Looking for blank template of Rental Application for Virginia and general advice

[Dryden Ray]

Hello BP team,

I am just getting systems together and readying myself for my first rental property purchase. I'm currently out at sea on a Naval deployment so all I have is extra time. can you send me a ready to use rental application form, one page, double-sided and includes the proper information regarding fair housing laws for the state of Virginia. I want to get a duplex and live in one and rent the other to get my feet wet. Can you also share some of your biggest mistakes and others you've observed? Also can you tell me if you knew what you know now when you first started your real estate investing adventure, what would you do if you had a steady job and 20k to invest?

Thank you BP team!

[Chris Seveney]

Quote from @Dryden Ray:

Hello BP team,

I am just getting systems together and readying myself for my first rental property purchase. I'm currently out at sea on a Naval deployment so all I have is extra time. can you send me a ready to use rental application form, one page, double-sided and includes the proper information regarding fair housing laws for the state of Virginia. I want to get a duplex and live in one and rent the other to get my feet wet. Can you also share some of your biggest mistakes and others you've observed? Also can you tell me if you knew what you know now when you first started your real estate investing adventure, what would you do if you had a steady job and 20k to invest?

Thank you BP team!

 in these situations i would get a property manager, as if you live next door and manage the property and they know you are the owner everyday you are going to get some type of complaint of "the door handle is loose", the cabinet does not close properly....if you do decide to self manage,  I would also use an agent to find the tenants vs. trying to do it yourself and pay a months fee for them to find a tenant.