All Forum Posts by: Scott Nachitilo

Hey Kenya,

Congrats on grad school and exploring house hacking! Ann Arbor’s market is competitive, but buying near student-heavy areas (like Kerrytown or near North Campus) can work. Focus on multi-bed homes where room rentals (to other students) can offset your mortgage. Check local zoning for rental compliance, and use tools like the BiggerPockets Rental Calculator to ensure cash flow. 

Partner with a realtor who understands investor goals (not just leasing agents) and act fast—turnover here is quick. Your vision isn’t unrealistic, but prioritize numbers over “perfect” aesthetics.

Good luck!

In Texas, normal wear and tear refers to expected deterioration from ordinary use (e.g., minor scuffs), while damages result from negligence or misuse. The malfunctioning oven may fall under normal wear if it’s due to age or standard use, unless you can prove tenant misuse caused the issue—deducting repair costs would require evidence. Broken blinds are likely deductible as damage, while stained blinds may only warrant cleaning costs unless irreparable. Document issues with photos and invoices, provide an itemized deduction list, and return the remaining deposit promptly to comply with Texas law. If uncertain, consult a local attorney to avoid disputes.

And at last, to avoid such unexpected surprises in the future do move-out and move-in inspections.

While evictions might seem cheaper upfront, "cash for keys" can actually save you time, stress, and hidden costs. Evictions often involve court delays, property damage, or tenant retaliation, whereas offering $2,000 (Connecticut’s minimum) ensures a faster, voluntary exit—avoiding legal headaches and vacancy losses. In New Haven’s competitive rental market, a smooth transition preserves your property’s condition and reputation. 

Think of it as paying for peace of mind and a fresh start.

Hi Joe,

When selling a property, visual appeal is crucial. If your current photos showcase the home with real furniture and create a staged look, they might still be effective, especially if the overall condition of the house is good. However, empty houses can sometimes feel less inviting and may not highlight the space as effectively. Consider the vibe you want to convey. If you believe new photos could enhance the listing, especially with better lighting or angles, it might be worth the investment in a local photographer. Just ensure the new images capture the house’s best features. Ultimately, choose what feels right for the property and its market!

Best of luck with your sale!

Hi Walter,

I get why you're worried about your lead-safe certificate running out while you're not around. Lots of folks have been in the same boat, and it's pretty common to renew after it's expired.

However, here's what you might want to think about:

Grace Period: Look into whether Philadelphia gives you some extra time to renew expired certificates. Sometimes, you can renew without getting hit with penalties for a short while after it expires.

Contact Local Authorities: You should get in touch with the city's housing office or whoever gave you the certificate. They can tell you what to do in your case.

Document Everything: Make sure you keep track of who you talk to and any steps you take to renew. This might come in handy if anyone asks questions later on.

Temporary Measures: If you can maybe someone else could take care of the renewal for you. They might be able to send in the paperwork while you're away.

Plenty of people have figured this out before, so don't worry too much. Good luck, and I hope it all works out without any hassle!

Handling tenant swaps in single-family rentals requires balancing flexibility and risk. I always treat a tenant’s notice as binding for all parties on the lease unless a qualified replacement is approved. This avoids vacancies but keeps control.

For example, if a tenant wants to swap, I require the tenant to propose someone who passes our full screening (credit, background, and income checks). If approved, we amend the lease with the new tenant, keeping the terms intact. If not, the original notice stands, and everyone vacates.

Doing this minimizes turnover costs while ensuring quality.

Clear lease language upfront is key, tenants know swaps aren’t guaranteed, reducing frustration. Locally, this hybrid model works well, protecting both occupancy rates and property standards.

The 2% rule (where monthly rent equals 2% of the purchase price) is rare in today’s high-priced markets, but smaller, undervalued areas still offer potential. However, you can look toward Midwest/Rust Belt cities (e.g., Detroit, Cleveland, Memphis) or rural towns in states like Indiana or Ohio, where sub-$100k homes in stable neighborhoods can fetch $1,200–$1,500/month (close to 1–1.5%). 

Focus on distressed properties you can renovate to boost rent or consider multi-family units to spread costs. While hitting 2% is tough, targeting 1%+ with strong expense management (e.g., DIY repairs and minimal vacancies) can still drive cash flow. Partner with local agents or investors to uncover off-market deals; they’re often the key in competitive markets.

Quote from @Rimane Tientega:

Hello everyone, my name is Rimane I'm 23 and I'm new to this world. I was planning to buy a house with an agency who helped people apply for a grant and take care of the paperwork. But they told me I should look for a condo not a house. 
For them , I'm not able to borrow a lot of money for the house , because I don't really have a high income. But someone told me to ask them about the FHA loan. I'm a little bit confuse , why my counselor didn't talk to me about the House hacking.
So now I want to know if anyone can use this technique and what I must told her exactly? 

Hi Rimane! It’s great you’re exploring options like house hacking, which involves renting part of your property to offset costs, this can absolutely work in NYC, especially with an FHA loan (as low as 3.5% down for multi-unit homes). Your counselor might not have mentioned it if they assumed you wanted a single-family home, but FHA loans do apply to 2-4 unit properties, which could make homebuying affordable even on a modest income. Politely ask your counselor: “Can we explore an FHA loan for a multi-unit property? I’m open to house hacking to qualify for a larger mortgage.” Just confirm the condo’s rental policies first, some HOAs restrict renting, which could limit your strategy. You’ve got this!

For your duplex, a reliable option could be installing individual water submeters that use cellular technology instead of a separate router, avoiding connectivity issues. Companies like Neptune or Boks Meter offer submeters with built-in cellular data transmission, ensuring consistent usage tracking without relying on tenant-maintained routers. These systems automatically send data to the provider, simplifying billing. Pair this with a submetering service that handles readings and tenant invoicing (like WaterSmart), and you’ll save time while ensuring fairness.

As you know, the user probably wants fairness and ease of billing because a split-bill system based on occupancy or square footage is not fair.

So, submeters are better for accuracy. Thus, check local regulations first, and consult a plumber to confirm compatibility with your existing pipes. It’s a practical, low-hassle way to split bills accurately!

Hello @Bruce,

Proceed cautiously. Los Angeles has some of the strictest tenant protections around. Even if you have a valid reason for an owner move-in eviction, the fact that the 3-bed, 1-bath unit might be an unpermitted conversion could seriously undermine your case. If the courts or housing department consider it uninhabitable or illegally converted, you could face hefty fines or be forced to return it to its original layout.

Before making any moves, here’s what you should do:

• Check with LA County Building & Safety to confirm whether that 3/1 unit is legal. If it’s not, your eviction case could fall apart before it even starts.
• If the 3/1 is unpermitted, it’s safer to focus on the vacant 1/1 unit as your potential new home. That route avoids a lot of legal gray areas.
• If you’re set on the 3/1, talk to a tenant rights attorney first. There are a lot of potential pitfalls, like giving the wrong notice or not offering enough in relocation assistance.

Honestly, a "cash-for-keys" offer might be your smoothest option. Yes, it’ll cost you; relocation fees in LA can go over $25,000, but it could save you months of stress, delays, and legal fees. Frame it as a win-win: you get the space you need, and the tenant gets help moving on.

Your need for more room is totally fair. Just make sure you’re balancing that with empathy and a strong legal footing, it’ll save you a lot of headache (and money) down the line.