@Cristen Marcotte Well, my last post doesn't help you much.

Make sure your listing clearly outlines your screening criteria as well as your "house rules" if you're renting out a single room in your home.

Lots of areas that pencil very well on paper but the quality of renter you will get is going to eat into any profit you may think you are getting.

.: I haven't passed this past legal review so for what its worth: Part of my standard requirements for everyone include income is at least 3X rent, minimum credit score, say 640, Clean record and no evictions as well as deposit is paid in full at signing of lease and 1st month rent is paid in full prior to handing over the keys.

I highly recommend a well-qualified REALTOR who works with investors and knows how to help you best.7.

Are there any creative things that could be done to get to my goals or from your standpoint,  or is it pretty well a firm "not gonna fly" type scenario? 

You buy investments and everything goes well, so you sit back on your laurels thinking this is a pretty easy gig.

To add value to the property, we undertook extensive renovations including the removal of over 40 yards of trash, installation of a new septic system and wall-hung boiler, and a new well pump.

We use them at home now as well, my wife likes to redecorate..

We have tried multiple local collection agencies, and we have not received a penny for over a hundred thousand dollars of bad debt submitted to them.We keep hearing, "It takes time" but it's been well over a year with the most recent one.