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We are diving deep into maintenance this week.
You see, maintenance is not only on your rental property, but it can also be in the office as well.
This week on the podcast we are discussing all things preventative maintenance from inspections, to being proactive and dealing with issues before they become much worse.
Also included in maintenance is maintaining good records and guiding your tenant on how they can help keep your unit in good condition.
It’s all about how best to set yourself as a landlord and your tenants up for success!
LINKS
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👉 Episode 54: How to Handle Lease Violations Like A Pro
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👉 Course Waitlist: From Marketing to Move In, Place Your Ideal Tenant
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We’re well into tax season now, and that means it’s time to start prepping those tax returns.
While it’s typically not a fun task, there’s actually a silver lining this year: Many taxpayers can expect higher-than-average refunds. There are several reasons, but adjustments to federal tax brackets, larger standard deductions, higher interest rates and other factors all play a role.
“Inflation is actually helping taxpayers when it comes to their taxes,” says Lawrence Sprung, a certified financial planner and founder of Mitlin Financial. “The standard deduction, which is used by most, saw a significant increase for 2023. Tax brackets also saw a generous 7.1% increase. These two things combined will make it a more forgiving tax season for many.”
Want to boost your tax refund even more than these conditions allow? Below, we’ll break down how how experts say to do it.
4 easy ways to boost your tax refund, according to experts
Here are four simple ways to get a bigger tax refund according to the experts we spoke to.
Contribute more to your retirement and health savings accounts
If you’re looking for a way to maximize your tax refund after the tax year has already ended (like right now), one of the best ways is to contribute more to certain tax-deductible accounts — most notably traditional IRAs and health savings accounts (HSAs).
“Those contributions will reduce your taxable income and hence your tax bill,” says Lei Han, a certified public accountant and professor of accounting at Niagara University.
You have until April 15 (tax day) to contribute to these accounts and write those contributions off on your 2023 tax returns. And while this approach will cost you cash upfront, the payoff is two-fold, says Wenyao Hu, a chartered financial analyst and professor at the New York Institute of Technology. “These actions not only support your future financial security but also can significantly reduce your taxable income,” Hu explains.
Choose the right deduction and filing strategy
While the standard deduction did increase this year, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best choice for everyone. For some, itemizing your deductions may be a better way to go.
It’s important to run the numbers for both options to be sure you’re making the right choice. When doing so, make sure you’re factoring in often-forgotten deduction options, like student loan interest, medical expenses, and child and dependent care, too.
You should also carefully evaluate your filing strategy — particularly if you’re married.
“For married couples, there can be times when filing separately may yield a larger total net refund to the household than filing jointly,” says Rob Burnette, a professional tax preparer at Outlook Financial Center in Troy, Ohio. “Splitting returns will also impact state tax returns, so do the math on all of your returns.”
According to David Johnston, managing partner of Amwell Ridge Wealth Management in Flemington, New Jersey, your tax professional can help with these comparisons. And, if they don’t? “They’re not doing their job correctly,” Johnston says. “It should never be overlooked.”
Donate to charity
If you have a favorite charity, Hu recommends donating to them to increase your deductions. You can write off charitable contributions on your tax returns — up to 50% of your adjusted gross income — as long as you itemize.
These contributions can be monetary (as in you write a check to the charity), or they can be in the form of physical goods, too. For example, donating clothes or furniture to the Salvation Army could qualify you for a deduction. Just make sure you keep the donation receipt, as you’ll need it when filing your returns.
If you’re over 70.5 and have a traditional IRA, you can also use the IRS’s Qualified Charitable Distributions to reduce your taxable income and increase that refund. This lets you donate up to $105,000 of your IRA funds to a charity of your choice, rather than taking the agency’s required Qualified Minimum Distributions.
“The charity receives the full value of the donation, and the taxpayer avoids paying income tax on the distribution,” Burnette says. “This reduces Adjusted Gross Income and potentially lowers the amount of Social Security income that is taxable.”
Be organized and thorough
Finally, go into the tax filing process with all your ducks in a row. Have your income documents, receipts for any deductions, and statements from bank accounts and investments on hand.
