Resources for Landlords and Real Estate Investors

Summer will be here before we know it, with sunny days and warmer weather. As the heat rises, your rental property’s HVAC system must keep pace with escalating temperatures. As a landlord, you must keep your rental units “fit and habitable” for tenants. Even if warm temperatures don’t reach dangerous levels, tenants have the right … Read More

A Mechanic’s lien legally guarantees that contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers get paid for their work. These liens can arise from any property improvement and cause major headaches if you don’t discharge them properly. An unresolved mechanic’s lien can prevent an owner from refinancing or selling his property and may even lead to foreclosure. What is … Read More

Every investment involves risk. However, low-risk investments allow the chance of a return with little risk of losing your initial investment. While potential profits are comparatively low, low-risk investments often require minimal financial outlay and usually perform as predicted. What strategies are considered low-risk in real estate investing? Here are three ideas to consider: Buy, … Read More

Inflation is the rate at which the cost of goods and services increases over a year. This rate—swayed by increased money supplies, interest rates, rising wages, spending fluctuations, and tax deductions—reduces a dollar’s purchasing power. And the lower a dollar’s purchasing power becomes, the higher the costs of goods and services will be. Inflation rates … Read More

Purchasing property below market value is a popular way for investors to generate excellent returns. Unfortunately, finding such discounted properties has become increasingly difficult in recent years due to rising housing demand and increased prices. However, deals can still be found by investors who exercise patience and diligence to acquire the right property at the … Read More

A real estate joint venture is a business arrangement in which two or more parties pool their resources to invest in a property and divide the responsibilities and profit, hopefully illustrating the adage, “Two heads are better than one.” Joint ventures have become an increasingly popular approach for taking advantage of profitable real estate opportunities … Read More

Generation Z is the latest generation to begin striking out on their own and forming new households. The U.S. Census Bureau defines Gen Z as those born between 1997 and 2013, meaning its oldest members are turning 27 this year. As more of this diverse, well-educated, and technologically savvy generation enters the housing market, what … Read More

From giving tours to prospective tenants to maintenance work to performing inspections, many aspects of a landlord’s job often need to be conducted on the premises. Fortunately, the IRS allows landlords to deduct the expenses of traveling to and from their rental units and other business-related activities. But since travel expenses are one of the … Read More

Owning rental property can be a great way to reach your financial goals. With a positive cash flow, a landlord can build equity, earn profits, and expand their portfolio. But higher-than-expected vacancies, operating costs, or repair needs can quickly turn what should be a lucrative asset into a financial drain instead. What should a landlord … Read More