First off, I don't think the "PM me and I'll spill the dirt" will work, because it can get you in the same legal trouble if a scammer tricks you into dishing dirt on themselves, now they have a very clear paper trail of you slandering them.

Or you could require the tenant to mow, possibly lowering the rental income stream if you have to knock a few buck off the monthly rent as an inducement.Is this the same as if you hired an investment advisorr to monitor your IRA stock and mutual fund investments and make periodic tweaks?

If you put out a good product and word goes around (as it does in small towns) that you're an A+ operator, I think you could have a reliable stream of renters.Seems like the key would be to choose a small town with multiple employers and/or in the path of progress.

It's easier to swim up stream, aim higher and allow the current to work for you and carry you to your mark. :)

They maybe have a college degree (or not), they like to show up at 8 AM (or 8:05, or 8:10), grab a cup of coffee, swap stories at the water cooler, take an hour lunch (or 1 hour & 15 minutes) while they read a novel or play video games or stream the latest episode of GOT, and clock out at 5 PM (or 4:55), go home and that's their career. 

However, it will never be my recommendation to try and rent a property in opposition to city code, in which you're relying on that income stream to support the business.

It can also provide a steady income stream from interest payments, potentially resulting in a higher sale price.However, there are also risks associated with seller financing, such as the buyer defaulting on payments (if the seller still has a mortgage) or property value fluctuations.

@Alex T.A friend of mine just dug deeper to increase the ceiling height of his basement and in the process but an under ground stream.

They texted us 1 week later saying that this was their last month - 25 day notice - it is written in the lease that there is a 60-day noticeThey left and gave us no information and since then they haven't answered any calls or textsThe trashed the place, have two outstanding water bills ($150), left trash in the apartment that I had to get a clean out crew, destroyed the walls, damaged kitchen cabinets, left spilled food in freezer, didn't pay for the missing rent, missed two trash payments, etcBeing in the business I have to admit this is not the worst thing in the world.

Hotels are a business with multiple income streams and much more operational issues.