If there is a lease with the tenant it is up to the owner or through its agent the property manager to back charge the tenant or sue the tenant for lease specific damages .

A landlord may not:(1) charge an applicant a screening fee when the landlord knows or should have known that no rental unit is available at that time or will be available within a reasonable future time;(2) collect or hold an applicant screening fee without giving the applicant a written receipt for the fee, which may be incorporated into the application form, upon request of the applicant; or(3) use, cash, or deposit an applicant screening fee until all prior applicants have either been screened and rejected, or offered the unit and declined to enter into a rental agreement.Subd. 2.Return of applicant screening fee.

Someone mentioned one to me that had only $150 a month charge with no split and no franchise fee. 

Talk with a financial advisor and one that charges a fee, not one that will try to sell you something.  

Self-directed IRA If you are self-employed with no full-time w-2 employees, you can set up a Solo 401k & rollover funds from a non-Roth IRA as a tax-free direct rollover and then invest in real estate.A Solo 401k has several advantages as compared to a Self-Directed IRA including the following which specifically apply to your situation: Unlike a Self-directed IRA, you can have the account for the Solo 401k at a bank or brokerage that does not charge maintenance fees and where you will have checkbook control.Unlike a Self-directed IRA, if you use leverage (which must be non-recourse financing in either case) to acquire real estate with your Solo 401k the income will not be subject to Unrelated Debt Finance Income taxGeneral Considerations Re Investing Retirement Funds in Real Estate:1.

They sign a six month lease with the tenants and they charge $150 to $170 a week.

If your place can rent for $1000 and you pay some of the utilities which are $50 a month, charge $1050. 

GeoffCosts Due at Closing Points: 3% of loan (one time) [only financed at 70% of ARV]Origination Fees: $1,020 ($400 document processing + general administrative costs, $575 legal fees - preparation and review of all documents, $30 application fee (charged at closing), $15 flood certification)Appraisal Fee: $400 - $475 (paid directly to state licensed appraiser)Insurance: ARV x .45% -- (paid for 6 months in advance before you close; can choose any insurance company as long as it meets minimum requirements HML has + lists HML as mortgagee on policy)Buying Closing Costs: 1% of purchase price (title insurance + escrow fees)Outside Costs (Holding) 4 Month Flip (120 days): 2 months of construction, 1 month on market, 1 month in escrow/title; plan for 6 months Monthly payments: 1% of loan Utilities: $230/month (varies; $125 electricity, $60 water, $45 gas)Property Tax: $3,000/12 months x number of monthsRealtor fees: 4% of ARV (multiple realtors that will list for 1%)Selling Closing Costs: 1.5% of ARV---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Example of House:Buy at $120kRehab at $50kARV at $230kCosts Due at Closing Points: 3% of loan; financed at 70% of ARV ($230,000 x 70% = $161,000 loan) $161,000 x 3% = $4,830Origination Fees: $1,020Appraisal Fee: $475Insurance: ARV x .45% $230,000 x .45% = $1,030Buying Closing Costs: 1% of purchase price $120,000 x 1% = $1,200TOTAL CLOSING COSTS: $8,555------------Outside Costs (Holding) Monthly payments: 1% of loan $161,000 x 1% = $1,610 x 6 months = $9,660Utilities: $230 per month $230 x 6 months = $1,380Property Tax: $3,000/12 months x number of months $3,000/12 = $250 x 6 months = $1,500Realtor fees: 4% of ARV $230,000 x 4% = $9,200 Selling Closing Costs: 1.5% of ARV $230,000 x 1.5% = $3,450TOTAL HOLDING COSTS: $25,190-------------Out of Pocket Portion for Rehab: $9,000TOTAL OUT OF POCKET COSTS: $30,095TOTAL OUT COST INCLUDING REALTOR FEES AND SELLING CLOSING COST: $42,745Calculations-------------------------------------------------------------Buy at $120,000 + $33,745 (costs) + $50,000 (rehab) = $203,745Sell at $230,000 - $203,745 (costs + rehab) = $26,255 (PROFIT)Cash on Cash $26,255 (Profit) / 30,095 (Total Cash Invested) = 87 %Return on Investment $26,255 (Profit) / $203,745 (Total Spent including all cost) = 12.8%

If you charge yourself rent then you may get a $500 cashflow before other expenses.

It may sound nice to pay a 5% management fee but the extra fees can add up to be more than the other company that charges 10% with no add-on fees.