“Don’t start doing your taxes until you have everything you need to file them, organized and ready to be entered,” Sprung says. “Missing just one piece of information could cause you to pay more taxes than you need to.”
You can also call in a pro for help. While they’ll certainly come with a fee, they’ll also be able to help you spot refund-boosting opportunities you might not have thought of. They can help you plan your future tax strategy, too.
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What not to do
While there are several ways to increase your tax refund, there’s one all experts agree you should avoid: Adjusting your W-4 to pay more taxes on each paycheck. This would result in a bigger refund come tax season, but “you won’t have that money to live on during the year,” Johnston says.
It also amounts to giving the government an “interest-free loan,” experts say, and doesn’t serve to grow your wealth either. As Johnston puts it, “Overpaying Uncle Sam is not part of a sound financial plan.”
A better option? Put the extra money you considered withholding into something that earns you interest — like a certificate of deposit or high-yield savings account.
Tax preparation software can help
If you have a simple tax filing situation (you’re a W-2 employee, essentially), then tax preparation software — like TurboTax or TaxSlayer, for instance — can help you file your returns electronically come tax season. If you have more than one income source, own your own business, or are otherwise in a more complicated financial scenario, you’ll likely want a tax professional’s help. They can also help you handle any tax debt or explore options if you’re unable to cover your tax bill.
Source: CBS News
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By Anna K. Cottrell
The 15-minute city as a concept has been around for a while now. First introduced by the Colombian-French scientist Carlos Moreno and eventually implemented as an official urban planning policy by the City of Paris, the 15-minute city promises its residents access to amenities without the need for a car.
The idea is that you should be able to go to work, do your grocery shopping, visit the local medical center, and pick up the kids from school, all within a 15-minute walking radius of where you live. This all sounds wonderful, but what matters from an investor’s point of view is whether there is demonstrable demand for it—and whether it will continue growing.
So, are 15-minute cities worth factoring into your real estate investment decisions, or are they just a temporary fad?
Beyond Walkability: Why the 15-Minute City May Be a Useful Concept
Most real estate preference surveys focus on walkability as a growing demand factor. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is the most robust source of data on the subject and has been running its Community and Transportation Survey every three years. The results of the latest one, completed in 2023, are actually pretty mixed if we take walkability as a stand-alone measure of a location’s attractiveness.
In fact, only 48% of respondents rated walkability as a high priority if they were planning to move. Instead, people prioritized high-quality public schools in the area (62%), a short commute (61%), and having a large yard (56%) and a large house (54%). Note that the majority of those respondents (53%) were homeowners, and only 36% were renters.
It’s not that being able to live in a walkable community doesn’t matter. It’s just that, for current homeowners, it doesn’t matter enough to move the needle in their decision-making.
Does that mean that the 15-minute city idea is of no value to a real estate investor? Au contraire. In fact, it may be a more valuable tool for investors than surveys about walkability.
What matters isn’t just walkability on its own but where and what people would be walking to. The 15-minute city concept is about more than building more sidewalks and bike lanes; its core principles are sustainability, solidarity, and citizen participation.
In other words, it’s about people building meaningful connections and supporting each other within the community. This is quite a different setup from your typical suburban residential neighborhood, with a sidewalk for jogging.
What Renters Want
Recent research that zooms in on renters’ preferences shows that their values increasingly align with this concept of a supportive, friendly neighborhood where people can connect.
One in-depth survey of 1,500 renters in multifamily apartment units across the U.S. by a resident experience company called Venn found that the vast majority favor three things:
1. The chance to live in a place with thriving local businesses (4 out of 5 respondents)
2. The ability to grow their social connections and socialize with neighbors (three-quarters of respondents)
3. Opportunities to volunteer in the local community (3 out of 4 respondents)
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The Venn survey emphasizes that many landlords don’t understand what renters actually want, mistakenly assuming that they’re attracted to the latest smart home technologies and free subscriptions to services like Netflix. But these things factor very little into people’s decisions about where to rent—and even less into their decisions about whether to renew their lease. Instead, the survey found that renters who were satisfied with their local communities were twice as likely to renew their leases than those who were “amenity-rich” but didn’t feel like they belonged where they were.
