I know that we're not choosing the "safe" route, but I know that if my mom doesn't replace her income and tries to go back to her job she will have a second stroke within a few years, and the consequences of that will be permanent and life altering, if it doesn't kill her.

Additionally, check crime rates and the overall safety of the area, as these are crucial factors that tenants consider when choosing a rental home.Financial Analysis: Perform a detailed financial analysis to ensure the investment is viable.

/CRRA_WMA...Charleston County, SC (choose your county or neighborhood in the drop down boxes- for Bill Melvin): https://ctarmls.stats.10kresearch.com/stats/marketIsle of Palms, SC: https://ctarmls.stats.10kresearch.com/stats/marketJohn's Island (for Terri Hill!)

My biggest hope with anyone that chooses to invest in our area is that they are not only doing it for the financial gain but more importantly as an investment into the community itself. 

Traditional banks typically use depositor funds to originate, picking and choosing which loans to portfolio and which to sell. 

check with your insurance agent.. also federal law dictates that when your owner occupying your 1 to 4 unit you don't have to follow the normal fair housing laws.. you can pick and choose who you want to live in the units .. now some cities or states may have overriding rules regarding this.. but federal law is clear.. on owner occ 1 to 4.. your exempt from fair housing.so you can have a dog and you could restrict dogs for others.there is a well known list of aggressive breeds that insurance companies wont insure.. this is easy information to get.

Many investors from California are choosing to invest in the Midwest because of the low barrier to entry and yearly cash returns making more sense in these lower priced markets.

Your local S8 Housing Commission should have an info sheet on their website that shows their deductions if landlord chooses not to include electric, gas & water.Even more critical, your $680 mortgage amount, that you appear to be comparing to the S8 rent, should include ALL the other housing ownership costs: property taxes, insurance, vacancy/tenant nonperformance (S8 tenant may have to pay part of rent), maintenance & miscellaneous.Suggest you use the BP Calculator for this.

Know your comps, know your marketI bought the house for $500k knowing that I can put $50k of work into it and get an ARV (after repair value) of $600k based on comps that sold in the same neighborhood– I’m willing to put in the work to make this happen and can take my time since it’ll be my primary residence.As a house-hacker, you’re likely choosing a property based on one of your needs (close to work, near family, etc.).

It's basically another reason why I choose not to be a landlord in CA.