But, you need to make sure if you have an interested party, you get them to pay the damage deposit and sign the lease asap.

I just felt handing over all that it entails to list the property, show the property, verify an applicant, do a walk through, obtain a security deposit that it was worth it to hand that over for a one time fee of 75% of my first month’s rent and then take back over once the tenant is in place.

Is the downpayment a sort of security deposit for the loan? 

What are the best and worst online programs you have used to help manage your properties, receive rent, charge late fees, collect deposits, receive maintenance requests, update leases, etc.

The real estate world is littered with former investors that got worked up over these situations about fairness, minor repairs, petty spats with tenants, security deposits, etc.

Lease and security deposit?

This is where they will use gross deposits as a calculation for monthly income. 

Rent Roll showing current rent rate, deposit, lease term, concessions, unit type & arrearage.

So far, it seems the options are:(1) Treat them the same as those staying shorter than 28 days(2) Treat them the same as those staying shorter than 28 days, but require security deposit(3) Treat them as long-term tenants, sign a lease with security deposit. (4) Treat them as long-term tenants, check background, sign a lease with security deposit.My main question is that if they have stayed longer than 28 days and refuse to leave at the end of their stay, landlords will need to start eviction processes no matter whether they have a lease with guests or not, correct?

One skipped out on a years worth of utilities but it came out of their deposit.