[CSM]

I should have added that it is your property and it is within your right to invite whomever you want to be tenants. I just was pointing out that there is much more to it than smoking.

[jsbankston]

Yes it is my property right to rest to whomever I choose. However, I must admit with the current economy here in Austin I almost rented to a couple that smoked.

[HamiltonJay]

Oh agreed, I don't rent to every non-smoker that comes along either.

I don't rent to people with pets... And I love animals...

For me the property is a 60-100k asset that I intend to hold onto for 10-30 years... anything that I feel will subject the property to undo costs, or risk, I am likely not to rent to a person. Margins are slim enough, and regulations tough enough that last thing I need is to have to come out of pocket to fix things after the tenant leaves... and as I said, in my state my security deposit is legally limited to 1 months rent, period. And my typical tenant requires most of his Sec Dep just to cover the regular clean up.. if I add a pet or smoke issue on top of it, its out of my pocket.

You certainly have the right to smoke, and I am not suggesting that every smoker is bad news... but due to the intrinsic statitical costs I know going in I am likely to have to eat with a smoker... I just don't rent to them.

I also know first hand smoking definately affects purchase price more often than not.