@Haley Powell Did the same back and forth with our first buy... condo v. house... after months of frustrating analysis, it nearly always came out to the house being winner, and the few times when the condo met the math, the disqualification was almost always existing issues with association rules that limited doing anything near househacking and/or renting after we left.

Then, when a truly good deal comes along that maybe nobody else is paying attention to - you will KNOW, because you are educated, that it is a deal worth investing your hard-earned money on.I don't buy into the idea of convincing other people to give you money, before you have proven yourself to be a winner. 

The problem I see with the strategy you describe is that my one rental in the Bay Area that generates $5,000 in monthly cash has one roof, one hot water heater, one furnace (we generally do not need air conditioning in southern Marin due to our mild weather). 

Winners will receive a quitclaim deed.Once the property forecloses, the previous owner can't get it back.

@Jd Martin Fair points - in my market, it is 70 degrees in winter and I rent in C class neighborhoods, so anyone who stays for their entire lease is a winner!

You should also check with your insurance company and get a reduction in your premium.You are a big winner if they install at their own cost.

I also tiled the backsplash.To make the counters look nice I sanded them down and then sealed them with 2-3 coats of MARINE GRADE polyurethane.

So I think I'm airtight legally.Since the tenant is moving out of state, I suspect that if she doesn't send payment for the bill related to the damages I will send her, filing a case in small claims court will likely make me the default winner, not because I have all the documentation, but because she isn't going to be able to afford to fly here to defend herself. 

@Matt Clark @Linda Weygant Him and his wife are on the lease jointly, but he's the bread winner so I went after him.  

I am a new investor to the area of real estate, my previous experience has been mainly with 2 SFR that I have purchased and of those two one is my primary residence whilst the other has been sold already.My previous professional experience involves starting up and running a successful insurance firm for 5 years in Wisconsin after which I transition to a more "active" profession by enlisting and deploying with a Marine Corps unit.