Think of it as establishing clarity and consistency from day one.Since you inherited both the property and the tenants, your main goals this weekend are documentation and communication.A few things to confirm:Copies of the current leases (terms, rent amount, deposit held, renewal dates)Security deposit records and where funds are being heldCurrent rent status (any late balances, payment history)Maintenance issues they’re aware ofUtility responsibilities (who pays what)During the walkthrough, document unit condition with photos.

If the property can be a future rental the numbers are right and it is positioned in your target area, you can still build equity, secure a good loan and be patient when the duplex finally comes.

No other security measures.

It is about authority and fiduciary duty.There are three separate relationships here:You and the tenantYou and the property managerThe PM and the tenant (only to the extent the PM is acting as your agent)Start with the core principle:The security deposit belongs to the tenant, but it is held in trust for you, the owner, to cover amounts owed under the lease.Your PM is your fiduciary.

I sent a letter in the mail but would like other methods or ways to legally find their email to try and get ahold of them if I haven’t received a response in a while. 

For the investor, that meant holding costs piling up fast.Here’s how we resolved it:Got on-site immediately to document status and secure the property.Started calling vetted backup contractors to step in for plumbing and electrical.Negotiated with the GC to either replace the missing subs or risk losing the contract.Within a week, new crews were in place, and we recovered most of the lost time in the schedule.It wasn’t pretty, but it kept the project moving and prevented a major blow to the investor’s budget and timeline. 

I’m definitely stepping outside my comfort zone (introvert here), but I’m serious about networking, learning, and growing.My goal is to use my VA loan to secure my first rental property and build from there.

I have been researching and studying different methods of going about it.

I’m securing short-term capital (~$40K) to finish it, stabilize under Section 8, then refinance at 65–70% LTV.ARV is supported by conservative rural comps (excluding city limits, distressed, and manufactured properties).Estimated rent is based on FY 2026 HUD 3BR FMR ($1,204), modeling at $1,200 with a $1,150 stress test.Plan:Finish renovationPre-market to voucher holdersStabilize 2–3 monthsRefiPreserve reservesRoll into Rental #2I’m here to learn from investors who’ve scaled in smaller/rural markets using conservative leverage and Section 8.

After a year or so, you could then qualify for another FHA or conventional loan on your next property while keeping the first one as a long-term investment.If you are thinking about using the BRRRR method for your first deal, I would be cautious about taking on a property that needs too much work or has a lot of deferred maintenance.