I would rather have an empty unit for 6 months than to let the wrong person in you have to be very disciplined in selecting proper tenants.

Just be very clear on pets you will/will not allow, make sure you understand the support/medical/emotional pets laws in your state as well.Ultimately, if you're screening your tenants correctly, you'll be choosing tenants who are responsible pet owners anyways....Hope this helps!

.#5 Make Decisions Based on the NumbersYour real estate investing strategy should include the financial parameters by which you determine if a property is worth purchasing.Your strategy may include details about: Purchase price range.Investment cash needed for repairs and upgrades before leasing to tenants.Financing strategy for the short and long terms.Bargain purchase (the percent under fair market value a property must be purchased).Immediate value increase (the percent in increased value you expect after making initial repairs and upgrades).Geographic area.Net income.Cash flow.Net cap rate (annual net income/total value).When you find a potential investment property that fits within the guidelines of your real estate investment strategy, you can pull the trigger based on the numbers rather than emotions and personal preferences.#6 Don’t Buy from Unmotivated SellersMotivated sellers are usually willing to work with buyers, so focusing on finding motivated sellers can result in making great deals as a real estate investor.

(Side Note: if you really want to jump your credit score in a few months (because it takes time for the reporting to update), and if your disciplined with your spending try this;1st) I went and did the math to see what my positive cash flow each month off my active income (let’s say you’ve got $500 left over after you go through your monthly spending avg. which is all you kick out vs what you bring in)2nd) Go get a credit card with 0% interest for 12mths with NO higher than 5% transfer fee.( their are some with low as a 0% transfer and I had got that one on my 2nd round cause my credit wouldn’t let me at first)3rd) do a transfer balance after 24- 48hrs of opening the card (Nope you don’t need wait to actually get the card just call in and tell them over the phone to send a Blanche transfer check to your bank account in the amount of your car Balance; because you’ve only got a 30day window of transfer with 0% interest for the 12mths)4th) PAY YOUR CAR OFF IN FULL, and take your old car note (let’s says it $450mth) plus your $500 positive cash each month and add all $950 each month to pay against the balance on the card5th) in 45days start checking your CreditKarma app (its free) and don’t worry about the 5% if it’s larger than your car loan % because once you’ve paid your car off your score will go up and in a couple months of $950 your car will be paid OFF not in 2more years or so...Thus saving you probably more than $2,000 in interest on the car loan (so you get to keep $$) and time in payments.Your saving money on interest (keeping it in your pocket thus making your pocket bigger!

If you truly gave them your best offer, and they didn't bite and are 100% opposed to holding any type of paper, you need to appeal to the emotional side as opposed to the analytical.  

I know that I have the discipline to apply this method "safely" and am kind of excited to employ it.  

Admittedly have some emotion attached to it, since I lived there for 15 years.

Although we talk about not getting emotional when investing, it is hard when it is next door to your little slice of heaven.Lower starting price can actually drive it higher in the end.

IMO, and again I just do rentals.. but if I were a buyer... i'd see that as another expense I have to pay... you aren't selling the happy emotions.. you're likely making people see $$$ in how expensive it'd be to pick yours.     

The primary key to success in investing is discipline.