Afternoon, I currently live in Austin, and although I don't have any legal issues, I would like to find someone in the city or nearby who offers affordable help for landlords and real estate investors. 

Hi Peter —Generally speaking, it’s difficult to get a definitive answer on the legality of rent-by-the-room in single-family residential zones around metro Atlanta.

Which utilities can I legally require the tenant to pay?

I'd meet with an attorney to discuss what's legal and what isn't and stay within those guidelines. 

The federal guidelines, and they are only guidelines, not rules or laws, are 2 heartbeats per bedroom.But, you are in a BLUE state and tenants can walk all over landlords there so who knows what laws really apply and how much it will cost you to have those laws enforced.

If you can prove malicious intent by the tenant, you may be able to make a claim against your insurance.Consult with a lawyer, but if you proceed with legal action it is likely the only one to make money will be the lawyer.good luck 

If they're a private lender, or a small HML with loose underwriting guidelines, their borrowers will definitely feel it. 

Also, federal guidelines state that if you advertise a minimum credit score, that same standard must apply to everyone.

Sharing a recent scenario that I think other investors might find useful — especially anyone who’s self-employed or juggling multiple income streams.A homeowner needed to pull cash from their primary residence to renovate their second home, but traditional full-documentation guidelines were pushing the DTI too high to qualify.

Some lenders seem to be easing up while others have raised their minimum DSCR thresholds. Have you noticed approvals getting simpler, or are you finding more hoops to jump through lately?