One of the top financing options for house hacking a multifamily property, other than a VA loan, is using an FHA loan.
For a duplex (2 units), the minimum down payment requirement is 3.5%.
For a triplex or fourplex (3-4 units), it gets a little more tricky. You must be able to prove that it passes the FHA self-sufficiency test. This means that 75% of gross rents must cover 100% of the mortgage (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance).
Here’s a simple example:
Mortgage = $4,000/month
Unit 1 = $1,000/month
Unit 2 = $1,000/month
Unit 3 = $1,000/month
Unit 4 = $1,000/month
Total Rents = $4,000/month
$4,000 x 75% = $3,000
This example fails the test by $1,000/month. To pass, you must put down a higher down payment amount until your monthly mortgage is less than $3,000/month.