The rules here changed for the last round of funding-- where people with evictions pending are prioritized which sucks because I hate to file (damaging) eviction suits on tenants that are likely to pay in the end.Another reason we may have seen higher applications is because we put a mutually beneficial system in place for working with tenants who ( we knew) needed help but might could/would have begged, borrowed or scraped to make the rent had no aid been available.I do expect to fully collect 100% of rent due for the entire moratorium period.

It''s called House Hacking and it's one of the most effective ways to get started in real estate investing. 

A lot of colleges have old dorms that fit two students in a room with shared (communal) bathrooms or a suite with multiple students living in one suite and one shared bathroom. 

Any effective 'profit,' for lack of better term, that you take is called the "boot." 

Is this just as effective as getting an FHA loan?

Despite appearing 'scummy', what I proposed, is effective, and far more beneficial to the heirs, who are not willing to probate their inheritance, than letting it go into property tax foreclosure. 

In more normal markets it seemed to be surprisingly effective.

Meanwhile your tenant is pissed off because it took 3 weeks for the AC to get fixed the first time, and is demanding he not be charged for those weeks as the house was effectively unlivable without AC during the summer months. 

Is the low DP suited better for a particular strategy? 

@Claudia Brown    #1 You might check with your divorce lawyer....maybe he can help you file suit against your X for 1/2 the value.#2 Typically the previous owner cannot buy it back at the tax sale in most places, I would guess that would be true for PA, but not 100% sure about that.#3 Chances are if both your names were on the deed, that tax authority sent it to the billing address.