The clock for handling the old deposit doesn't start until the old lease is terminated.This is not really your problem, other than approving the new roommate.

You might be better off using an eviction service.They will be cheaper and go to court for you and handle the trashing out and serving of the eviction.You won't find an attorney getting dirty they will just shuffle papers and show up in court.In fact I have had judges rule against attorneys and enjoyed our cases much more as we were on the ball.Some attorneys feel "special" just because they hold a law license and are below par in their performance.I tell them the eviction is filed regardless of promise of payment.I tell them you can always pay at the court hearing and I can drop the case.If you don't you will get stories like I can pay you 600 and get caught up this week and then you hear stuff like I only have 300 because such and such happened.Then they get further and further behind.They need to pay me in full and go cold with the utilities,or do without internet,cell phone,cable..

The counties want their money and they don't want to have to wait and hold a tax lien certificate sale to get their revenues.So by setting the rules where most lien holders are behind tax liens, they force mortgage holders to have a vested interest in the taxes being paid each year.As a former FDIC Liquidation Analyst (back in 1984) I handled loans that the FDIC was stuck with from failed banks.

Anyway she would have handled the closing.One real estate agent just gave up.

It could also be handled as an optional thing for the day or evening before.

It may take some work when you are first getting started, but once you get a handle on things it settles down and becomes very passive.

I worked out a deal with a property management company where they charge me a very small fee to "manage" the property since I am on-site and handle almost everything.

On a $30K investment (actually higher with your closing costs), you're looking at about 8.7% cash on cash return.Now, if you manage it yourself and handle minor maintenance you can earn a pretty good chunk of that "50%" for yourself.

My PM is Portfolio Properties now and they handle all the repairs.

As we see here, there are risks beyond just getting into a house and having to take on responsibilities the landlord used to handle.