[Tidybuoy]

I'm thinking of purchasing a duplex for rental income purpose but I have a few questions that I need to figure out.

1) Is insurance more expensive for non owner occupied homes?

2) If the duplex does not have individual electric/gas meters, how do you charge the tenants. The duplex that I am currently considering (haven't seen with seller yet) has a single meter box but underneath are two square boxes that appear to be supplying electric to each unit however, there is only one visible meter unless these boxes are digitally metering?

3) Do you provide pest control as part of routine maintenance?

4) Do tenants typically have separate garbage cans or shared, do tenants share the responsibility of putting out cans?

5) Is it safe to assume 10% of gross rent as an annual maintenance cost estimate for a fairly good condition property? This would be for non-specific maintenance as I will itemize things like gardener, pool service if applicable, pest control.

6) Most rental calculators want a down payment %. I am using zero down payment and assuming a 100% mortgage. Even though I am paying cash now and will refi later. I think this is the most conservative approach as there is a cost of money regardless of where it comes from. Does this logic sound right?

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated as this will be my first rental and I want to make sure I account for everything in my analysis.