On a purely psychological level, this makes a lot of sense. Renters know that where they’ll be living likely won’t be their dream home. Most renters have to compromise a lot on space, furnishings, and even the type of housing they end up living in. No amount of Netflix will fix that. However, making friends and hanging out at a great local café may just take the edge off some of the downsides of the renting experience.
The survey even found that people reacted more positively to apartment ads that showed communal spaces with people in them, as opposed to just images of empty apartments.
Doing Your Neighborhood Research the Right Way
As is so often the case with doing successful market research as a real estate investor, the trick here is to switch on your nonlinear thinking. It’s not that walkability doesn’t matter to renters; it’s just that taken as an isolated factor, it’s not very useful. Instead, what pays off is assessing the whole neighborhood. Walkability is not a bad place to start this kind of assessment because highly walkable neighborhoods also tend to be the ones that have thriving businesses and communities.
Antoine Bryant, Detroit’s director of planning and development, described growing up in a walkable Brooklyn neighborhood in an article about 15-minute cities: “I looked out the window, and across the street was a bodega, which is like a mini-grocery store. Fish market, dry cleaner, meat market, pizza, another dry cleaner, liquor store, hardware store and then another bodega.”
This is the sort of thing the modern renter wants. The success of cities like Portland, Oregon, Boston, and Baltimore is not just due to these places drastically improving walkability. It’s the whole urban regeneration package, with communities transformed by sustainable green spaces, thriving small businesses, and an overall friendly and inclusive environment. Not only do renters like this setup in theory, but they are also prepared to pay more for it.
A cursory look at recent rental market trends in Portland, for example, shows that it really pays to do your research on a granular, neighborhood-by-neighborhood level. Don’t look at overall rent statistics.
Portland’s average one-bedroom rents are showing a 4% annual increase. But look at the annual rent price increase for the popular King’s Hill Historic District (full of restaurants, cafés, daycare centers, etc.)—it’s a whopping 31%. Oh, and by the way, King’s Hill has a walkability score of 94. Food for thought?
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Navigating the complexities of property management includes dealing with fair housing claims, a task that becomes even more challenging when a claim of retaliation is added to the mix. This article aims to provide strategies and insights to help property managers and staff prevent fair housing retaliation claims, ensuring a harmonious living environment for all residents.
Understanding Retaliation in the Housing Sector
Retaliation occurs when a resident, having filed a fair housing claim, alleges that they are being mistreated in response to their claim. Retaliatory actions can vary widely but are united by their potential to exacerbate an already sensitive situation. For instance, consider a resident who has filed a fair housing claim and subsequently submits a maintenance request. Prioritizing this request lower than others out of spite could escalate the situation, demonstrating apparent retaliatory behavior.
It’s crucial to remember that retaliation is unacceptable, regardless of the outcome of the original fair housing claim. Effective training on fair housing laws can play a significant role in preventing both the initial claim and any retaliatory actions that might follow.
Best Practices to Promote Prevention of Retaliation Claims
The cornerstone of avoiding retaliation claims lies in maintaining standard operating procedures for all residents without discrimination. Here’s how to approach a situation where a resident, perhaps feeling emboldened by their claim, starts to breach property rules or policies:
1. Enforce Rules Fairly: Do not disregard rule violations. Every resident must adhere to the property’s policies. The delicate nature of these circumstances may necessitate consulting with a fair housing attorney to ensure that any actions taken do not seem retaliatory.
2. Fair Housing Training: Continuous education on fair housing regulations for all staff members is essential. This not only helps in avoiding initial claims but also in handling any situations that arise without turning into retaliation.
3. Documentation and Communication: If a complaint does arise, minimize direct interactions between the complainant and involved staff members. Document all interactions meticulously to provide a clear record of your response to the issue.
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Proactive Measures to Help Prevent Fair Housing Complaints
The most effective strategy to avoid fair housing complaints is to create an environment where residents feel respected and valued. This involves:
– Ongoing Staff Training: Ensuring that every staff member, including property managers, understands fair housing laws and how to apply them in daily operations.
