Casino boats..... just saying......

In our24 years of experience, managing almost 100 S8 leases currently, the average S8 tenant has a FICO under 580, numerous collections from utility & cell phone companies, doesn't want to pay a security deposit, much less an application fee and claims they don't know how to fill out their S8 paperwork despite being in the program for several years - hint: they want YOU to do it for them.Most, not all, are eligible for government assistance due to a funeral-march of bad choices.REALITY: you are trust trading one set of problems for another.You can succeed with S8, but you need to understand the challenges and plan accordingly.

The company doesn't really have a "credit score" or "eviction history" so I'm thinking about asking for 1.5x or 2x monthly rent as a deposit (we normally do 1x month rent) just like I would for a tenant without established credit history.Thanks!

An estoppel is just a verification of rent and security deposits.

Seller disclosed leases and may have kept half of deposit.

I think that is why I found the deposit so appealing because they would handle all of the above, seemed like a better way for REO agents. 

.- Almost impossible to get any kind of unit damage paid for beyond what you have in a security deposit The rest of your statements about the homes needing a ton of work, contractors costing the same, and dealing with properties that are very tough to force appreciate are spot on.I personally do not invest in Section 8 housing anymore because they are normally cash flow purchases.  

Or for Closing cost, Ernest money deposits, etc.

For example contractor qoutes you 30k for renovations with a deposit of 10k.

The tenants must have a strong application and a landlord reference with the cat, pay a larger deposit and higher rent, and they are inspected more often.Nothing will stop the odor.