Some would argue you could expand all the way to Barboursville, WV.

@Johnny Aliensy It really depends on your goals and where your focus is at but here are a couple that I would recommend.Ken McElroy's - ABC's of Real Estate InvestingPaul Moore - The Perfect InvestmentAny of the books offered by Bigger PocketsMatt Faircloth - Raising Private Capital

You'll get investors arguing both sides. 

I would weigh that on the work out options.I don't like direct deposit as I have seen this happen to others before where the tenant argues that the landlord ( took my partial payment direct deposit so they were working with me ) is the spiel they tell the judge.You need to give the direct deposit money back with a letter stating that it is not the full rent and cannot be accepted.

I feel like they have you in the palm of their hands with no way to argue or theyll make your project sit .

He argued that if I'm able to get a good enough deal a builder will cover all closing costs; I'd have equity within a month or two; I'd get cash at closing because he'd give me a cut of his commission; I'd get certain tax benefits; and of course, pride of ownership.I'm now under contract for a home at $275K, the list price was $298K, and the same model sold last year in the subdivision for about $345K (April 2006).

And in about half of my properties I can get 10-20% forced appreciation via a rehab or other modification.If you can get 20%+ cash-on-cash return, double digit appreciation, and double digit initial forced appreciation...that's hard to argue with.

What we did was give them a welcome letter right after we closed that said, "welcome to ABC Properties, we're the new landlord" and we set forth expectations such as rent is due on the first, we use xyz app to collect rent so please email us your contact info ASAP so we can get you set up in our software and here's how you submit maintenance requests.

I was managing a South Florida rental from Alaska, a 5-hour time change, so I really did get that "2am toilet leak call" that many naysayers argue about self management.

You could also write the lease (but to avoid hassles this would need to be standard in all your leases so he couldn't argue that you made that special to him to try to get rid of him due to his service dog...) to include that you are renting the house to him and to have roommates they need to independently pass your renter requirements and be on the lease as well; all residents need to be listed in the lease; all of those 18+ need to pass your renter requirements unless that person is their child or some such.