More new construction is being sold with a tenant already in place before closing. It removes the biggest unknown for an out-of-state buyer, but only if you check the right things:

1) Who placed the tenant, and how they were screened. Ask for the criteria: income multiple, rental history, credit.

2) The lease itself. Term, rent, and whether annual escalations are written in. A 3% escalation agreed at signing means you're not starting that conversation from scratch at renewal.

3) Who manages it, and what it costs after any introductory period. Verify how the fees work: management, leasing, renewals and maintenance markups.

4) The builder warranty. What's covered, for how long, and who you call when something breaks.

5) The move-in walkthrough. A documented walkthrough with the tenant at move-in cuts frivolous service calls and protects the deposit later.

And always run the numbers as if the tenant leaves at the end of year one. If it still works, you're buying a rental, not a lease.

Anyone bought tenant-in-place new construction? What did you wish you'd asked?