Key Factors for a Good Seller-Financed DealCash Flow: Rental income should exceed monthly payments (PITI) by at least 1.25–1.5x.Purchase Price: Compare to ARV and market value for fair pricing and equity potential.Interest Rate: Aim for competitive rates; higher rates must still allow positive cash flow.Amortization/Balloon Terms: Favor longer amortization and align balloon payments with your exit strategy.Down Payment: Lower upfront costs reduce risk but should meet the seller's expectations.Flexibility: Seek no prepayment penalties and fair late-payment clauses.Property Condition: Ensure the property’s condition matches terms through inspections.Seller Motivation: Assess the seller’s willingness to negotiate favorable terms.Exit Strategy: Have a clear plan for refinancing or payoff at term end.Portfolio Fit: Ensure the deal aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance.Vetting multiple deals and consulting professionals is crucial to making sound decisions.

I’ve spent time assessing areas locally and identified Richmond, Pearland, Conroe, Montgomery and Katy as prospective areas to invest in.

Here are some indicators to help you assess a buyer's seriousness:Questions: Serious buyers will ask detailed questions about the property, such as maintenance costs, neighborhood amenities, and property taxesStrong Offer: If a buyer makes a strong offer quickly, it often indicates a high level of interest and intent to purchasePrivate Buyers: If approached by a private buyer, ensure they provide a Letter of Intent (LOI) and proof of funds.  

I believe it is completely reasonable to have a clause in your lease that places a cap on utilities with any overage (proven by a bill) being the responsibility of the resident.Our clause states that any electrical bill (we don't have gas, and water has never been a problem) that is over double the same month's bill from last year will have the overage assigned as a fee.It is important to keep your bookkeeping straight if you do assess a fee.

Right now there's huge concentration, but as this continues to build out and we see north of the high 30s GW by 10 years from now it'll be almost a requirement to keep some type of locality based risk assessment and to diversify. 

.- Creditworthiness: German banks assess your financial standing, so keeping accounts in good standing is critical.4.

OPI would assess your fire potential first.  

Only with a definitive goal can you accurately assess your options.What I hear you saying is that you do want to build a rental portfolio. 

When I was assessing buyers, I wasn’t just looking at how much cash they had.

While OZ investments offer significant tax benefits, assess property risks and long-term potential beyond the tax savings.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.