Use the numbers as guides so you don't have to worry about being emotional about a purchase. 

Can we just start charging the tenants based on historical average usage (by adding a clause to the lease)?

Can we just start charging the tenants based on historical average usage (by adding a clause to the lease)?

Michael was right about some of the REIAs that charge, but there are others that also charge (for example Alamo REIA) that are actually good!

Just this week I had a client convert a flip into a rental after it sat on the Oakland market for over a month at a price that would have yielded fairly low profit, and this is someone with a track record of successful flips in years past.So I guess this is neutral-to-good news if you're doing buy-and-hold and finding a way not to compete with the owner occupants bidding based on emotional appeal inspired by a reality TV show, but bad news if you're trying to be the next HGTV rockstar flipper paying MLS prices. 

If I’ve never had vacancy does that mean I’m not charging enough for rent?  

so to be successful at this end of it means.. you need great contacts at your title company that will give you a lot of information and also do a date down literally on the phone with you.. you catch 97% of what needs to be caught but your still taking risk.you need to be able to prep your own docs.. you need to get the seller to a reputable notary  preferably at a title company your going to end up using to resell so they know the deed was not forged or coerced .. then you need CASH to either pay off the loan that day or reinstate it.. you need great relationships with the trustee's handling these you should be on first name basis with the person in charge of the file.. then you need courier service to run the cashiers checks ( in my instance from Portland to Seattle to NW trustee services). 

What is not included and you are charged extra for?

The interest charge is negligible 4.75 and it is tax deductible, for a net effect of 3.5% (assuming 33% tax).  

Charge the going rate for a bedroom in your area and put the money you save into an account to buy that 2 family (or something else).