we take the first month and sec. dep at lease signing, unless special circumstances exist, I think Brandon may be referring to Ernest money that would be applied to first month, and that would have little regulation, unless you are licensed, and use state forms that direct where the money goes, and how it would be distributed. 

Use the loan that I just used to buy my first duplex in MN: Portfolio Conventional Loan, 3% Down Payment, No Mortgage Insurance (yes this loan really exists - - and it works in Ohio and Idaho (I just checked).

Acquiring Subject to Existing Financing7.

How many existing layers to be removed?

I was looking at buying a ALH with an pre-existing AL business.

All this lead me to keep my existing tenant and lower the rent a bit.If you are already at the low end of what is profitable for you, you can easily find good tenants, you have a signed lease which requires compensation if the existing tenant breaks it, and turnover costs aren't high, then I'm with the other guys and would probably not recommend you lower rent.

Looking more into the NH area, the competition still exists, but is a little less fierce. 

THERE IS no funding like that it does not exist for RE investors.. the ONLY 3 % money  is for the very wealthy that put up their securities as collateral and then borrow at 1 over libor.. so you have 5 million in securities at one of the big houses and they will lend you 2.5 mil at 1 over libor 2 to 3%  but that its.So here is what hard money is universally around the country so as @Aaron Mazzrillo suggests instead of scratching your head and thinking your going to find some unicorn HML.HML rates are 10 to 14% on rate and 2 to 4 points .. usually need at least 20 to 30% in cash into the deal.. one year terms.. etc etc.. once you establish yourself with these folks over time.. the cash needs can drop and rates drop a little.ON the west coast were we have a VERY stable RE market and TONS of money chasing deals.. you can get HML for 1 and 9  1 and 8 sometimes.. 

CMHC-insured financing can help open the doors to homeownership by enabling homebuyers to purchase a home with a minimum down payment starting at 5%*.Features Loan-to-value ratios up to 95% for 1 – 2 unit owner-occupied properties.Loan-to-value ratios up to 90% for 3 – 4 unit owner-occupied properties.Down payment flexibility — In addition to traditional sources, non-traditional sources of down payment are permitted for loans with loan-to-value ratios from 90.01% – 95%.Flexible financing options — single advance and progress advances are available.CMHC-insured mortgages are portable — helping to reduce or eliminate the premium on the purchase of a subsequent home.CMHC homeowner mortgage loan insurance is available to a maximum of one property (1 – 4 units) per borrower/co-borrower at any given time.CMHC offers mortgage loan insurance premium refunds for homeowners who purchase an energy-efficient home or purchase and make energy-saving renovations to an existing home.

For entities that exist to preserve the value and lifestyle of a community, HOA's don't seem to give a damn that investors are rescuing an often neglected home with a non-performing account, and turning them into a quality place to live with a HOA fee paying homeowner.Are others around the country seeing these outrageous fees, and is there anything that we can do to combat this?