Banks can only take into account guaranteed income so not any performance based bonuses.

Another bonus is that a realtor will not be necessary when you do the sale since you are selling your property directly to a buyer.Good luck in your decisions.

They want to convert the garage into a master on main and turn the upstairs into a bonus room then have final approval of material selections.

Is there any other method of helping the owner to reduce her debt/liability while I also make money on a property (create win-win scenario )?

I pay my current and past tenants a referral bonus and it helps me get great tenants and reduce the costs associated with finding great tenants on my own. 

The cashflow on the short term rentals are much better than the long term rentals and the fact that you own a house that can be sold quickly vs an apartment building is a bonus.

Nick,Property taxes will go from 4% to 6% which will double not triple what your taxes are currently.If you can get a tenant in your house that can pay off the rest of your mortgage for you while you can have at least a small or better positive cash flow then I consider that a win.

.- risk of losing the tenant + related expenses + very unclear prospects of winning this case (they would argue that leaking faucet that was not overflowing the bathtub is not something urgent in their mind)Poor alternatives (IMHO):- Tell them to repair the bathroom themselves, but there is no way I can enforce it.- Fix it, talk to them, give them "last Chinese warning" and hope that this will do it.** BTW when I called tenant to tell them that there is a leak, they said: I know, in the bathroom.

Hard money, first deal, sellers market, MLS; I don't see the winning equation in that.Save up 20%, save up operating capital, educate yourself....win.

Teresa Person at 1031 Exchange Corporation is very knowledgeable:1031 Exchange CorporationShe presented at our WIN meeting a year or two ago and knew her stuff well.