You'll want to see if it's 100% homestead, that's applicable if occupying the home and when it's 100% homestead taxes tend to be a bit cheaper, but when you buy it you'll sign a homestead exemption form that will eventually eliminate the homestead exemption.

We give a birthday card and $5 Starbucks cards with tenants birthdays (from the application) and a $15-20 Subway card at Christmastime.  

Alternatively a small business can run out of their basement etc.When economy is good business licenses applications are up.Not a big fan of office but that's just me.

F as in all your interested applicants are going to say F*** this place soon as they learn you allow child molesters to live there and empower them by leaving children's play sets in the yard!

It's not terribly difficult, and there are great tools on the website (sample tenant applications, tenant screening tips, etc) if you poke around the tools tab at the top.A couple pointers:  be aware of tenant anti-discrimination laws.  

.- Buy some Technology - new devices or software.- Ask Contractors to invoice you NOW for work they have done or are about to do.- Pre-buy construction materials maybe even some storage to put them in- Buy tools for you or your contractors to use on a future flip - Hire an accountant to help with some of these ideas

Its more fun making money together, and I appreciate your out-reach and advice as I dive in as an active investor for the first time.About me...Economist by education (petrified of analysis paralysis), spent a number of years in real estate tech building & managing buyer lead gen solutions at realtor.com for agents & brokers, and adding SaaS (Software as a Service) utilities that help incubate buyer & seller leads until they're ready for a face to face meeting.

I work full time in Healthcare IT (software Program Manager - very visible and demanding) so I'm trying to decide whether to pursue a small claims court filing or writing this off as a learning experience on how to deal with inheritied tenants.  

Do not hesitate, to post questions and bounce ideas around in applicable forums.

Glad to have you on here.Advice for this site...1) Set up keywords for your area and interests so that you're notified when they're used and then start interacting.2) Read through The Ultimate Beginner's Guide3) Go through applicable blogs and podcasts as there are a lot of great resources4) Get The Book on Flipping HousesAdvice for REI...1) Study up on what you need to know/do for the 1st step and then do it, then repeat for all following steps until you have completed your first investment then repeat the process and keep learning.