It seems like we have so much in common.

If you're down to 95%, turn up the spend so you're getting in front of notices and current vacancies. 

If you find a Duplex or greater for under $250K and with rents common to the market at or above $1200 a door then you have some cash flow. 

Save yourself the hassle and avoid these common pitfalls no matter how much you like the name or "professional" you believe the entities may appear.

- Joint ventures are partnerships where two or more parties pool resources, expertise, and capital to achieve a common goal. - The benefits: - Access to deals that might be unattainable individually. - Shared expertise (e.g., one partner brings market knowledge, the other brings financial resources). - Diversification of risk and reward. - Accelerated growth through combined efforts. 2.

I initially looked into Baltimore, but after some research, I noticed the population has been steadily declining, so I’m not feeling as confident about that market. 

Quote from @Cameron Moore: Exactly. 15 years ago, I noticed an increase in owners using insurance to pay for a replacement roof, usually to sweeten the pot during a sale.

It is common for investors to bring in additional signers, often referred to as credit enhancement.

Get your lease, notices, and documents ready incase they put up a fight and won't sign the lease.

I'm not sure I would get to cute trying to squeeze every time out of it now with a lease that might cause you issues in the future, but the scenario you describe is common and probably smart.