However, if you want to rent a house then call it what it is...Also, a tenant buyer with bad credit should be in a credit repair program...it only makes sense.If you only have 3 potential buyers it makes me curious how your marketing your houses?

With the money, the Cohens amassed a portfolio of 79 apartment buildings and 34 single-family homes, totaling 1,674 units, according to a court document.But the Chicago investments suffered big losses, and EquityBuild’s fundraising program turned into a Ponzi scheme, the SEC alleges, with money from new investors used to pay off earlier ones.

Leveraging your expertise, I'd like to understand how you approach the situation I'm about to describe.Long Term Goal: Build RE portfolios using a buy-and-hold strategy by building up 40 units in the next 6 years.Situation: Small family owns their first single-family home which was purchased 2 years ago.Purchase Price: $320,000 (FHA, minimum down)Oustanding Balance: $300,000Appraised Value: $370,000 Mortgage: $1,950Est Rental: $2,300 (no expenses considered)Considerations:The basement may have been finished without permits, professional plumber, or electricianThe yard is large and potentially hard to maintainAn additional $2,000 is needed to prepare for rental or $10,000 in renovations before selling Therefore: What would you do as a starting investor in order to reach the goal stated?

Maine has the efficiency Maine program, of course, which can reimburse for some energy upgrades.

They will service loans under 70k and if this is for an LLC they have great terms for their portfolio loan program. 

if the owner is paying the utilities , go count the meters and verfy that the buildings are legal 9 families, there should also a public landing meter for each building for the hallways and out door lighting . i dont know what state your in but also make sure the tenants aren't on some sort of programs where the landlord is required pay the utilities to have the tenants .

Prepared By     Key Investment Criteria Client Name     Max Offer  $       425,000   Property Address     Down Payment  $                 -    Number of Units 12   Cash Flow (Per 100K) $88.30   List Price  $     425,000 % of List Price   Cash Flow (Monthly)  $         375.29   Offer Price  $     425,000 100%   Total Cash In  $    10,000.00   ARV/Appraised Value  $     450,000   Debt Service CR 1.16 Pref >1.2 Discount (%,$) 0%  $                 -     Debt Yield Ratio 7.65% Pref >10% Purchase Price (Max Offer Price)  $     425,000     Cap Rate 7.47% Pref >8% Percent Down 0%     LTV 1.00 Pref <.75 Down Payment Amount  $               -      Rent/Price Ratio 1.35% Pref 1.25% Amount Financed  $     425,000     COC ROI Year 1 218.0%   Interest Rate 5.20%     (Exp+Int)/Income 84%   Costs of Repairs  $         5,000     Gross Rent Multiplier 6.3 Pref <9 Closing Costs  $         5,000     COC Return 45.0% Pref >10% Total Cost  $     435,000     Break Even Ratio 93% Pref <85% Length of Mortgage (Years) 30     Expense Ratio 53% ~50% Payment Monthly Annual   ARV-Total Cost  $         15,000   Monthly Mortgage Payment $2,333.72  $      28,004.65   % Investment of ARV 96% Pref <75%     10 year Return 65% $284,164 Rental Income Monthly Annual   15 Year Return 113% $490,037 Unit A (10 unit Apt)  $    4,550.00  $      54,600.00   20 Year Return 172% $748,269 Unit B (Duplex)  $    1,250.00  $      15,000.00       Unit C  $               -   $                  -    DSCR greater than 1.45 1.16 Unit D  $               -   $                  -    Standardized Cashflow >180 $88.30 Gross Rental Income  $    5,800.00  $      69,600.00   LTV less than .76 1.00 Vacancy Rate 8%     ROI year 1 greater than 20% 218.0% Net Rental Income  $    5,336.00  $      64,032.00   Expense ratio between 45 and 55% 53%     Positive initial equity  $     15,000 Expenses Monthly  Annual   15 year return greater than 115% 113% Property Management Fees  $           320.16  $       3,841.92 6.0% Total Cash In Less than 50K  $     10,000 Leasing Costs  $                  -    $                  -  0% DYR greater than 9%   7.65% Maintenance Reserve  $           750.00  $       9,000.00         Utilities  $           375.00  $            4,500         PropertyTaxes   $           640.17  $       7,682.00     Insurance  $           325.00  $       3,900.00       Other (Snow, Lawn Care, Trash, etc)  $           216.67  $       2,600.00     Total Expenses  $    2,626.99  $      31,523.92               Net Operating Income  $    2,709.01  $      32,508.08                   Mortgage Payment  $    2,333.72  $      28,004.65         Total Cash In (Downpayment + Repairs)   $   10,000.00           Net Cash Flow  $       375.29  $       4,503.43                   Investment Analysis         Appreciation Rate (20 YR AVG = 4.4%) 2.5%           Rent Appreciation (20 YR AVG = 3.1%) 2.5%         Cost to Sell Property 0.0%        

I have spent a great deal of time the past month preparing to take the plunge into real estate.

@Blair Poelman Thats what I looked into, they tried sending me a sample and I needed a special program to even look at the sample so i wanted to see what other local investors were doing!

@Matt Shields, right now 6700 new units are being built in South Baltimore alone, crime is down this year, and the only reason why Baltimore is losing people is because the biggest voucher program in Baltimore called MBQ is forcing all new voucher holders to rent in opportunity areas, ie towns outside the city in Baltimore County areas with low crime, low unemployment, ie really nice areas where houses sell for 300K.