My personal preference is to look at metrics which take the opportunity cost of capital into account such as internal rate of return (IRR), net present value (NPV), or profitability index (PI).

Require co-signers (usually parents) if they have less than 3 years of credit history (This could be difficult because a majority of my tenants are international students).  

Other than one JetBlue Mint flight in the past year, I can't recall in the past decade that myself or my family has paid for air travel or hotel stay (domestic or international). 

Common area electric expenses would be low to nothing except maybe some demand charges, making electric components the better choice.

Although cashflow is important, it is now always the only component to consider when looking at a long term real estate strategy.

I'm using Liberty Bank for some Security Deposit accounts right now, and although I like Liberty for many other things, all 3 branches I've tried are LOST when it comes to security deposit accounts.I have a unit that will be rented to a group of international Post-grad researchers later this year. 

Let's face it, they're a revenue juggernaut," Carol Pepper, chief executive of asset-management firm Pepper International, said on CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe."

@Sunny C. one thing I did not see mentioned on this or the other discussion you started is that I *think* of your IRA is involved in a project in any way then you yourself are not allowed to participate in the labor component of it at all. 

I understand structural components, city code, foundations, going rate for trim, paint, drywall, roofs... you name it. :-) just haven’t been on here in a while, due to working.

needs to be documented by them specifically if you want to consider a payment, and never as admission to anything but only as a component of good will.