If you’ve read my articles or books, you know my focus is on maintaining and holding rental properties for the long term. However, I’ve recently started thinking it might be time to sell a property or two. But what about the tax implications? The thought of paying all of those taxes has usually stopped me from even considering selling a rental.  That’s why I started looking into 1031 exchanges. So-called 1031 exchanges get their name from the section of the tax code that allows real estate investors sell their properties and delay paying any taxes, sometimes indefinitely ..read more

When you are ready to market your rental property it’s important to make sure you are using one of the best rental listing sites out there.  There are a lot of free and premium rental listing sites so how do you know which one is best?  Don’t they all do the same thing?  Does it really matter which one you choose? Yes! Where you list your rental property matters.  Marketing your property on the right rental listing site can help you find better tenants, rent faster, and save you time ..read more

Technology is catching up with the Real Estate industry.  Self-guided tour applications like Rently and ShowMojo are making it much easier to list and fill a vacant rental without ever showing the property yourself!    But the benefits go well beyond contactless showings.  They can significantly streamline the leasing process. Freeing you up to do more of what matters, like finding more rentals to invest in or taking a vacation.   As a DIY landlord, you might be interested in this new self-showing technology if:   You are looking to grow your portfolio but can ..read more

If you are just starting out as a landlord, you may be wondering how to write a lease agreement. Writing a lease can be confusing and a little bit scary for new landlords.  I certainly felt that way when I rented my condo for the first time.  However, I was very lucky because I had the help of a real estate agent to guide me.  Most first time landlords aren’t as fortunate.   The fear and confusion is understandable.  Even experienced landlords may have doubts about the leases they create ..read more

Bad things happen to good tenants and they need rent relief sometimes.  Like when a tenant loses their job through no fault of their own.  Normally I don’t advocate for allowing late rent but the coronavirus pandemic makes this very unusual times.  It got me thinking.  What would I do if one of my tenant’s couldn’t pay the rent because of something outside their control? I’m not sure exactly but I know I would evaluate it case-by-case.  ..read more

Ready to take your rental business to the next level with online rent collection?  Do you want to collect rent online but aren’t sure which service is best for you?  I’ve removed the guesswork and compared the top online free rent collection services in this head-to-head review. Full Disclosure:  I am affiliated with some of the services reviewed below.  My recommendations are solely based on the features and functions of the services themselves ..read more

You’ve just prepared your rental property and it’s ready for the market.  Now you need to get it rented.  How do you fill a vacancy fast?  A great rental listing.  But what makes great rental ads?  Catchy headlines?  Photos?  Incentives? I analyzed well over 2,000 rental ads in one metro market.  My research busted some common myths about what makes a great rental property listing ..read more

Are you considering a real estate syndication for your next deal? Maybe you’re like me and have reached a point in your real estate investing career where you are looking to get into a real estate syndication deals to accelerate your growth. Real estate syndications offer a few advantages over other real estate investment vehicles. But the reason I like them is that they offer 3 ways to accelerate your growth as a real estate investor:  A more passive way to invest Access to bigger deals Learning from experienced investors  This article will explore those growth accelerators, plus: Define ..read more

Getting a home rent ready can be daunting if you don’t know where to focus your efforts.  Which repairs should you prioritize?  What can you do to make your home tenant-proof?  What are the tax implications of all these expenses? It can be overwhelming but I have a system that can help. Whether you are an accidental landlord getting your home rent ready or you are a real estate investor who just scored your first rental property, my system will help you manage the process ..read more

Are you wondering if you should rent your home but aren’t sure where to begin?  Maybe you can’t decide because you don’t know if your home would even make a good rental property. I can help because I’ve been through it myself.  Actually, I’ve converted three of my own homes into rentals.  But it wasn’t easy at first. I struggled with the decision the first time because I had many of the same questions that you probably have right now:  How much rent should I charge ..read more