I also require tenants to carry renters insurance - this protects YOU from expenses they get hit with.

Analyze properties based on rental income and expenses.

I do the math to figure out these ratios for each applicant which is harder than you think sometimes with people working multiple gig type jobs with inconsistent income because then you also need their tax return to calculate factor their expenses in.

I understand that Heloc on investment properties can be expensive?  

What is are the revenues and expenses? 

Are you factoring in capx, and other expenses?

However, the biggest maintenance expense, by far, is lawn care and snow removal.  

So me as a principal broker if commission is 100k I keep it all as it's my company minus business expenses of course.

I just can't make the numbers make sense assuming a $0 capital expense for purchase/install.2.

So you would take PITI + (any HOA, management fees) and make sure that rent is higher than expenses.