I have removed the non-paying tenant, and now two great tenants with good jobs and are very handy (they do all the repair labor for me; I just pay for materials) live there paying $700/month (this is a bit below market, but I'm OK with that since they help me out with repairs).My plan is to keep on doing some necessary repairs--just cosmetic stuff like replacing the broken blinds and replacing the smoke detectors, etc., since there's nothing major that needs to be done (otherwise I would use contractors rather than the tenants)--and then sell it to a local investor for $85,000ish who wants cash flow but doesn't want to go out-of-state or just refinance and keep it as a cash-flowing rental and then use the money from the refinance (or the sale) to, depending on how the market's looking, collect additional cash-flowing properties in the Antelope Valley or simply sit on cash until we have another correction.  

For example, you manage your own property and there is an issue with the smoke/co detector in the furnace room of a 4 unit building you own.

When your out numbered 6 to 1, its dark and in a rural place, I would prefer to settle matters peacefully.

If you're dead set on owning a house, find a smoking hot deal that will reward you for purchasing it.

@Wayne Brooks I second that one Wayne.. anyone who is in this bizz that does not check lien status within a day or so of tying up a property is just going to run into this.I luckily I learned this about 2 months into my sales career way back in the dark ages.. and boy was I disappointed.. from then on when taking a listing or buying something first thing is check title mtgs liens ..

It has been renting quite well, but the living room has some awful color schemes - we're talking dark green carpet and pink walls!

I personally don't like restaurants and that is a large part of the income and will probably impact the slips if it goes dark.  

Well we were over there the other day to replace all the batteries in the smoke detectors and noticed that it had been removed...Besides being rough on the apartment, the other tenants have told me that he's yelled at them numerous times, slammed doors right before they could get to him, etc.

This could fall under a 'no smoking' clause if you have one in the lease, but if they have a card, it may not be enforceable as it is a 'medical treatment'.

We also charge a $50 fee for unauthorized occupants, unauthorized changing of locks, smoking on premises, tampering with the function of smoke/CO detectors, tampering with the electrical system, tampering with the plumbing system, tampering with the HVAC system. ]I'm worried that the carpeting, which was new, will now need to be replaced, but of course I will not put in carpeting again, I will likely do tile or laminate wood.