Income you don't ever report is undocumented, and the lenders don't like to count undocumented income these days (they were burned by too many liar loans in the past).

I could say that I've recently been promoted or something along those lines.

I'm just wondering cause I never really want someone to hate me so much try to sue (or worse, they burn my house down or something) I usually just get them out, and answer any questions honestly if another landlord calls me.

If you can't find someone on the ground to do this for you, you're unlikely to be successful.If you start signing contracts and then backing out because "who knows what happens," you're going to burn a lot of bridges and end your career of buying properties in that area before you even start.

I tried the "touchy feelly" route by giving options and extend dates to vacate or get rid of the dog etc.. and got burned.

I agree now that a college degree is seen as necessary.Back when I graduated high school in 1993 a college degree still had value more than just being seen as what a high school diploma used to be.The problem I see is where many get degrees in things that rack up student debt but pay little to no money as a specialist degree.Other times they get a general business degree.They do this to be versatile.I think it hurts most job applicants as yes they can apply for many generalist jobs but so can a bunch of other people with the same vanilla degree.I believe if you are going to go this route at least get your Masters degree.That extra schooling will put you ahead of many applying for a job.You will earn more over your lifetime and statistically get promoted faster.If you want to be special and make an extraordinary life for yourself you have to avoid the herd mentality and stand out.So I say don't go to college for the sake of college.I know people with degrees that just can't get a job so they work retail as a manager making a crappy 12 bucks an hour.They go to apply for a job for their degree and surprise there is 50 other applicants many who have ten years experience where their company went out of business.Now you have over qualified applicants that employers can land at entry level wages and the students with degrees can't get a foot in the door.If a student can get free tuition they don't have to pay back with student loans or their parents have a fund to pay it for them then great have at it.If the student is going to simply rack up tens of thousands even over 100k of debt and then hit the world making 15 bucks an hour they will be in a world of hurt.Especially since you can't get rid of the student debt in BK.In the old days you worked for a company and gave them your heart and soul and in return they took care of you in retirement.These days people change jobs on average every 5 years and about 80% of the work force hates their job and does it out of necessity.I wouldn't call that a quality way of living.

The promoter guarantees the rents for a year.

"Tax benefits" are all too often promoted, IMHO, as a benefit when in fact the tax benefit is largely around reducing taxes on the rental income.You can accumulate the disallowed passive losses and use them when you sell.Also be aware that when you sell a rental, the gains on the sale will be broken into two parts.

Those old houses can be made to look great but they can burn through cash getting there.

I like stay awake late so I'll most likely be in the hotel bar if anyone wants to burn the midnight oil.