I am nearly at the end of my first reno on a BRRR property and used a contractor that my Realtor referred to me. I really like my Realtor who is super professional and does what he says he's going to do and goes the e...

Her mortgage right now (minus the condo fees cause she can't pay) is way cheaper than rent.She will not have any place to go, but she may be able to salvage her credit if she sells to me.Landlords will become even more strict when screening after the rent moratorium ends.I just refinanced, my mortgage is really low.I was also thinking buying her unit, living there, and she can rent my unit, as an option if she brings up being priced out of rent market.

I need to take pictures and list to start properly screening the next tenant.

You're not going to be able to use the lease to enforce all kinds of arbitrary, petty, often vindictive rules, as we often see here by new or mentally deficient landlords writing here on Bigger Pockets.So for us, the best alternative is to introduce ourselves as the landlords, have a straightforward lease, screen carefully, and avoid signing leases for more than six months or a year.

As long as he's applied and passed your screening, you should allow him in.

I did the appropriate screening (background check, credit check, confirming with employer that they work there, and prior landlord references) on both tenants.

Having the integration they offer (lease customization, for rent postings, tenant screening, collection of rents, etc.) seems like a powerful tool especially with the extremely nominal costs associated with each one.Has anyone used either (or both) options and if so, what has been your experience with them? 

And they've been operating without a lease which means they probably weren't screened and they may not be too keen on abiding by your rules.

I have heard that since it is a "passive" and not "active" business that I would not be able to claim those expenses for 2020yr taxes.I hired contractors but also did a significant portion of the work myself as well as property management (advertising, screening tenants, software mgmt, etc.)Thanks for an insight anyone can provide!

Make a list of all the things a Landlord or Property Manager may do, then start knocking them out by looking at the most important first: how to market, how to screen, getting a solid contract.