To give perspective, the homes on either side of this just sold for $600K+.

I don't know the answer from the perspective of FHA, but from a city/county perspectitve, you should go down to the Planning & Zoning office and talk to them about the legality of building out a 5th unit.

The reason for that shift in argument is because this is much more likely to make a difference to the tenant AND going to the power vent eliminates the need for chimney maintenance.Homes in my area tend to be older, meaning the chimneys are in need of repairs or will soon.

So for me I shifted to a market just outside Orlando that has much better numbers (I probably should have been buying there earlier looking back).Flips in Orlando are getting more competitive as well, but easier to sell as retail buyers are entering the market in bigger numbers.

@Sean Leone,To make the @ work, do the following:Hold down the shift key and type @?

Also, I'm interested in the landlord's perspective on dishwashers.

@J ScottWell i guess for my perspective growing up in a small town in Alabama, when people said they would help, they would.

Your next primary sounds even worse from a cash flow perspective, but I understand there's more to life than cash flow.From a net worth (longer term perspective), holding on to your practically free 1st house while you continue to build equity, enjoy a low maintenance rental, sounds like a safe way to be a first time landlord.

There is another report, the National Apartment Report,produced by Marcus & Millichap that gives their opinion/perspective on the market.

That's the great thing about BP..With an open mind, you can consider other options and use "out of the box" thinking....Lots of insight and different perspectives..I talked to a BP investor in AR this week and exchanged ideas...