Out of State Section 8 request

[Latonya Iskan]

Hello Bigger Pockets!

We have finally gotten our first rental in Richmond, VA. However, our property has not rented yet. It's located in an "up and coming" area, where you can see signs of renovations etc. We decided to open up our pool of tenants to the voucher because many applicants have asked. We are new this process. We just got a request asking if we accepted out-of-state Section 8 vouchers. I thought I'd reach out to the BP community first before I respond with a yes or no.

What are pros and cons of accepting out-of-state  Section 8 vouchers. 

Thanks!

[Simon Ashbaugh]

Hey Latonya, accepting out of state vouchers can increase your tenant pool and potentially increase your rental income, but it also introduces complexities like verifying voucher validity with distant agencies, dealing with unfamiliar local resources for the tenant and navigating potentially different eviction procedures in another state. I'd recommend that you weigh the potential benefits against the additional workload and potential difficulties that comes along your way.