My lease states that the leassee is responsible for all guests, so mostly I use that, but essentially yes add to lease or have them officially sublet from the main tenant and send me a copy of the sublease. 

You're -$400 a month, but it isn't clear if that included property taxes, insurance and repairs/maintenance or what. 

This way, maintenance, repairs, and taxes are the responsibility of the new owner, while you continue to collect principal and interest, potentially as tax-free income.I'm not a CPA, just a heads-up 😄, but you could possibly avoid capital gains tax with this approach.

Here are the details of the property:- Leased until July 2025: $1400 and $1450 per unit per month- Built: 1930's- Zoned O-2Information in the Rental Report:- Vacancy rate: 5%- Purchase Price: $310,000- Repairs and maintenance: 7%- CapEx: 5%- Property tax: $3,600 per year- Insurance: $2,400 per year- Roof: Broker mentioned it doesn't need immediate attention but will likely need replacement soon (~$15,000).- Cash flow: The report shows a $177 monthly cash flow.- Condition: The house is completely renovated.

Buying an old property with lots of neglected maintenance comes with a unique set of issues.

This creates two loan payments ($100,000 of equity and $300,000 on the new mortgage).Key NumbersHome Equity Loan Interest Rate: 6%Mortgage Interest Rate: 7%Rental Income: $3,000 per monthExpenses (management, taxes, insurance, maintenance): $800 per monthIncome and ExpensesMonthly Rental Income: $3,000Monthly Expenses: $800Monthly Mortgage Payment: $2,000ExplanationThe investor earns $3,000 in rent each month.They pay $2,000 on the investment property mortgage and $800 on other expenses.This leaves $200 profit each month or $2,400 per year.However, you have to pay $6,000 interest on the equity borrowed.This leaves you with an annual loss of $3,600.This example shows that while the rental property generates positive monthly income, the interest cost of borrowing the initial $100,000 results in an overall annual loss.

You could end up paying holding costs like loan interest, property taxes, and maintenance for longer than expected, which can eat into your profits.Then there's the issue of selling for less than you expected.

I don't have a property manager, so I do all of the outside maintenance myself.

Can I still make an LLC and just collect the rent and put the maintenance and mortgage payments through that LLC?

The calculation typically uses 75% of the property's gross rental income (as determined by an appraiser) to account for potential vacancies and maintenance costs.Monthly Payment Calculation: The total monthly mortgage payment includes principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance premiums (MIP), and any homeowners association dues.Test Requirement: To pass the self-sufficiency test, the calculated rental income must be equal to or greater than the monthly mortgage payment.