I know I'll have a vacant place for quite sometime as it is difficult to find people to rent these rooms during this time of the year. 

It's great to work with a real estate-specific tax professional but it's difficult because you don't always know what you don't know.

I think it is very difficult if not impossible to write a lease from scratch and get it right - experience in both representing landlords and tenants over time leads to better and better language.

Honestly, the proper strategy at this moment would depend on a few factors that would be a bit difficult to get into on this board.

If you can prove he is living there (which can be difficult), you can then serve her with a notice to quit based on your state's laws. 

real estate that produces more cashflow' is difficult for the beginning investor. 

I have rentals in Texas and had a very difficult time trying to find a heloc for investment properties.

We actually have regretted flipping because finding good deals in our area is so difficult, wish we would have just kept them all.

One caveat on small shops, they are great but also you have to know when a job is too big or difficult for them.

If you have that, you can attract equity albeit smaller projects can be difficult and you will be reliant on friends and family relationship.