– Transparent Communication: Maintaining open lines of communication with residents about their rights and how to address grievances.
– Responsive Management: Showing a willingness to address and resolve issues promptly and fairly can prevent many complaints from escalating.
Retaliation Claims – Summary
Property management is indeed a complex field, rife with challenges that demand both tact and diligence. However, by adopting these best practices and dedicating themselves to continuous training, property managers can adeptly navigate the intricacies of resident relations with poise and assurance. This approach not only aims to circumvent potential legal pitfalls but also to cultivate an inclusive and welcoming community atmosphere.
In such an environment, every resident is not only afforded their rights but is also encouraged to engage and contribute, thereby fostering a sense of belonging and mutual respect. The ultimate objective extends beyond merely avoiding disputes; it’s about creating a living space where every individual feels valued, understood, and integral to the community fabric.
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This informative article was provided to us by The Fair Housing Institute.
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Ohhhh, the dreaded lease violation. First your stomach drops because you have something unpleasant to deal with, and then you get kind of angry because you actually have to deal with it and why can’t your tenant just do everything right?
Every single landlord will have to deal with lease violations at some point, there is just no way around it. However, you certainly can lower your chances of them happening with just a few tweaks to your rental property business strategy.
This week on the podcast, we are discussing your lease, inspections, and ways to handle the most common lease violations we encounter.
It’s not so bad once you realize you’ve held the power all along.
LINKS
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Over the years, a slew of reality TV shows that glamorize the real estate industry have popped up on networks like HGTV and Netflix. But just how realistic are they?
To find out, we evaluated eight popular shows that may appeal to investors. While most are focused on redesign efforts and fail to consider the practical aspects of investing, a few offer realistic tips and relatable challenges that make them worth watching.
Flip or Flop
Flip or Flop ended in 2022 after airing for 10 seasons on HGTV. The series follows formerly married real estate agents Christina Hall and Tarek El Moussa, who began flipping houses in Orange County, California, after the 2008 real estate crash. They typically make all-cash offers on foreclosures, which they renovate and sell for a profit.
The 70% rule of house flipping is a guideline house flippers use to ensure sufficient profits—it says you shouldn’t spend more than 70% of the home’s expected after-repair value, less any repair costs, on a distressed home. But Tarek and Christina tended to take bigger risks when choosing a property, which is likely to make things interesting.
For example, an episode in the final season, “Red Hot Flip,” shows the duo making a $500,000 offer on a home they hope to sell for $700,000, with quoted repair costs of $120,000. They note that low inventory in 2022 leaves them with few choices.
Several obstacles come up, including necessary repiping, which pushes their repair costs to $140,000. But they manage to get a $856,500 offer on the house because of the hot market, leaving them with $187,025 in profit after closing costs. That’s a 27.9% return on investment (ROI), which is just slightly below the average of 27.5% for home flips completed in the second quarter of 2023, according to Attom Data.
Most house flippers who aren’t also reality TV celebrities might turn away from a project with such slim profit margins, rather than hoping to get lucky with an offer above asking.
Stay Here
Stay Here was only around for one season in 2018 on Netflix, but it’s one of the few highly rated reality TV shows that showcases the optimization of vacation homes for added revenue potential. Designer Genevieve Gorder joins real estate expert Peter Lorimer to help property owners across the country boost their occupancy and average daily rates.
While the show offers some research-backed tips for increasing the cash flow on a short-term rental property, it’s mostly focused on the design aspect. The show doesn’t provide the budget for renovations or ROI.
In the episode “Austin Pool Pad,” a rare pool property in the desirable South Congress neighborhood suffers from old furniture, a sad-looking outdoor space, and a wasted bedroom used as an office. The team converts the office to a bedroom, adds a game room, creates a “social media moment” in the pool area with an eye-catching mural, and updates the listing description with a title to highlight the selling points. They also set up a partnership with a local pitmaster to provide private brisket-smoking classes to guests using the new smoker.
Ultimately, the new listing aims to capture $400 per night—but the episode ends there. Without a before-and-after comparison of monthly revenue for the vacation home, it’s tough to know if the extensive renovations and design updates paid off.
