Some Washington homeowners find themselves in a situation where they need to move soon after buying a home, but don't want to sell the property. Turning your house into a rental is one way to approach this situation. It allows you to keep your most important asset while generating income from it as well. It's possible to rent out a primary residence after buying it, but you'll want to check with your mortgage lender or loan servicer first. Mortgage rules often require a 12-month occupancy period before allowing rental, and HOAs may have specific rules or restrictions as well.