A few extras: (assuming buying in cash... financing would give me the cash on cash value) Purchase price (Once off) $87,000.00Repairs* $20,000.00Total Property Cost $107,000.00Closing costs $795.00 Rent (Monthly) $1,400.00Less vacancy & collection loss $70.00Gross Income $1,330.00 Operating expenses Property taxes $300.00Maintenance $145.00Insurance $50.00Management $140.00Total Operating Expenses $635.00 Net Operating Income (Gross Income - Total Operating Expenses) $695.00 Total Cashflow (NOI - Mortgage Interest) $695.00ROI 11.69%

Credit Scores - I've never seen this addressed in relation to homelessness, but how will people that are on the streets due to job loss, etc. be able to rent again if their credit scores have plummeted? 

My gut is not to have unnecessary debt, but I see some situations were it can help with moderate risks.   

I'm working with a net operating loss for my rentals this year, so putting the deduction in Sch E doesn't seem right because the home office should not offset ordinary income. 

That can include some attempts of loss mitigation ideas like DIL or Sale (short?)

Would be very helpful to all the MD landlords here.I take a risk management approach by not exposing myself to unnecessary liability and/or risk without the prospect of commensurate reward.The credit report is the supposedly the last step of our application process.

Beyond that, I'm at a loss to guide you any further without this becoming an instructive course and you aren't going to get (worthwhile) free training there. 

I agree loss of the entire deposit is unjustified.  

That is a fact and it is understandable that the landlord would want to protect the tenants and his investment from unnecessary intrusion until a deal with a good buyer is in hand.  

My first purchase was a condo back in 2007, after everything crashed we had to sell at an extreme loss and just finished licking our wounds.