You might just want to give it back and it might be a blessing in disguise.The tenants sound flaky and like they would be constant drama once renting your unit.Sure you may or may not have legal standing to keep the deposit based on many factors but if they fight you for it how much is all that wasted time and drama worth??

All in all, it is the harsh feedback that is most impactful and memorable.

I agree with Wheatie on funding options but an even more direct (if not a bit harsh) question is if you can't afford to buy a $14k house, what exactly is your investment strategy?

Instead, loans would only be made to people with truly excellent economic prospects, and with harsh, strict, academic and workplace-related terms.I'd argue that all of this would be better for the students.

When you rent by the room the drama of how the common areas are maintained and used is your problem. 

Drama between tenants.

Much less drama.

Lots of other drama there, too.I knew a couple contractors that I was able to work with, but contractors is an entirely other potential mess.

And of course we have one of the most stable tenant bases in the US.. no drama no hud etc etc.. especially at those price points...

I don't want to insult her, nor harshly burst her bubble that this home she recently rented for a year does not have A/C (as is common in this mountainous area).