Selling Sunset
Emmy-nominated Selling Sunset is one of the most popular real estate reality TV shows, and it’s not because the show realistically depicts the homebuying process, at least not in most parts of the country. Instead, the Netflix show focuses on relationship drama at The Oppenheim Group, a cutthroat Los Angeles brokerage where the real estate agents carry $10,000 handbags and sell luxurious mansions to affluent homebuyers.
The episodes sometimes include real estate market insights, but they’re often quick and oversimplified, leaving plenty of room for viewers to focus on the attractive real estate agents and the intimate details of their personal lives, from pregnancy test results to backstabbing behavior to new agent gossip.
Investors looking to learn something should avoid this unrealistic reality show. On the other hand, anyone with an appetite for interpersonal drama in wealthy social circles should probably binge all seven seasons.
Buy My House
The Netflix series Buy My House premiered in 2022 and is one of the more investor-focused real estate shows. Homeowners are given the chance to pitch their homes to four expert real estate investors: Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman, football player Brandon Copeland, Corcoran CEO Pamela Liebman, and commercial real estate agent and business owner Danisha Danielle Wrighster. The show offers insight into the investors’ thought processes as they evaluate a variety of investment properties with the intent of making an all-cash, commission-free offer.
Buy My House includes properties at a range of price points from rental markets across the country, including some under-the-radar markets alongside tourist hubs. For example, in one episode, Glenn Kelman offers $170,000 for a starter home in the Detroit area with strong rental metrics, which is $5,000 above asking. But when a couple pitches a house near Disney World for close to $1 million, all four investors pass, pointing out that the price is too high, given the expected revenue.
Newbie investors can definitely pick up some tips from this show, from the nuances of how to run comps to the value of a unique property.
Vacation House Rules
This HGTV show premiered in 2020 and follows real estate and renovation expert Scott McGillivray as he updates vacation homes to optimize their revenue potential. Vacation House Rules mostly focuses on the renovation and design process in detail, which isn’t always practical from a business perspective.
For example, in the season 4 episode “Cottage on a Cliff,” Scott works on a friend’s cliffside cabin that is so distressed that it may be a money pit. The team essentially rebuilds the entire house, with no mention of the cost. While it’s fun to watch the transformation, it probably wouldn’t be feasible for investors who don’t have the budget of a TV show.
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Property Brothers
In Property Brothers, which ran for a whopping 14 seasons, twin brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott assist homebuyers with finding a fixer-upper, making an offer, and renovating the property according to their budget and needs. Unlike some other renovation shows, Property Brothers details the cost of planned updates and unexpected necessary repairs, along with the timeline, and the brothers are cognizant of the family’s budget.
For example, in the episode “Island Getaway,” the brothers discover a termite problem in the house. Due to the added expense, the brothers need to find ways to cut corners in order to remain within the family’s $650,000 budget. Investors who have rehabbed homes will relate to the challenge of staying within budget in the face of obstacles that pop up.
The Deed
This CNBC reality series began in 2017 and ran for two seasons. The Deed follows real estate developer Sidney Torres as he steps in to help other developers get their projects back on track.
For example, in an episode titled “Don’t Fall in Love with Your Flip,” Torres encourages a friend to look at his flip from a business perspective, abandon some of the high-end details, and sell the home for a profit to pay off his debt and potentially buy other cash-flowing properties.
To do this, Torres structures a deal with a penalty clause to discourage his friend from keeping the home. He offers $200,000 to complete the home in 120 days in exchange for 15% of the net profit from the sale. The penalty clause entitles him to the same profit, plus interest, should his friend decide to hold on to the home.
Investors who are new to house flipping may gain valuable insights from this show in addition to entertainment value. For example, Torres redirects his friend to choose aesthetic elements that will appeal to buyers instead of himself. He points out that time is money and stresses the importance of having a plan and sticking to a budget.
Beachfront Bargain Hunt
With hundreds of episodes over the course of 30 seasons, Beachfront Bargain Hunt is one of the most popular shows on HGTV. It follows homebuyers seeking budget-friendly homes in beach markets across the country. Waterfront homes tend to earn more revenue, so finding a budget home on the water can be a good investment. The show stays true to homeowners’ budgets and provides estimated rental income for buyers hoping to offset their mortgage payments.
