We have a modest security deposit collected up front along with 1st month's rent and the cleaning fee.

Quote from @Clayton Silva: Quote from @Jeffrey Blackman: Quote from @Clayton Silva: 2nd position HELOCS on investment properties are typically capped at 70% LTV and have rates ranging from 9-11% just a heads up unless you use a local credit union where you have cash on deposit with them. 

The pet fee or deposit for the move in of 2 cats (you did charge one, I hope) should have just about covered the extra anyway.

The amount of this deposit is going to depend on the auction itself.

I've never had an issue. we don't get security deposits or sign any leases.

Would it be a good idea to take a deposit to secure the deal until the rule clears?

With a bit of planning and good operations, one can easily manage 20 to 30 properties without an assistant, with less than a day or two a month.There's lots of automated ways to check on rent, make deposits (my tenants deposit directly into a bank account), receive maintenance requests, have maintenance done, etc., etc.One thing I could argue is to have your tenants ONLY email you, especially for maintenance requests, and that email goes directly to the vendor that you have set up to handle it.

Quote from @Aj Green: Quote from @Gregory Wilson: The real issue is how much of a deposit do you have to try to get back from them.Sure, your contingency might work but I assume you gave the deposit to the seller.

Here's the deal: You don't need to withdraw and return the current security deposit just to collect the additional $100.

We embrace S8 applicants, but screen them just like any other applicant.Many have an entitlement mentality and try to leverage their S8 voucher by pretending to be helpless:1) A percentage won't apply because they expect a landlord to waive application fees for them.2) Many cry broke and expect a landlord NOT to charge them a security deposit.3) Many of those same S8 tenants trying to avoid paying a security deposit, won't make an effort to call the list of nonprofits we send them that will pay their security deposit if they apply.4) A lot of them try to avoid paying for utilities.