House hacking education, deal breakdowns, and financing strategies built for teachers, nurses, first responders, and government employees — the people who actually need it, finally getting the playbook.
"Most real estate education is written for people who are already rich. I write for the people who actually need it."
Thomas Collins bought his first duplex in 2017 on a $27/hr income — no trust fund, no co-signer, no finance background. His tenant covered most of the mortgage from day one. That moment changed everything.
He spent years figuring out what nobody was teaching: how W-2 earners with regular incomes and modest savings could use FHA loans, owner-occupant financing, and multi-family strategies to stop paying rent and start building wealth.
Today he runs ShiftRich Academy — courses, a weekly newsletter, and a growing community of teachers, nurses, first responders and public workers moving from renters to owners.
From your first question to your first closing — structured programs built around real W-2 timelines and budgets.
The complete A-to-Z: market selection, financing, property analysis, making offers, managing tenants. Built for first-timers with a W-2 income and a 12-month runway.
Every owner-occupant loan product available to W-2 buyers — FHA, VA, conventional 5%, DSCR, seller credits — explained with real numbers and lender scripts.
How to run the numbers on a duplex or triplex in under 20 minutes. Cash-on-cash return, rent coverage, repair estimates — without a spreadsheet degree.
Thomas posts market updates, deal analyses, and house hacking tips in the community every week. Here's what's been happening.
Cap rates, FHA limits, and rent-to-price ratios — three cities that still pencil for W-2 buyers with under $20K to close.
Full numbers on a subscriber's fourplex — purchase price, repairs, rent roll, and the FHA owner-occupant trick that made it work.
Most lenders will talk you out of a duplex. These five questions filter the ones who know owner-occupant FHA from the ones who don't.
The step-by-step path Thomas built after coaching dozens of W-2 buyers through their first house hack. Where to be at month 1, month 6, and month 11 — so you always know the next move.
Delivered with your first newsletter issue.
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Everything you need to go from "I want to house hack" to "I have a signed offer" — in one no-fluff guide. Market analysis worksheets, lender scripts, FHA checklist, deal calculator, and Thomas's full 12-month timeline.
Placeholder quotes — replace with real subscriber testimonials before launch.
I'd been Googling 'how to house hack' for two years. Three issues in I had a lender, a market, and a plan.
My tenant pays $1,850 a month. My actual housing cost is $340. I teach middle school. This is real.
I thought I needed 20% down and perfect credit. The newsletter killed both those myths in the first two issues.
Deal tours, live Q&As, behind-the-scenes on the deals — across every platform.
