just don't do a lease. as others have mentioned, this forces the buyer of the property to take over the lease (if its even allowed/ they qualify) and it certainly does make the property a little tougher to sell. i'm also doing a house hack, and here in CA, its made a world of difference for me. the bulk of our energy usage is in the summer when we want to run the a/c. my bill stays a constant $228/mo (i pocketed the tax credit and simply financed the panels after that grace period). instead of getting an $800 bill in the summer months, we run the a/c at a constant temperature 24/7 on auto, stay comfortable, and i typically get a little bit coming back at the end of the year. don't expect to pocket this "little bit back" by being conservative with your useage, it sort of is a use-it-or-lose-it situation... i think i got $54 back this year.

Luckily, my brother is a software engineer so he put together a website where new tenants can simply click on "apply."

Like Mija noted, they cost real money and time to maintain, and I simply was not deriving enough value from either.I had no intention of GC-ing jobs for clients, which is about all it would have allowed me to do that I can't do already.  

Here are some key red flags to watch for:🔴 Lack of experience: A borrower without a proven track record in real estate projects may struggle to navigate unexpected challenges.🔴 Overly optimistic projections: Unrealistic ARV (after-repair value) or underestimated rehab costs can signal poor planning—or worse, a lack of transparency.🔴 Incomplete or disorganized documentation: Missing detailed plans, financial statements, or timelines could mean the borrower isn’t ready to execute the project successfully.🔴 Over-leveraged finances: Borrowers with excessive debt or insufficient personal capital invested in the deal could pose a greater risk of default.🔴 Questionable property comps: Overstated market values or inappropriate comparables may mean they’re inflating expectations.As always, thorough due diligence is your best protection.

The lack of knowledge can get you into trouble.

Some owners would prefer a clearly defined floor even at the cost of not rising to the highest ceiling.While I hate to say it, there are also property owners who lack either the time, knowledge, inclination, or skill to want to manage their property effectively.

@Kasondra Milton- hi there ...thanks ...Raised in the fairport area ...live on west coast now ..last summer I had to return to Roch area to help with a family illness  situation ...I stayed in a AIRBNB that was close to Strong hospital for 3 weeks ...in my search for places - I must say I was surprised at the lack of options ( at least at that time ) ...that being said - I agree with your comment about the fact that Greater  Roch  likely  wont  attract a large amount of renters consitently  ( outskirts  like  finger lakes are a diff story ) - thanks and good luck

Put simply, an $8mil portfolio throwing off 6% would get you to $480K per year. 

You may have read how this is possible (it is "possible"), but the costs to do it will be very high given your lack of experience and know-how.You are looking for someone to invest with you, but what is in it for them in this equation? 

They’re simply projecting their own incompetence onto you.