Converting your single-family home into a rental property involves several considerations to protect yourself and ensure smooth operations: Establish an LLC:Liability Protection: Holding the rental property in an LLC can protect your personal assets from potential lawsuits related to the property.Tax Benefits: An LLC can offer tax advantages, such as pass-through taxation, where rental income is taxed at your individual income tax rate.Insurance:Landlord Insurance: Ensures coverage for property damage, liability claims, and loss of rental income.Umbrella Policy: Provides additional liability coverage beyond your landlord insurance, offering extra protection.Deductions:Mortgage Interest and Property Taxes: Continue to deduct these expenses.Depreciation: Depreciate the cost of the property over 27.5 years, excluding the land value.Maintenance and Repairs: Deduct costs related to maintaining the property.Property Management Fees: Deduct fees paid to the property manager.Filing Taxes:Schedule E: Report rental income and expenses on Schedule E of your tax return.Separate Accounts: Maintain separate bank accounts for rental income and expenses to simplify bookkeeping.Lease Agreement:Solid Lease Terms: Ensure your lease agreement is thorough, covering rent amount, due date, late fees, maintenance responsibilities, and eviction terms.Legal Review: Have the lease agreement reviewed by a real estate attorney to ensure compliance with local laws.Tenant Screening:Background Checks: Perform credit, criminal, and eviction history checks on prospective tenants.References: Contact previous landlords and employers for references.Property Management:Regular Inspections: Schedule regular property inspections to ensure it's being maintained properly.Maintenance Fund: Set aside a reserve fund for unexpected repairs and maintenance.Moving Out of State:Communication: Maintain open communication with your property manager.

Together, we negotiated favorable terms with the seller, ensuring a beneficial deal.

I'm relying on appreciation of the house to make up for it in the long-term.

**Essential Clauses**: What are the must-have clauses in a medium-term rental agreement?

Are these long-term investments?

Friends of ours moved out of their long term residence, a high end condo in Aventura, FL. 

What were the terms?

When your tenant renews their lease and the rent increases, the handling of the last month's rent can vary depending on the terms of your lease agreement and local laws.

The other lesson I learned is that the right fit for me in this investing process is to long term hold the properties I purchase, rather than flip them, unless market conditions are so good that flipping makes sense.Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

He would like to see a 7% return on his investment, interest paid monthly, and his money back when we eventually sell or cash out refi (~10 years out).Our current intentions are to live in the new building, rent out our primary, and short term rent the 3 units adjacent to our unit in the new building.