New from Medford, Massachusetts

[Leslie I.]

Hello all !

I'm new to the site.  My name is Leslie and I'm from Medford, MA.  I own a two-family home (family house) I inherited.  I do live in it, on the second floor.   I'm struggling with the financial opportunity of renting the first floor.   It has been vacant for a couple of years now.  I am very novice at being a landlord and am hoping I can gain some insight and confidence from BP.  I did rent to a friend and then a family member.  Both were a mistake.  I didn't keep it a business and set the ground rules upfront.  The other factor is, I'm just not sure I want to have that "stranger" living in the same dwelling.  I like my privacy and space.   I'm a single mom.   I would need to do some work on soundproofing between floors.  

The other option would be to rent both apartments and I take some equity from it and use as a down payment on a small single family house.  I struggle with this because I know the house (maintenance and safety purposes).  It's a safe "family-like" neighborhood and neighbors.   I would love to hear from others on what might be a good "middle" plan.  Do I try to rent it out and see if I can get an awesome tenant ?  Or do I  move out and rent both apartments?   Open to your thoughts and ideas.

Thank you all !