You’ve gained valuable experience from your first duplex and are now approaching real estate with a strategic mindset

One common approach is to form a legal entity, such as an LLC, where both of you are equal partners.

Here’s how you could approach this:Set Clear Criteria: Use objective criteria (e.g., income, credit score, rental history) to evaluate applications in the order they are received.Notify Applicants: Let each applicant know you will process applications sequentially and explain your timeline for review.Act Promptly: If the first applicant meets your criteria, move forward with their application and provide them with a clear deadline to sign the lease and pay the deposit.Move to the Next: Only if the first applicant does not meet the criteria or declines the lease should you proceed to the next application.By focusing on one application at a time, you simplify the process, maintain transparency, and mitigate any potential fair housing concerns.Lastly, since housing laws can vary by location, double-check Arizona’s landlord-tenant regulations to ensure compliance with any local rules about how applications are handled.Best of luck with your rental process!

A good approach is asking other investors who they use and seeing if they can introduce you.Either way, it sounds like 2025 is going to be a big year for you!

So I get your hesitation to be too demanding and your desire for the problems to go away as fast as they can, however since you have NO property manager ( I don't use one either), it is incumbent that you take a more ACTIVE approach with management of your property.Let's review your situation.  1st time leak occurred, you sent a plumber over to find the problem.  

I have seen schemes like that and they are demeaning.This course teaches you how to approach real estate investors, offer them financing for their ventures and then find that financing. 

2025 is approaching fast, and I know many of us have already started our business planning for the year ahead.

You are prepared to walk away from a deal.Not going to give you the answer (maybe if you were Army or Air Force) LOL, but here is the approach. 

also how would I approach working with an investor?

Can try to reposition to Class B, but neighborhood may impede these efforts.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, but 15-20% should be used to also cover tenant nonpayment, eviction costs & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores of 560-620 (approaching 22% probability of default), many blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 2 years.