Our lease briefly mentions all utilities must be turned on, does not mention the consequence... this old lease is killing me lol.I don't know what the proper response is, could there be a huge utility bill waiting on the other end of this that falls on my lap?

Hire a PM before you find you have a non-paying tenant living in your home for 6 months while you beg him to leave while paying his utilities/repairs and probably a relocation fee  I hope you sell, but good luck either way  

We totally get the premise behind the Brrr method but at the same time, if you can utilize the same cash principle to buy a bigger, better rental house that will appreciate well over time due to location, wouldn't it also make sense to consider using the cash house equity for this bigger location house to be refinanced later at a lower rate and take the equity out of the better location house then and use the equity later?  

that way you can utilize a lower downpayment and potentially rent by the room?

I am hopeful that MAREI and other entities will have clarification on how a landlord can and should utilize this ordinance.

This will also help you be organized when completing taxes and writing off any potential expenses like furniture, utilities, repairs etc. that come with the rental business. 

The electric utility was shut off.

One strategy to rapidly increase door count would be to leverage an equity position utilizing a cash out second equity line or fixed second loan as a down payment for a new primary purchase of 2-4 units.

Here in Charleston, in order to apply for the legal residence tax assessment ratio, all owners have to provide copies of tax returns, utility bills, driver licenses, vehicle registration, voter registration, and the settlement statement/CD, along with an affidavit stating that all owners occupy the residence and do not claim legal residence anywhere else.

Tenant covers every other utility.4.