But there are challenges and risks to owning a beachfront home, which the show fails to caution against. For example, beachfront homes tend to have higher insurance costs and may even be difficult to insure. Higher maintenance and repair costs can also impact homeowners’ budgets. Though it’s not the most realistic, it can be fun to watch homebuyers compare potential beachfront properties in different markets.
The Bottom Line
Most real estate reality TV shows have nothing to do with reality. But a few may be instructive, or at least interesting, to people with careers in real estate. Overall, we found Buy My House and The Deed to be among the most engaging and provide the most practical applications for real estate investors.
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By David Pickron
If you’ve ever purchased a gift for someone, you’re familiar with those three dreaded words you must be on the lookout for: “batteries not included.”
Most of us have experienced that moment on a holiday morning or birthday when the excitement of receiving something new is dashed as the recipient realizes that without power, they just have an empty box and a lifeless gift.
Knowing what is and is not included in any transaction is critical to achieving the end goal of both parties; this is especially true for housing providers.
I recently had a potential tenant who was going through some life challenges ask me if there was any way that I could include a washer and dryer as part of the rental.
Questions like these set off all sorts of alarms in my head. I’ve been at this for more than 20 years and situations like this have rarely ended well for me… but I reluctantly gave in and provided the washer and dryer at move-in.
Here’s why I entered into this agreement reluctantly: If they own the equipment and it breaks, they never call, but if I own the equipment and it breaks, I am the first call and end up playing repairman. Ideally, I avoid these situations, but under certain circumstances I do go that way and when I do, I always do these two key things that will also help to protect your investment.
No. 1 – Establish Your Ground Rules
When it comes to rental property, the number of items a tenant may ask for is unlimited.
In your business, determine in advance what and what will not even be a possibility to include with the property. When it comes to appliances, those that are attached to the property are usually included. I’m talking about items like a dishwasher or oven.
You might include a refrigerator if it is the built-in variety. Usually not included is anything related to laundry, microwaves, BBQ grills, etc. And speaking of grills, if you decide to provide one, make sure you establish that you are not responsible for providing fuel.
I’ve taken the brunt of an angry phone call from a tenant whose dinner party plans were destroyed when the propane ran out halfway through cooking their meal. Same goes for things like yard equipment if you decide to leave a lawn mower for the tenant who wants to maintain the yard. Each of these items present different challenges that require different rules, and it is best to lay out those rules in your lease.
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No. 2 – Put it in the lease
The lease is your first (and best) line of defense when it comes to items you have included in your property. I would recommend always using language that references the following categories:
- Ownership: Clearly state who owns the equipment that is included in the lease. This ensures that if something “walks” off at the end of the lease period, all parties know whom it legally belongs to.
- Responsibility: If something breaks, it is critical to know who bears the financial and physical responsibility for its repair. For example, if I were to include laundry units in the property, I include language like, “If the laundry units become non-functional, you are responsible for all repair costs. If you do not want to cover those costs, the units will be removed from the property and you will be responsible for procuring your own units. If, when the lease is terminated, the units are in place and non-functioning, all repair costs will be covered by your security deposit.” Clear and concise, the tenant knows exactly what to expect and you can look back on this if these situations arise.
- Terms of Use: The final piece of protection is having them understand the terms by which you are providing any item in the property. This might include a term similar to this, “As the housing provider I am not responsible for any damages to your personal items created by using the laundry units provided.” Or this fun one, “Use of the provided BBQ grill is at your own risk and expense. Housing provider is not responsible for providing fuel for grill and/or for any damage or loss of food associated with use of the grill.” It sounds like overkill, but I’ve seen and heard it all.
Being in this industry is a gift.
I can’t think of another place that would allow me to the opportunity for challenge and growth as much as being a housing provider.
Knowing if and what to include in a lease is paramount to finding success; but without fail, the satisfaction that comes from helping others is definitely “included” in every transaction.
