Build vs. Buy: Which Is Best for Your First Rental?

BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast · Jul 22, 2026 · 37m

You don’t have to buy your first rental property—you can build one instead. Newer systems, fewer repairs, and that “brand new” feeling that tenants may pay more rent for. But…is it worth it? Building a small multifamily in a single-family area could let you house hack and own a rare property in your market, but is the headache worth the effort?

With more and more investors choosing to build rather than buy, we thought we’d weigh in.

Dave and Henry are back answering your questions from the BiggerPockets Forums. Today, we’re talking about building vs. buying rentals, when an investment…