The paid off student rental plus the 2nd student rental helps pays off the mortage for 2nd student rentals and living expenses for me and my wife. the duplex was  cash flowing approx  $300 month with the old tenants We manage everything ourselves with some help from our family. 

The seller has the two lots legally separated, but due to deed restriction imposed by the subdivision development, found that building a house on the “tennis court” lot was not allowable. 

Here's the deal:Purchase Price (PP): $95kRenovation Budget (via HML): $60kTotal All-In Cost: $155kARV (After Repair Value): Around $200kRefinance (via DSCR Loan): 7% interest, 30-year fixedRefinance Details:After the refi, I will pay back the Hard Money Loan (HML) at 11.95% with 3 points:HML: $60,000Interest/fees: $3,585Other costs: $1,800Total to pay back HML: $65,385After the refi, I will have $84,615 left in cash.Cash Flow & Expenses:Expected Rent Income: $1,700/monthProperty Management (PM): $126/monthInsurance: $100/monthTaxes: $126/monthMortgage: $1,043.75/monthTotal Expenses: $1,395.75/monthSo my monthly cash flow is about:$1,700 - $1,395.75 = $304.25/month in cash flow.Return on Investment:Cash Invested After Refi: About $18,385 (after paying off HML and closing costs).Annual Cash Flow: $304.25 * 12 = $3,651Cash-on-Cash Return (CoC): $3,651 / $18,385 = 19.8%I didn’t account for maintenance costs since it’s a full gut rehab, and everything is brand new.

It would cost me only $2300 per month which includes rent utilities furnishing and property management. she showed me one example only of a customer who profited greatly.

Syndication Reporting IssuesMissing Form 8918 for reportable transactionsInconsistent investor disclosuresRequired registrations skippedWhat Doesn't Actually Matter:(Despite What Your Uncle's CPA Says)Special AllocationsNormal promote structuresStandard waterfall provisionsTypical developer promotesReality: Unless extremely aggressive, IRS rarely caresTechnical DocumentationMinor §704(b) gapsCapital account glitchesTechnical allocation languageTruth: Unless hiding something biggerProperty Value AllocationsNormal basis step-upsTypical appreciation splitsStandard promote calculationsReal World Example:🏢 100-unit apartment complex4 partners, $5M dealDeveloper promote structure= Zero IRS interestSame Deal With Red Flags:🏢 100-unit apartment complexHidden partner arrangementsArtificial loss allocationsUnreported debt shifts= IRS AttentionPractical Protection Steps:Basic Documentation✅ Clean operating agreement✅ Economic substance✅ Partner contributions tracked(Don't need War & Peace complexity)Economic Reality✅ Allocations match economics✅ Real money movement✅ Actual partner participationClean Reporting✅ Consistent K-1s✅ Required forms filed✅ Clear communicationThe "Sleep Well" Test:Can you explain your structure to an IRS agent without sweating?

@Phil Petite Forming an LLC in Tennessee is recommended if your rental properties are located there, as it simplifies legal compliance, avoids the need to register as a foreign LLC, and aligns the LLC with Tennessee's laws for property management and tenant disputes.

The key is making sure you have the right team in place—outside of market research, finding a trustworthy property management company is one of the most important factors in making long-distance investing successful.

The clients we work with who have found success letting us help them find highest and best use of properties, then we manage them for a year, and then pull out 60-70% of their money, and do it again - rather than waiting several years for a home run hit. 

Given the location and how the town has been developing it seems like a good investment opportunity for rentals.

We also would like to self-manage if possible.