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The promise of financial returns, stability, and the thrill of ownership often fuels real estate investment decisions. While various real estate options exist, few capture the essence of smart investing as aptly as multi-family properties. Multi-family properties offer a unique blend of convenience, profitability, and scalability. Let’s delve deeper into why you should make it a priority to invest in multifamily real estate.
The Allure of Multifamily Properties
Understanding the multifaceted benefits of these investments can pave the way for a secure financial future.
1. Strong Reasons for Investing in Multifamily Properties
Steady Cash Flow: One of the most attractive pros of multifamily real estate investing is the consistent rental income from multiple units. This predictability can significantly ease financial planning and provide a sense of security for investors.
Easier Property Management: Managing one building with several units is convenient and cost-effective. It’s often easier and more efficient than handling multiple single-family homes spread across different locations. Additionally, centralizing operations can lead to better oversight and management.
Economic Efficiency: Multifamily properties spread out the risk, ensuring you’re not reliant on a single income source. If a few units are vacant, the rental income from occupied units can offset potential losses. This buffer can prove invaluable, especially in fluctuating market conditions.
2. Understanding the Value: How Are Multifamily Properties Valued?
Multifamily properties are typically valued based on their income-producing potential. Factors like rental income, location, condition, and local real estate market conditions play a vital role. Furthermore, recognizing the property’s specific amenities and unique selling points can adjust its valuation. This deeper understanding is pivotal not just for purchase decisions but also when gauging how often real estate doubles in value. Remember, it’s not just about current value but potential future worth and the property’s growth trajectory.
3. The Buying Power: How Many Properties Can You Buy at Once?
While there’s technically no limit, the intelligent approach emphasizes quality over quantity. Don’t merely chase numbers; search for properties that offer immediate returns and long-term growth potential regarding appreciation and rental income. Moreover, consider the ease of management, potential demand in the area, and the sustainability of these investments. The key lies in balancing ambition with practicality.
4. Long-Term Benefits of Multifamily Investments
Investing in multifamily properties transcends the allure of immediate profit. It’s a journey of building lasting wealth and creating a legacy. When approached with foresight, it can provide benefits that ripple through time.
Appreciation Over Time: Real estate, especially multifamily properties, often see steady appreciation over the years. Beyond the tangible metrics, this appreciation signifies a neighborhood’s growth, enhanced amenities, and socio-economic development. As these factors converge, they promise increased rental income and raise the overall property value should you opt to sell in the future.
Tax Advantages: The realm of multifamily real estate offers a plethora of tax incentives. Depreciation stands out, allowing you to offset a portion of your rental income. Add to that the mortgage interest deductions and other tax breaks, and you’ve got a recipe for significantly reducing your taxable income, thus amplifying your overall returns on investment.
Equity Buildup: As you pay the property mortgage, you simultaneously build equity. This can be leveraged for future investments or cushion in financial downturns.
Scalability: Starting with one multifamily property can set the stage for further real estate acquisitions, enabling a more rapid portfolio expansion than single-family units.
5. Mitigating Risks in Multifamily Real Estate
Every investment comes with risks, and multifamily properties are no exception. However, there are effective strategies to mitigate these.
Diversification: By its very nature, a multifamily property is diversified. If one or two units become vacant, others remain occupied, ensuring a steady income stream.
Research & Education: Continuously educate yourself about the latest market trends and dynamics. Knowledge is a potent tool against potential pitfalls.
Professional Networking: Building relationships with real estate professionals, from agents to property managers, can provide invaluable insights and early warnings about market shifts.
Insurance: Ensure your property is adequately insured. This can protect your investment against unforeseen damages and liabilities.
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The Process Demystified: How to Buy a Multifamily Property
Investing in multifamily properties is undeniably a strategic move. Understanding the process of buying a multifamily property is essential to navigate this landscape. Every step requires attention to detail and a commitment to due diligence.
Market Research: Begin by identifying where to buy multi-unit properties. Prioritize emerging markets characterized by job growth, infrastructural development, population growth, and potential for rent increases. Economic and social indicators can significantly influence an area’s real estate prospects.
