All Forum Posts by: Marc Phelps

Call your local zoning office.  Ask them: 1) Can you build additional homes on the property?  2) Can you build an 'accessory dwelling' on the property?  3) Can you rent out accessory dwellings?  4) What are the size and setback requirements in your zoning district?

I've never met a zoning person who wasn't able to quickly answer those questions.  They typically will give you a firm no or a maybe (they hardly ever say 'yes').  

I have used ehealthinsurance.com with success.  I also think medishare is an interesting option but I've never used them.

I have done both.  The problem with taking a non-refundable fee is when your tenant moves out, no matter how great they were when they moved in, they will remember that the 'deposit' is non-refundable and many (if not most) will make a point of trying to stick you for $500.  They won't clean up or they just will leave it out of their last rent payment.  Of course, you can track them down and try to collect your damages if you want.  Just keep in mind that you aren't the only party in the transaction who may find motivation in the 'non-refundable' part of the move-in fee.

The correct answer is to talk to your attorney. My question for the attorney, if he/she says it's fine, would be this: Are you losing the benefit of an LLC by operating it as if it were a sole proprietorship? So by saying that your LLC is an owner/operator on a building that you are the actual deed-holder, are you breaking the corporate veil and losing the protection of an LLC?