I know, it's a huge fumble but one that I undertook as a gamble and I lost.2) I requested the original lease from the owner, at least twice and he either couldn't or didn't want to supply them.

Find someone that comes highly recommended from a friend, family, real estate agent, etc who charges a fair price and you will have a sucessful project anything less and you are gambling.

You aren't buying rental property.You are buying speculation property.Anytime the cost exceeds the rents coming in,you are gambling on gains on property for profit(which i think is insane)Speculation is dangerous

I am not too thrilled about being a landlord.

Tourist says "Hmmm, how do I know you won't just gamble the money away?"

The one stipulation is that he prefers us not to buy any houses on our own... which my fiance is not thrilled about.

Worth a $50 gamble on good cheer to me!

I am currently using Calyx, but I'm not really thrilled with it and thinking about switching.

The gamble did not pay off.

. :) I absolutely love what I do and enjoy the thrill of learning so much throughout a day, taking on the challenges before me, and interacting with the most outstanding people and working the most interesting projects.