@Kristin MathernI would pay it given no keys were provided, it wasn’t specifically addressed/mentioned in your lease, you were provided the opportunity to address/fix yourself with a 25-30 dollar replacement from Lowe’s/Home Depot, and lastly, it was an existing situation that could have been avoided/prevented at move in.

I bought a small pool of 4 loans for around $25k total, they were low balanced loans with in different situations (BK, FC and performing).

Firstly, never underestimate the power of having low leverage on your property.

I suspect most who requested cash for keys had previously received cash for keys.What I do instead is explain:- the housing shortage in my market and that an eviction will forever make it difficult to find a quality rental in this market. - I will ding their credit such that all credit cards and other debt will cost them more.- I will keep their security deposit for funds owed.- I will do my best to garnish future wages until their debt to me is paid in full.This has worked 100% time so far.  

We have been a quality fencing company for 5 years part-time, and just announced this year we are going full-time with it.

With only requiring 5% down the money needed is very low compared to the Cash On Cash return you could make on a small Multi Family. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

At this time I manage and renovate majority of all my units to keep cost low but most likely not the best use of my time although I'm skilled at it.

But with inventory being low and you having a guest house, it might stand out.

The quality of people in his community is exceptional - yes there are world class experts, yes they hustle and are brilliant.