DIY-Friendly Kitchen Repairs to Quickly Spruce Up Your Flip     Flipping a home to sell or rent is often about taking a shabby-looking house and sprucing up. A house with “good bones” still has a sound structure. It may have good insulation, well-built cabinetry, and a welcoming floorplan but the surfaces have become shabby […]

What to Do With One-Car Garages in a Two-Car Garage World?     Everything about it is perfect, or so you thought. You find an older home that has an attractive price tag and a delightful charm to it. The only problem? It only has a one-car garage, and you know that most of your […]

What to Do If Rental Rates Are Staying Flat?: A Guide for Staying Solvent     The bill for your property insurance hits your mailbox and you let out a sigh of frustration. Your premium has increased again, and yet, you aren’t able to raise the rent on your rental properties to cover this added […]

Should You Have Security Systems on Your Rental Properties? | Pros and Cons     Should You Have Security Systems on Your Rental Properties? | Pros and Cons Home security systems seem like a universally good idea. They provide added protection and lower insurance rates. But the issue becomes more complex when you’re talking about […]

Can a House Have “Too Much Equity” to Be a Rental? One of the advantages of a rental house is that it builds its own equity. Rental payments cover mortgage payments and you gain equity over time. However, when it comes to market conditions, sometimes the most profitable choice is not to continue renting a […]

6 “Desirable” Features That Are Liabilities in Rentals You want your rental home to be profitable. One of the best ways to charge a little extra rent is to have luxury features that renters love. While it’s easy to find lists of desirable features, what the trend lists don’t tell you is the risks that […]

4 Unique Risks of Pier and Beam Flips—And How to Handle Them Pier and beam homes are set on foundations of piers – concrete or wood posts set deep into the ground – and beams which support the house set on top of the piers. This type of foundation is excellent for regions with shifting […]

Landlord Security Deposit Tips and Best Practices Security deposits represent an agreement of trust and security between a landlord and their tenants. When a tenant pays the security deposit, they agree to take care of the property or accept deductions from the money they could get back. When a landlord sends the security deposit back, […]

Can You Add Someone to a Lease?     A rental home lease is usually one year long. However, life rarely conforms to that kind of schedule. When people need to change living arrangements, these moments happen organically. Perhaps your romantic partner is ready to move in, or maybe a good friend needs a place […]

How to Manage Your Rentals When You Want to Start Traveling More     For years, you’ve managed your property yourself. Now, however, you need more flexibility in your life. Perhaps you’ve retired, and you’re ready to start traveling more. Maybe you just need more space in your schedule. If you’re ready for a change […]