All Forum Posts by: Shane Moore

 @Shane Moore I specialize in "high end" section 8 rentals and while I agree with al ot of what is being said in this thread, there is definitely a correlation between providing a nice house and receiving less damage. Landlords that provide crappy housing and dont repond to issues will see their properties get badly damaged and wonder why, while great landlords that provide top end housing for their tenant base will be surprised by how well the property is treated. Happy to share more insights on my experience with providing the nicer properties in the section 8 rental pool. 

Pedro, I'm the Featured Agent for Bigger Pockets down here in Macon and I've helped a ton of out of state folks finds deals here. Feel free to reach out if you need some boots on the ground. I'm happy to give you my two cents and give you the lay of the land. Macon is a great market for Section 8 and there is a big need in this area, but you need to know where to look and what to steer clear of.

I love section 8! I have them in multiple markets. They always pay and they are safe during recessionary periods. The housing authority will pay when others cannot. There are additional requirements for the house but the rent is typically more and less risk for us.

Good afternoon Shane — you’re asking all the right questions. I can’t speak for Macon specifically, but in Broward County (South Florida), we manage a solid portfolio of Section 8 rentals and I’ll share what we’ve seen in hopes it helps.

Pros we’ve experienced:

• Consistent rent payments from the housing authority, which is a huge benefit—especially in uncertain economic times.

• Strong demand for rentals in the voucher program, reducing vacancy risk.

• Longer tenant retention when homes are well-kept and tenants are treated respectfully.

Challenges:

• Government processes can be slow: Initial inspections and approval timelines can delay move-ins.

• Inspection standards are stricter, so properties may need upfront investment to pass.

• Like any rental, tenant quality varies. We’ve learned not to rely on the voucher approval alone—screening still matters.

What works well here:

• We’ve had the most success with 3-bedroom single-family homes around 1,200–1,500 sqft.

• Having great communication with the housing authority and a consistent process for maintenance has helped tremendously.

Section 8 has been a strong strategy for many of our clients here in Broward County, but like any investment, it comes down to systems, expectations, and screening.

Curious—are you planning to self-manage or team up with a local manager who knows how to navigate the Section 8 process?

I would be aware there are major national budget changes that are proposed to Section 8 funding that could affect your rental income. 

"In its request for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the White House called the current system of federal rental assistance "dysfunctional" and proposed essentially ending Section 8 and other housing voucher programs. Its plan calls for cutting rental aid by about 40% and sending that money to states "to design their own rental assistance programs based on their unique needs and preferences." "

https://www.npr.org/2025/05/02/nx-s1-5374077/trump-budget-ho...

@Shane Moore,

First, let me say whether you get S8 or a working tenant-- it 100% depends on the tenant.     I have 1 I absolutely love, we are going on 6 years and I love having her as a tenant.  I have terminated separate 3 -S8 leases because of disrespect and they were trashing my house.  It's really a different mindset and attitude, hard to explain but it's just different.  

Second-- If you are going to focus on S8, realize you aren't dealing with tenants who have a lot of extra disposable income.  My best advice is the charge the absolute highest amount per your local guidelines, because you'll need to include regular HVAC maintenance, filter changes (they won't do it, promise!), pest control, landscaping, breaking appliances, people are hard on these houses!  Knowing what I know now, I'd also include a professional cleaner to come once a year.    Seriously, you won't even know the real damage until they move out.  

 The more you can include, the better that way you know it's actually being taken care of.  I think they'll be happier too if stuff is included in rent, as it's not an extra expense on them!

 The class of neighborhood kind of dictates what credit score you should require. I have one community that was so bad, that it made no sense to ask for a credit score because anyone moving there all had jacked up credit. I would never have a renter. However, in my class C or Bs, if I do section 8 I require from 600 to 640. There is no special formula for that. I know people who go much lower and much higher. It just depends. Also, I know how to read people. I evacuate their energy and how they move. I've had women come through to view the place with all kinds of attitude and negative vibes. I know these are the types that will give me a major headache as a landlord. Look at the criminal history. Make sure they have refences and see what they think. Talk to past landlords and evaluate the experiences they have had. Social media says a lot about a person. If they always seem to be in turmoil, it may not be a good fit. If they are always taking about how they cussed this bit## out or how they put their foot in someone's azzz daily, may not want to deal with that energy. There are many other methods but with these basic gestures it will take you a long way. I build mutually respectful relationships, and it goes well for most. Another thing to beware of is some single mothers. Many of them are fine but they bring along dudes who create all kinds of problems for you and the property. I can say, it can be challenging and at times you have to put up with more than you would with an ordinary rental, but I have managed to make all this work overall. One thing you said that stood out to me. You said something about providing some type of positive service to the community. Now this is my personal opinion, and you can do what you want. I had that mindset as well. That changed for multiple reasons and the advocacy and business don't seem to align well in this business. I do my community advocacy away from my business in this aspect. What i still do along those lines is provide them with a positive landlord experience, respect and a nice place to live. Many landlords do not. Overall, I want you to win, and you are doing it right by doing this kind of research up front. 

Best of luck. 

I have done either section 8 or low income the majority of my run at this. I see a lot of valuable information in this thread. However, I do caution you there are several in BP who have no idea what they are talking about in regard to this and give you some of the most azzz backwards advice on this. Please be selective on who you get this info from, and your best bet is to pay close attention to those who have made this work for years successfully. Number one, you have to know and understand the environment you will be investing in. Two, it's great to have some understanding of the culture. Three, you emphatically have to know how to screen. You can't just put anyone there because they have a voucher. Four, treat them with decency and respect, and build some kind of mutually, grounded relationship. It's a few more, but these are some fundamentals that go a very long way.