And as Will said, if they are using a traditional lender they will have to pay your entire fee in cash, the bank won't allow it on the HUD-1

Seems like it would cost far less to hire someone to do the work than to pay $1.00 per item.

Just an example to your statements that seem to be very harsh, on some topics.I agree 100% with item # 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 (except lose the key in some cases).

I also remove swingsets, diving boards, and other injury causing items when I buy a property.

Those six traditional forms of covenants can be broken ...http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_561503550/deed_of_covenant.html deed of cov·e·nantnoun Definition: U.K. signed agreement: a signed document by which somebody formally agrees to make payments for a period of several years to a person in specific circumstances or especially, formerly, to a charity.

Even if it does go up as many have eluded to, it would take several years before you went higher than a traditional mortage rate.

Surround yourself with like-minded people "Creative" real estate is non-traditional, which means that most people don't do it this way.

My next door neighbor was robbed about a month ago, most likely while I was home, and I am dumbfounded how someone has the nerves to walk out of a house with a mattress (in your case) or a big screen tv and down a long set of steps, and a number of other big ticket items (in the case of my neighbor).Like Joshua mentioned, lights on timers are a good idea, but I imagine that these are not your garden variety criminals that are used to stealing packs of bubblegum from Walmart.

I would argue that cash flow is the determining factor if you are running a traditional rental business.

There are no deductions for anything you're doing, with the possible exception of specific items like energy efficiency improvements.