The key test is whether normal day-to-day living would cause it and solid move-in and move-out photos are what make your decision hold up.

Hey everyone, looking for some experienced eyes on a deal I’m currently under contract on and would really appreciate feedback or things I should be stress-testing. 

The leads you’re getting are probably tire-kickers or just early planners testing the waters.

For condos at ~$35k each, most CPAs will use a simplified approach (engineering-based percentages, builder cost data, or IRS guidance like the Cost Seg Audit Technique Guide) rather than a full study.

Scammers know that paystubs, bank statements, and reference calls are the easiest parts of an application to fake.A proper screening setup cuts that risk down by pulling data from verified sources and having trained screeners review everything.

Verify in-place rents, confirm realistic operating expenses, stress test interest rates, and see if it supports the debt without creative structuring.

Keep these filters consistentSame bedroom and bathroom countSimilar condition and finish levelSimilar amenities, parking, laundry, yardSimilar heating and cooling, utilities included or notSimilar pet policyThis is how you compare rent for a “3 bed 2 bath” unit, you compare it to other rentals that are also 3 and 2 with similar features, not to the overall duplex.How to figure out what each unit rents forUse a layered approach so you are not relying on one data point.Active and recently leased listingsSearch Zillow Rentals, Apartments.com, Facebook Marketplace, HotPads, etc.

At Standard Management Company, we’ve tested quite a few tools over the years and ultimately settled on AppFolio for day-to-day property management and QuickBooks Online (QBO) for accounting.AppFolio handles the operational side — tenant portals, rent collection, maintenance tracking, document storage, and unit-level financials.

The easy deals do not test your systems or your discipline.

That data helps you make smarter acquisition decisions and avoid underestimating expenses.