Hello Christopher, you do take into account your rent but once you rent the other unit out it usually covers your mortgage and may put a little extra in your pocket.

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If not, adding these items will cost you a lot more than $1500.Best of luck!

An example I see is with the kitchen faucet - seems to make sense to spend an extra $50 to get a larger high end faucet?

@Brian Garlington thanks for the extra info.

All bets are off in a house that has a lot of asymmetrical rooms, extra corners, or a lot of ceiling height changes.

Most of my renters find my ad on craigslist. 

It is a 3 br 2.5 bath condo that i am currently living in and renting out one of the extra rooms.

If you can't, then yes you can bring your mother (or another person) onto the mortgage to help increase the income, but keep in mind, the lender will also have to take into account her liabilities as well.If you decide not to do that, or you still can't qualify with her added.

Adding to this, he was working with a property management company that leases properties for long term, and then rents out to students.