Of course you are right - I can't control the open windows.Although I did do that for my own children.  

We're always looking for large houses, with as many rooms and beds as possible because we go with multiple friends, which usually includes gaggles of children.

Jon Klaus, a livestock guardian, like a service dog, is not a pet.However, I have only 2 properties where a tenant might have sheep, and I would not permit a livestock guardian in either property because both of those are in neighborhoods with a lot of young children, and you can tell children until you are blue in the face and they still do stupid things.I've only ever had 1 tenant with sheep and it was bad enough they kept an aggressive pet turkey.

Remember, if your tenant has any children under 6 yrs old, you can have no flaking paint anywhere on the property, including the garage.

_________________________________________________As far as managing yourself it cost you time to do that.People can usually self manage up to about 20 units for apartments.Anything past that it starts getting out of control.10 units is manageable for most.It depends on the location and class of building also.The tenant base the more you go into rougher or low income areas the more problems.The tenants tend to be more uneducated,have more problems,and income is more volatile and turnover causes much more intense management.Some are really nice but it's almost like managing children in some cases as they have a hard time balancing budgets,understanding things,etc.I find buyers fall into mainly 2 categories.They usually are trying to grow as much cash as possible and manage themselves as this is their first few properties OR they are a seasoned buyer who wants tax depreciation and cash flow and owns many properties and always uses management.

As Mike says, many RE investors carry concealed firearms.I charge a high screening fee (for around here) of $35 so I know my low-income tenants are serious if they pay it -- plus I tell them it is non-refundable if they lie on the form or don't fill it out completely.Also, when I show a property I usually go with my partner who is an ex-school teacher and a good judge of both adults and children.

this is a comment allegedly from tenant in videoiam shanae, and just wanted everyone to know that vannesa is a deat beat landlord. for one she does not pay her bills she ask me to pay her home asssociation fees, vanessa told the news cast that i did not pay her since june which is a lie i have proof to show. she harrassed me even before the rent was due cutting wires now me and my family is in a house thats 92 degrees inside i have five children and they are very uncomfortable vanessa told me and my husband that we were very good tenants. soon as i told her we was moving thats when things begin vanessa told the police that she wanted to take a washer and dryer that me and my husband purchase this lady is crazy iam not paying her anything the house that iam renting is in the same condition as it was when i moved in i went through a realty company that i was dealing with and they can comfirm my payments she poped up at the house and told me that i would pay her directly when i called the realty company they did not even know what was going on vanessa lies about everything and at the end of the day she does not come out a winner

You are running a business, not a charity.I just recently had to give the boot to a family with two young children and one on the way.

Whether it be the seller, or the seller's children ...

Also, I'm not purchasing with the intent to resell, but to leave as part of our "estate" to our children, however if circumstances changed, and we had to sell, we would.