In the DC area they reduce the value of the property whether they are leased or owned.

https://www.har.com/content/newsroom/Highlights: Single-family home sales rose 5.3 percent year-over-year, with 5,260 units sold;Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes decreased slightly from 67 days in February 2017 to 65 days this February;Total property sales increased 3.1 percent with 6,375 units sold;Total dollar volume climbed 4.5 percent to $1.7 billion;The single-family home median price rose 1.4 percent to $226,200, which represents a February high;The single-family home average price edged up 0.4 percent to a February high of $281,945;Single-family homes months of inventory shrank year-over-year from a 3.4-months supply to 3.2 months;Townhome/condominium sales fell 5.1 percent, with the average price up 2.0 percent to $210,887 and the median price up 4.6 percent to $170,000;Leases of single-family homes fell 11.5 percent with the average rent up 4.1 percent to $1,720;Volume of townhome/condominium leases dropped 11.5 percent with average rent up 2.2 percent to $1,515.

By the way, I only do owner financing, "Subject To", Wraps & Lease Options.

---one has been in place about 1 year; just started a new 1 year lease; seller says he is a PITA and it typically late on his rent, but pays the lease-ordered $25/day late fee-Seller said he wants to enter an owner carry / owner finance scenario, as he wants to spread out his tax liabilityHere's where I need your advice:-Seller paid $150k for both properties four years ago. 

I simply have a lease agreement and in the lease agreement specify where the rent payment needs to go such as bank account info and account number.

Now, I would think that the minute those new tenants signed their lease, that terminates OUR lease.... correct? 

If the consensus is that I should agree to rent to them, as the landlord, how should I articulate the leasing terms in writing to protect myself? 

They are all in stable neighborhoods composed of primary owner/occupiers in markets with strong 30 year population + job growth forecasts.Sources of risk come from a variety of sources, starting with (1) the market, (2) the property and location, (3) price you pay, (4) management strategy, (5) rental rate you set, (6) rehab budget, (7) service provided to your tenants and how strict you are with them, (8) your ability to attract and retain high quality brokers, leasing agents, inspectors, handyman/contractors/agents, etc, etc., (9) level of investment experience you have, (10) familiarity of the market, etc.As an investor, one of my primary responsibilities is risk management... my ability to fully understand all of the risks that I am taking and put processes/structures in place to minimize or control these risks.And if you are a successful risk manager, i have found that in REI you are able to mitigate the downside and generate returns that ARE NOT commensurate with the risks you are taking and do so by providing a triple win to your investors, your tenants, and yourself!

I recently closed on a 3/2 in Tampa with existing tenants (lease ends next month - they are moving).

Could we deduct 50% of the security deposit as a new tenant placement expense when the previous tenant breaks the lease?