You could put a small deposit instead of 20% on a loan.  

Would you take an escrow account with a deposit?

Purchase price: $187,000 Cash invested: $15,000 Sale price: $259,000 I got tired of moving place to place and worrying about finding roommate, security deposits and not having enough money to deal with maintaining someone elses home.

Purchase price: $187,000 Cash invested: $15,000 Sale price: $259,000 I got tired of moving place to place and worrying about finding roommate, security deposits and not having enough money to deal with maintaining someone elses home.

Ensure you collect a proper security deposit (typically one month's rent in Florida) to cover potential damages.Your plan to increase rent next year makes sense given rising costs (taxes, insurance, and maintenance).

Withholding the entire amount of the security deposit doesn’t even cover the costs incurred. 

Payment TermsContract Value: $[Insert Amount].Deposit: $[Insert Amount] due before the commencement of work.Payment Schedule: Payments to be made as follows:[Milestone 1 and payment amount].

Ensure the buyer provides a non-refundable earnest deposit.3.

I would keep the deposit unless I am able to rebook the dates and then I would only make her pay the difference for any unbooked nights. 

If they pass the screening, also find out who is paying the deposit as that is the person you will be returning it to once they leave.