@Francisca MacThere are many ways you can adjust all the settings… but the short “as it comes setup out of the box” answer is that there is no charge to a tenant to make a payment using a routing number and account number to post a payment.If the tenant opts use a credit / debit  card, there is a convenience fee charged for the use of the card.  

There was also a tax advantage in that I would deduct the HELOC expenses. 

So, is it worth risking $300 to file for the mechanics lien and then also take time off for the hearing etc with a 50% chance of being awarded $300 for the work and $300 for the court filing fees?

@John Williams politicians at all levels of government are taking away landlord property rights to protect slum-tenants.We'll soon be like Ontario, Canada where they can't charge application fees or security deposits and it takes 12 months to evict a tenant.Unfortunately, landlords are too cheap to make political donations to stop the madness:(

If you accept, I am willing to waive the $3,700 buy-out fee asrequired by the lease.

Pros:Potential for Bargains: Auctions can offer properties at lower prices than traditional listings.Speed: The auction process is usually quicker than traditional sales, with a defined timeline for closing.Transparency: The bidding process is transparent, and you can see competing bids in real-time.Cons:As-Is Condition: Properties are often sold "as-is," meaning no repairs or warranties.Limited Inspection: There may be limited opportunities to inspect the property before bidding.Financing Challenges: Securing financing for auction properties can be more challenging and may require quick approval.Auction Fees: Be aware of any additional fees, such as a buyer's premium, that could affect the total cost.I hope this helps you out!

Does it make sense to rely on tax implications / benefits to justify this as a good investment?

Interest Rate: 4.25%Years Left on Loan: 26Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,750Annual HOA Expense: $2,268Annual Taxes: $1,746Annual Insurance: $1,674My concern with the numbers above is depending on capital expenditure projects and vacancy, we may not be able to cashflow.

With a $60/mo HOA(external maintenance not included with the exception of fencing) and 6.5% interest rate, my monthly mortgage (with taxes, insurance, HOA, etc)  will be around 2600/mo.

As a side note,  it doesn't seem like the margins are very good if you are spending $450,000 on the hard construction, still have carrying costs (debt service/loan origination, taxes, builders risk insurance and general liability) and have to include the subdivided parcel which presumably decreases the value of your current home.