I am working on defining my strategy as i get more involved and I have at least settled on buying rental property to hold and generate steady stream of income.

But rather than a third party grabbing the house at a discount, the borrower can, and must obtain the funds and show they are on the borrowers account, and then the mortgage is simply settled. 

First...I was so eager to get my cash working for me, I settled for a good...but not great deal. 

I struggle in the fall because people want to be settled before school starts and the cold weather moves in. 

At the same time It’s hard for me to settle down.

Here are the options I'm currently booting around while I wait to close.1. sign all tenants who are currently under a month to month with a 3 month lease to let all my funds and the "new owner" feeling settle in with the tenantsa. update common areas like the halls, stairs, paint etc which will give "reason" to the upcoming rent raisesb. at the end of the 3 months raise the rents on those who need it most in hopes of either they leave or if they stay they're paying at least close to avg rents for the area if not the equivalent of the avg rents.c. as they move out update, raise the rents for the next tenants.2. 

Another way to settle that is, If you're paying cash/hard money, having the seller put the property into a trust and you transfer ownership interest in the trust. 

She may wish to get her life on track some day and decide to settle.

Forget tax benefits, are we really settling for 3.5% cash returns here?

The return needs to make sense but depending on the area you might settle for a smaller ROI but more of a potential appreciation play.