Financial Assessment: Determine your budget by evaluating your financial health. Factor in potential mortgage rates, property taxes, insurance, and the necessary down payment. An exhaustive financial review can safeguard against unforeseen expenses.
Property Search: Use platforms focusing on multifamily investments or collaborate with a seasoned real estate agent familiar with multifamily properties. An expert’s insight can sometimes unearth opportunities you might overlook.
Due Diligence: Once you’ve pinpointed a property, dive into a thorough inspection. Understand its occupancy rates, maintenance history, and potential repair costs, and scrutinize its financial statements. Being meticulous at this stage can prevent potential pitfalls.
Secure Financing: Approach traditional banks, credit unions, or private lenders. With the dynamic landscape of real estate financing, options are aplenty. A well-prepared business plan and a clear strategy can significantly improve your loan approval chances.
Closing the Deal: Ensure all legalities, like title checks and property liens, are in order before finalizing. Close the deal when you’re convinced of the property’s merit and all checks are satisfactory. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Widening Your Perspective: Beyond Single Units
The charm of investing in real estate doesn’t lie just in the bricks and mortar but in the strategy you employ. By focusing on multifamily properties, you adopt a strategy for consistent income, scalable growth, and mitigated risks.
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This episode is all about rent control and how it affects landlords. Where we get and understand the premise behind rent control, the issues that landlords must deal with while navigating the laws around rent control can be problematic.
There are several states with cities that already have rent control ordinances, and two states with statewide rent control. Not to mention more cities and states considering adding laws or ordinances regarding rent control on the horizon.
For landlords, rent control makes it difficult to keep up with maintenance and repairs. And for tenants, rent control is only helpful if they stay in the same rental for years on end. Because once they move, they’re paying market rates to landlords who are working to recoup lost income from their previous tenant.
Bottom line, rent control has been found that it’s not all cracked up as it appears to be.
Want to know what you should be prepared for in case it comes to the town of your rental property? Lots of good stuff in there for ALL landlords, regardless of whether your rental is in a rent-controlled area or not.
Check out this week’s podcast where we are discussing what it is, who it benefits, the challenges landlords face, and how to work around them.
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Renters are increasingly ditching their families and roommates to live alone, according to a report from RentCafe.
The number of solo renters increased 6.7% between 2016 and 2021, reaching 16.7 million people. Because of the pandemic and social distancing, there was a peak in 2020, reaching a record 17.7 million. Living alone is now the most popular living arrangement.
While the number of lone renters grew, renters with roommates became less common. After a 6.3 million peak in 2019, that number sat at 5.8 million in 2021. The number of people renting with family followed a similar path, dropping from 71.3 million in 2016 to 68.1 million in 2021.
Among the metros RentCafe analyzed, the city with the largest increase of lone renters between 2016 and 2021 was Salt Lake City, which saw a 24.9% boost. The report said cost of living and healthcare were key factors in the area’s migration.
These factors were also present for the next three cities on the list, all in Texas: McAllen and San Antonio, where the share of solo renters grew 24.2% and 21.7%, respectively, and Austin, where the demographic grew 23.9%. Dallas also made it into the top 10. Texas’ affordable housing crisis is leading more people to be long-term renters, a position many across the nation are in.
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While apartment construction reached a 40-year high in the third quarter, renters are still experiencing skyrocketing rents. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court declined to hear a case on rent control in New York City that could have affected rent control laws nationwide and made a pathway for rent-stabilized housing. In July, the Biden administration called on landlords to eliminate surprise fees for tenants. As a result, a number of states passed legislation on the matter.
Baby boomers and millennials make up the largest proportion of people living alone, representing a cumulative 61% of solo renters. RentCafe reported that because of accessible shopping and services, as well as smart home tech, aging in place is becoming increasingly feasible.
Income is also a factor. Baby boomers need an income of about $50K to be a solo renter, which is $16K more than what an average renter would need to afford rent. Millennials represent 29.5% of Americans renting alone, and solo renters in this generation earn $56K on average, $22K above the average renter’s income.
These two groups are followed by Generation X, who make up 21.3% of solo renters; the Silent Generation, representing 12.8%; and Gen Z, with 3.9%, or 640,000 people.
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