Buying & Increasing Rent

[Anthony McDougle]

Hey all,

As I said on here before, I'm looking to hopefully buy a duplex in the Charlotte area where I can live in one unit and rent the other, but most of the duplexes I've seen for sale are already occupied.

Every time I talk about it to people I know, they always say "once you buy it, just kick them out." I feel like this would be a huge dick move, especially since the listings say some of these people have lived there for something like 30 years. When I voice this concern, people say I'm just overthinking it, I need to have balls if I'm gonna be a landlord, etc.

One suggestion I heard was just to increase the rent and see if they're willing to pay -- either I end up with a lot of cashflow or an open unit. This sounds... better, I guess? I still don't know how comfortable I feel about it.

What does everyone else think? Am I overthinking it or do you agree that it just seems morally wrong to do this sort of thing? What are the legal ramifications of upping rent to see if they move out?

Thanks!