All Forum Posts by: Sara Hill

BLUF: Square takes a significant chunk of my earnings and I am looking for a similar interface that keeps things simple but takes less money from me.

I have been using SquareInc as a payment processor for about a year. It's easy, convenient, helps me create invoices, send reminders, and manage payments for multiple guests at once. Just about everyone has heard of it and they keep things simple from a distance. My issue is that they take a significant chunk of my earnings. My guests pay a nightly rate using a credit card charged approximately once a month (unfortunately this payment type is not up for discussion). I am looking for an easy-to-use (for both myself and my guests) payment processor that doesn't take as big of a chunk as Square. Some others I have heard of are Helcim and Stripe but I don't know any details about them or if they are as user-friendly. Payments must be able to be made online (no credit card terminals). I am fine making invoices on my own, but it would be a bonus if the interface had this feature built in.

Let me know what you use or if you have any other ideas! Thanks!

Hello! I am trying to figure out how house hacking and filing taxes works. If I am renting out a room (or two) of a home to an unrelated party how do I report that income? What benefits would I receive? Any tips and tricks from personal experience that you wish you had known ahead of time?

As always, thanks in advance!

Hello!

I am deciding between rental management on Zillow.com or Apartments.com (previously called Cozy). I have heard great things about Cozy and its accessibility for tenants, but have heard very little about Zillow.

I would specifically appreciate thoughts from people who have used both, but would still appreciate singular experiences or information that you've had with sites like these!

Additionally, I am planning to us EZLandlordForms to write my lease, but would like to know if anyone has had good/bad experiences with writing their lease(s) through Zillow or through Apartments.com

Thanks in advance!

Background: I am looking into using a VA loan to purchase a single-family home. I am hoping to help cover my mortgage with a couple roommates by using the house hacking strategy--not necessarily looking for any cash flow, just paying off part of it at least.

I am looking for any information, broad or specific, on how to use the house hacking strategy while using a VA loan. Is it allowed? Do I need to clear it with the VA? Extra paperwork I need to be aware of?

Any information would help! Thanks in advance! 

I am currently working on the preparation for property from a home to a rental property! Aside from the big picture things like finding tenants and property management I am wondering what people have learned doing the same thing. What are the things that you wish someone had warned you about ahead of time?

This is obviously pretty broad, but I'd love to hear about anything from insurance policy ideas to remembering to get the place professionally cleaned--seriously anything. Additionally, my property is in an HOA, so if anyone has specific tips relative to that I am all ears!

Thank you in advance!