If it's a bank or other institutional lender (a company whose business is lending), you should expect they are plugged into the credit bureaus and will report your payment history there.If your lender is a private person, like a friend or family member, or maybe a local person who makes a few loans a year, I would assume they are not plugged into the credit bureaus and the loan won't show up on your credit report.Keep in mind that if you apply for other loans, and they ask you for a schedule of real estate owned and mortgages you're responsible for, and you omit a property and/or private mortgage from that listing, you'll likely have committed fraud by saying that you're submitting complete information about your financial situation but intentionally omitting something.In other words, a loan/property may not show up on your credit report, which means a lender you're applying to for a mortgage may not know about it, but that doesn't mean you're not required in the application process to list it anyway, and it does mean that if you intentionally omit it, you're probably committing fraud or breaking some other law(s).I would assume that the loan could show up on your credit report, and that you will be listing it in future loan applications to institutional lenders, and behave accordingly.

Definitely read your landlord tenant laws for New York to make sure you are in compliance with them regarding rent increases.

Also I've been made aware of the new tax law that provides a 20% tax ded for equip/contents of which I'd like to take advantage.

Check your Landlord/Tenant Laws before you even buy a home!

My in-laws own a house in San Francisco and my childhood best friend bought in Mill Valley a few years ago so I'm at least familiar with the market there. 

LolConsidering as wellHave thought that rental laws would preclude it but don’t know 

If I'm not mistaken, his stock portfolio seed money back in the 50's was from his in-laws leaving some inheritance for him and my Grandma. 

You should check your local laws.

Where I am it is youYour laws may be differentSo from now on when a tree branch first starts to come across your property I would notify the owner you are going to trim it off and do it 

I realise it’s conceivable this may vary based on local law - but is anyone familiar with a prospective tenant being held liable for any amount based on an email assurance that lease terms would be acceptable/signed, then declining to sign a lease?