Can I put any house up for rent in NJ?

[John S Lewis]

Are there any NJ investors that know if I buy a house, can I rent it out regardless of the neighborhood?  Or does it need to be in zoned for renting?  Or is it town specific?  

[Lynn McGeein]

Don't know NJ, but every state I've invested in, there are always different rules in different neighborhoods, especially HOAs and Condo communities, and also many cities impose certain registration requirements and/or inspections either city-wide or specific rental districts, so do your homework on any individual property. I always personally call the HOA or condo management and ask specifically about rental restrictions, pet restrictions, etc., even if the home is currently rented as some may allow rentals but have wait-lists after transfer of property or the current owner may be renting without proper registration or permission. I also research the city website to determine rental inspection and registration requirements and call the specific department to ask them how long the inspection process currently takes and if it can be rented before the inspection occurs if they are months out for scheduling them.