The closest thing to a "problem" that we ever experienced came from a lazy, underemployed, pot-smoking, entitled millennial who happened to be White.The below are just some of the tools in our toolkit that we use to evaluate prospective renters, but in our experience, we're much quicker to look at , amongst other things:   -  How people dress, regardless of their race/color    -  Their Payment History/FICO score (reflection of their honesty/reliability/honor in upholding their obligations)   -   Actual Landlord References going back at least 2 or 3 prior LandlordsAll other things being equal, we'd much sooner Rent to an articulate, well-spoken, well-dressed, punctual, gainfully-employed black individual than a late-arriving, sloppy-sounding, and sloppy-looking white dude.At the end of the day , it's about the Green(and the reliability of getting said Green) ..... not whether one is  black or white... 

Why would anyone voluntarily want to live someplace where they need stockpiled food and water to survive and weapons to stave off the looters?

Upon partial or nonpayment of rent, YOUR COMPANY is not required to give notice before filing an eviction.Tenant completely waives, or voluntarily relinquishes the right to notice pursuant to NC Gen.Stat.§ 42-3." 

Even last nights pot wasn't big enough.

That way, if I break even or lose money, I would still have some in the pot.

Wouldn't it be more efficient to take the original pot of money and stash it away in a 'plain' investment account ?

If you have a chunk of money left in the pot when you sell the place, all the better.  

I looked quickly through Airbnb and it looks like room rentals are going from $25 to $75 per night during peak season.I'm guessing that cash flow could look something likeMonthly CashflowRoom Rental ($500 per month * 3 rooms ) + Airbnb Room Rental ($50 per day * 20 days [subtracting days for flip days]) - Expenses ($1k) = $1500 + $1000 - $1000 = $1500Net Annual CashflowRoom Rental ($500 per month * 3 rooms *12 months) + Airbnb Room Rental ($50 per day * 180 days per year[6 month per year]) - (8.5% hotel tax + 1 sales tax) - $125 annual regisitration fee for home sharing + Using the Airbnb room as regular room rental for remainder of the year ($500 per month * 6 months) - Expenses ($1k * 12 months) = $18000 + $9000 - $855 - $125 + $3000 - $12k = $17020Start-Up CostsFurnishing common areas and Airbnb room plus purchasing pots, pans, utensils, garbage cans, etc - $5000Acquiring property with traditional financing - $30k or soI will kick the tires with lease optioning as a potential way of bringing down financing costsBreaking Even on Start-Up Costs$5000 to $35k initial start-up costsAssuming $500 per month lease option = ($5000 + 500)/1500 per month profit = 3.66 rounding up to 4 months to break evenTraditional financing = $35k/1500 = 23.33 months rounding up to 24 months or two years to break evenAssumptionsPhilly has a law that you can only rent on Airbnb for 6 months per yearI went with the higher purchase amount $150k but with the lower room rental range and middle Airbnb daily rateI'm assuming that the property will have 4 bedroomsIf my assumptions and numbers work than Philly definitely looks interesting as a vacation rental market.

It sounds like you are at this point now.If the tenant does not voluntarily vacate, we take the slip of paper to the Sheriff's office and they do a "set-out" where they force the tenant out of the house.My advice to you is to call the Civil Division of your magistrate/Summary court in your County (Lexington) and follow their guidance!

I always sue in Small Claims when tenants move out voluntarily but owe me money; the Judgment shows up on both their court records AND their credit reports for 7 years, so it's worth it.