It's a duplex in Chattanooga (technically Red Bank) and we will be house hacking for the next couple of years to build some momentum and experience.

I got started by moving from Portland OR to Columbus Ohio and started full time real estate investing here and started with house hacking/multifamily as well. 

Here’s the context:The house appears vacant, with a large tree that has fallen on the property.From what I can see, the house seems full of furniture and might even be a hoarder home.I’ve skip-traced the property and found that the owner has unfortunately passed away.The house seems to be mortgage-free, and I’ve identified three phone numbers associated with the son, who I believe is the heir.I’d like to reach out to the son to express my interest in purchasing the property, but I want to ensure I do so respectfully while also gathering the right information.Here are my questions:What’s the best way to approach the heir while showing my condolences for their loss?

Three other houses sold last year for $189,000.

Don't be discouraged by the lower returns—house hacking is often about long-term wealth-building, and your primary residence can offset some of those mediocre numbers.Make sure you're accounting for local trends and realistic rents—sometimes expected rent growth is overly optimistic, or costs like repairs might be underestimated.

Typically, furnished rentals are for shorter term stays, so the tenant is most likely going to be able to deal with whatever your style is.Should be able to command much higher rent depending on the area for a furnished rental - minimum of 50% more than LTR.One option could be to lease the house and sell / lease the furniture in a separate bill of sale / contract.

My dad was a contractor, so I've grown up building houses, remodeling, etc.

More and more I see buyers look online, drive out to the house, and then while sitting in front of the house, CALL. 

The January 2025 report from the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR) shows stable housing prices and balanced market conditions in the Austin metro as we start the new year.

I’m in an area with a serious deficit of housing and it’s still taking me at least 3 weeks to secure a good tenant.