.: Quote from @Charles Perkins: Washington law gives tenants the option of paying the security deposit over several months depending on the lease term length. 

Again this is if you want to do is passively.In regards to markets I would recommend the southern/middle part of the country because the price points are much friendly as well as the laws.

Yes the average American income is barely $60,000 and most of people on bigger pockets make more than that and a lot of people make that much in a month. 

I know a friend who is an attorney, although they don’t specialize in housing law.

Check your local/state law.

For the office, it is advisable to begin with home office deduction if one meets the requirements of the law.

* What do you do to ensure that the tenant is responsible for security deposit disputes since that is the largest reason for owner lawsuits* How familiar are you with the newly changed laws that can affect you the owner if they are not used correctly?

Our life is complicated and I work a complicated stressful job, but if we’re being honest, I also don’t have time for renters, but I somehow make it work and I personally think it pays off.Mtg: 1800Rent: 2900Owe: 200Rate: 4.5 I thinkSell Price: est. 450-460No other rentals except an in law suite on our current primaryFuture goals: would love to use this properly to buy other properties to get out of the corporate rat race. 

Hi Anthony-You asked about the best ways to find off-market deals for your in-laws to buy and move into and you are focussed on the Santa Barbara, CA area which I have been to and it is gorgeous.It kind of reminds me of an Ann Arbor on the ocean. :)Anyway, I like your strategy of driving and looking for houses in need of repair and sending handwritten letters and contacting rentals for the reasons you gave.

It is just laughable when places have regulations like a homeowner can only have a certain number of STR listings by the law but these big name companies suddenly start with 20 units in the first month.