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Denver Investment Real EstateThe Denver Real Estate Investing podcast is focused on one thing: Helping your grow your Denver real estate portfolio Author: Chris Lopez - Denver Investment Broker
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#594: Scaling to 4 Properties Without a Raise: The House Hack Stack Strategy
Tuesday, 16 December, 2025
House hacking in Colorado just paid off for 30-year-old Carly Caprio. She’s living for free in a Lakewood fourplex after completing her fourth house hack in 2025. Even better? When she moves out next year, this property will generate over $2,500 in monthly profit while she continues building her portfolio toward early retirement. Chris Lopez sits down with Carly Caprio, one of the most disciplined house hackers in Colorado, alongside regular panelists Jeff White (Envision Advisors) and Troy Howell (Nova Home Loans). Carly’s journey started with a $17,500 first-time buyer grant that made her first townhouse purchase possible despite working a nonprofit job. Since then, she’s converted properties from 3 to 5 bedrooms and 5 to 6 bedrooms, navigated challenging tenants including paranoid relapses and 3am emergency calls, pivoted to Section 8 when needed, and most recently locked up an all-brick Lakewood fourplex for $849,500 with just 5% down. What makes Carly’s story particularly compelling is her rock-solid financial discipline. Troy Howell confirms she’s increased her savings dramatically between properties while maintaining zero car payments and living below her means. The result? She’s already matched her W2 income through rental cash flow and qualified for progressively larger properties without any salary increases. Her fourplex currently rents three units at $1,750 each while she lives for essentially free in the fourth unit. Once she moves out, the projected income jumps to $7,780 monthly against a $5,454 mortgage payment. Jeff White calls Carly his “Mount Rushmore” house hacker for good reason. She didn’t chase trendy strategies or overextend herself. Instead, she executed the same proven playbook four times, learning from each property and improving her systems. When faced with disastrous tenants (one who stood in doorways watching people sleep, another who drank two bottles of tequila and one bottle of vodka within 48 hours), she adapted her screening process and converted to Section 8 rather than quitting. When friends expressed fear about living with strangers, she demonstrated how to maintain control over tenant selection while building serious wealth. In This Episode We Cover: $17,500 first-time buyer grant that launched Carly’s 4-property portfolio Why 2-4 unit properties are easier to qualify for than single-family homes How debt-to-income improves with each house hack (no salary increase needed) Converting 3-bed townhouse to 5-bed using existing egress windows Managing terrible tenants and when to pivot from rent-by-room to Section 8 $849,500 Lakewood fourplex breakdown: 5% down, 6% rate, $1,750/unit rents Living free now vs $2,500 monthly profit when she moves out Financial discipline tactics that matched her W2 income in three years Why the first property is hardest and subsequent deals get easier Female investor perspectives on safety and building wealth through house hacking And So Much More! Carly’s story proves house hacking in Colorado isn’t dead despite 6% interest rates and higher property prices in 2025. With the right financing strategy, disciplined savings habits, and willingness to sacrifice short-term comfort for long-term wealth, reaching financial freedom in your 30s remains achievable. Whether you’re a woman considering your first house hack or an experienced investor looking for inspiration, Carly’s methodical approach and honest discussion of challenges offers a realistic roadmap. Watch the YouTube Video https://youtu.be/569rUnGaVmw Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introduction02:33-Meet Carly: 30 Years Old, 4 House Hacks, Financial Freedom Achieved05:21– Finding Her First Property in Just 2 Showings06:44 – Wild Tenant Stories: Relapses, Paranoia, and 3AM Calls 09:30 – Pivoting to Section 8 Strategy 10:35– Property #4: The Lakewood Fourplex at $849,50012:15 – Qualifying Power: Why 2-4 Units Beat Single Family15:17 – Deal Breakdown18:43 – First 6 Weeks: Smooth Operations, Tenant Transition, Paying in Cash20:48 – Long-Term Vision Including Early Retirement and Moving to Colombia21:44 – Advice for Female Real Estate Investors25:24 – How Carly Matched Her W2 Income in Under 3 Years28:00 – First-Time Buyer Grants: $17,500 Free Money That Changed Everything29:14 – The Truth About House Hacking: First One’s Hardest, Then It Gets Easier Connect with our Guests: Carly Caprio: carly.caprio@gmail.com Jeff White: jeff@envisionrea.com Troy Howell: troy.howell@novahomeloans.com LinkedIn: Troy Howell Website: https://www.novahomeloans.com/loan-officer/troy-howell/ Who is Nova Home Loans? For over 40 years, we’ve been focused on helping homeowners find the perfect loan to fit their financial needs and personal goals. Working with NOVA is a personalized experience from initial application to final loan closing and beyond. We will be with you every step of the way toward successful homeownership. Start working with NOVA & Troy Howell today! NOVA FINANCIAL & INVESTMENT CORPORATION, DBA NOVA HOME LOANS NMLS 3087/ EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY/8055 EAST TUFTS AVENUE, SUITE 101/DENVER, CO
