people think Arlington, they think Cowboys Stadium, Six Flags, concerts. Nobody thinks of it as a “can’t miss starting point.” But that’s exactly why I love it.
Arlington has something most markets don’t: virtually everything. It is the bullseye of DFW growth anchored by stable jobs, nonstop renter demand, and entry prices that still make sense. First-time buyers worry about getting “stuck” with the wrong home. But in Arlington, even an average property will always have a line of tenants or buyers behind it. That is cash flow safety today and appreciation security tomorrow.
Take UTA as just one example. Forty thousand students plus the young couples and staff who come with them. Every semester, new people flood in hunting for simple, affordable housing. That is a built-in safety net for your very first home and your future rental.
Here is how it plays out: say you buy a duplex within a mile or two of campus. Even a basic 1 bed 1 bath each side works. You live in one unit and rent the other for $1,400–$1,600. Or, push higher by offering it furnished month to month at $2,000+. Your total PITI + PMI runs about $2,800. That means your housing expense is recycling through a secure, appreciating, income producing, tax saving asset for somewhere between $800 and $1,400 a month. That is hundreds less than the average DFW rent which disappears forever. BUT I GOT ONE BETTER FOR YOU BELOW…
And when you move out? Both sides rent. Now the property pays for itself while you decide if you want to rent again, move into a new home, or buy your next house hack. Fast forward five years and you have stacked $80K–$150K in equity, a cushion of financial security and flexibility, all from one starter purchase. And if family helps with your down payment (which is incredibly common for first-time buyers), you might land a six figure foundation with virtually zero out of pocket.
Now, the fear I always hear is: “What if it sits empty?” The truth is in Arlington, it doesn’t. Every August, 40K new students reload the tenant pool at minimum. And in reality, Arlington sits in the middle of millions of renters moving through DFW every year. By pure geography, it is guaranteed a piece of the growth.
👉 I break down real time deals like this every single day inside my House Hack Texas newsletter at HouseHackTexas.com.
A Real Deal in Real Time (8/27/25)
1730 Justin Lyn Street, Arlington, TX 76012 - ZILLOW LINK
💡 4 minutes to UTA’s campus
Purchase Price: $315,000
Financing: 5% down conventional, 30-year fixed
Down Payment: ~$15,750 - slow market conditions allow you to negotiate seller to cover all your closing costs 🤞
PITI + PMI: ~$2,600/month
The Play: One Perfect Tenant
Market one unit to a single grad student or young professional (not 2 random roommates).
Set it up as an “executive student suite”:
Furnished spare bedroom → staged as home office/studio
Desk, shelves, printer = ~$400 upgrade
Rent: $1,800/month (premium for turnkey, private office, pet-friendly yard).
Result: Peaceful, low-turnover tenant likely to stay 2+ years.
Optional Boost: Rent Your Spare Room
If you’re single, rent out your own extra bedroom.
Charge $800/month to a trusted friend or solid roommate.
Total Rent Collected: $2,600/month
Your Out-of-Pocket Cost
Mortgage: ~$2,600
Rent Collected: $2,600
Net: +$0/month
Living Costs (Reality-Adjusted)
Maintenance + reserves + utilities: ~$500/month
Net “all-in housing cost”: ~$500/month
That’s cheaper than living in a cardboard box these days.
The Long Game
Keep this property 5 years:
Principal paydown: ~$35K
Appreciation @ 3%/yr: ~$50K
Total equity gain: ~$85K
Stay in 10 years:
Principal paydown: ~$75K
Appreciation: ~$105K
Total equity gain: ~$180K+
Comparison:
Renting at $1,700/mo (avg dfw rent) for 5 years = $102K lost
Owning this duplex = $85K gained
Net swing: +$187K
For 20-30 year olds fighting to get on our feet in this day ‘n age…that’s lifechanging. Just by choosing a strategic first step.