Here is how we usually handle situations like this: if a tenant communicates with us, we usually try to work something out with the tenant. 

I’d love to hear from fellow self-managing landlords about the biggest lessons you’ve learned along the way—whether it’s handling difficult move outs, maintenance strategies, or unique ways to streamline day-to-day operations.

I would want to know how you handle all of the negatives and bad outcomes long before you told me how great the investment was going to be.  

Even a brief consultation can clarify your legal standing and provide additional strategies tailored to Raleigh’s market.Have you considered asking other local landlords how they’ve handled early lease terminations?

This kind of thing happens and now would be a good time to negotiate and add to your agreement how it will be handled in future.

To structure a partnership, consider forming an LLC where you handle property management, renovations, and operations, while the investor provides the down payment.

Here’s how we handle applications:Income Verification: We require proof of income that’s at least three times the monthly rent, verified through six recent pay stubs and a detailed employment verification process.

As mentioned elsewhere, as much as you're able to do so now, handle all estate matters so you can avoid probate.

I think real estate investors in the game just become confident as to handle new challenges and they call that being experienced - Just like parenting: you think you are experienced with changing diapers, but the child is growing-kindergaten-grade one-baseball/soccer- soon teenage and the jazz goes on - grandparent

I do not care what the source of the return is  Historically the highest return is via a value add and appreciation and is more so recently due to the recent rate increase versus earlier this century (before 2022).However, most new RE investors cannot handle extended periods of large negative cash flow.