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Real estate industry news, interviews, and educational resources.
18
Apr
2024
Listing your rental property on Craigslist can be a great way to increase exposure and collect more tenant leads. Here's what you need to know.
We detail the essential renting legal documents for landlords and where you can get them to make sure you are prepared for any eventuality.
17
What does it take to run your rental property as a successful corporate housing rental as what are the pros and cons of doing so?
15
Sending a past-due rent notice can be a great way to gently remind your tenants of owed rent and encourage future on-time payments.
14
Knowing what makes a 'good' renter and how to find tenants will help you reduce vacancies, increase tenant retention, and avoid late rent and property damage.
11
Use rental listing syndication services to publish your listing across multiple sites, maximizing exposure and finding top tenants quickly.
5
If a tenant violates the terms of their lease it may be the right decision to send a notice to quit. We detail what a notice to quit is and when to send one.
4
AI in real estate can help property managers and landlords increase efficiency and profits, from streamlining rental marketing and management to analyzing deals.
28
Mar
Learn how to advertise property for rent so you can find the best tenants and fill expensive vacancies fast.
27
Smart rental property landscaping allows landlords to command higher rents and attract better tenants who stay for longer.
26
Track rental property income and expenses on the go with powerful tools designed for you. Save time and maximize your deductions at tax time.
21
A good property management system can help with every aspect of your rental management, from finding tenants to filings taxes. Save time and maximize ROI.
19
The best renter background check and tenant screening services allow you to gather the information you need to make an informed decision and select the best tenant fast.
13
Understanding real estate investing metrics will help you differentiate a bad deal from a great deal and give you the tools and data you need to achieve rental profitability.
6
The cash-on-cash return rate measures cash flow before tax relative to the amount of cash invested in a property investment.
29
Feb
What is material participation? What are the material participation tests? And what does it mean to materially participate in real estate?
22
In this article, we take a closer look at when and how much a landlord can raise the rent and we detail the process for creating a formal rent increase letter for your tenants.
Free rental listing websites and tools are the best way to get your vacant property in front of as many renters as possible and find great tenants fast
How to use Facebook Marketplace for rental listings to find great tenants fast. And what you need to know to get the most out of Facebook rental ads.
There are several aspects to consider if you want to benefit from collecting the first and last month’s rent while staying within legal guidelines.
To help you streamline your tax season we've put together this guide outlining the main landlord tax documents you need to know about.
8
We take a look at rental property cost basis and the role it plays in capital gains tax and depreciation recapture.
A rental property income statement is central to understanding your portfolio and is a key figure for several important real estate metrics.
2
In this article, we take a closer look at 15 of the best places to invest in real estate whether you’re looking for cash flow or appreciation, or both.
1
Depreciation recapture is a tax provision that allows the IRS to collect taxes on the profitable sale of a depreciated asset.
Jan
Safe harbors are rules implemented by the IRS to allow qualifying entities to simplify their tax filings and save money.
24
Keeping detailed records of your finances across your investment portfolio will ensure you pay the correct capital gains tax.
The pass-through deduction allows qualifying real estate investors to deduct up to 20% of net business earnings from their income taxes.
Should you keep your rentals in an LLC? To answer this question you need to understand the legal and tax consequences of transferring a property to an LLC.
The net cash flow formula describes income and expenses during a given period of time helping investors understand profit and loss.
9
Owning and managing rental properties comes with several advantageous tax rules. However, they can be complex and often trigger IRS audits.
Is rental income deemed active or passive by the IRS and how does this affect how rental income is taxed?
Good property maintenance management will keep tenants happy and prevent large unexpected maintenance bills. Here's what landlords need to know...
Dec
2023
We take a closer look at what you need to know when it comes to how to manage a rental property and outline the six steps for profitable rental property management.
We outline everuthing your need to know about rental property expenses and how to track them so you can maximize your tax deductions for a more profitable real estate business.
What's the difference between capital improvements and repairs? And how do each need to be accounted for according to the IRS guidelines?
The 50% rule is a basic guideline in real estate that suggests that half of a rental property's gross income should be estimated to cover operating expenses.
Cash and checks are slow, insecure, and outdated ways to collect rent. In this article, we explore the best ways to collect rent from your tenants.
What do you need to know about short term rental management? We explore pros and cons and actionable advice for rental management.
7
The 1% rule in real estate is an easy way to check if a rental property will generate enough income to cover the costs of owning and operating the property.
We take a closer look at what exactly rent control is, how rent control works, and its impact on landlords, tenants, and the housing market.
We take a look at the different factors that go into determining how much profit you should make on a rental property.
30
Nov
The short-term rental tax loophole is a strategy real estate investors can use to help mitigate their rental income tax by offsetting earned income with real estate losses.
23
As of 2024, LLC owners must register a BOI report with the IRS or face fines and possible jail time. Here's what real estate investors need to know.
A great real estate CPA can help you improve cash flow, minimize tax liabilities, and grow your portfolio.
20
Accelerated depreciation can be a powerful strategy to increase the profitability of your assets in the early years.
Depreciation is the process of deducting the value of the asset and any improvements against your taxes. Find out more in this article.
16
How you can use TurboTax for your rentals and why so many investors use Landlord Studio and TurboTax together for an easier tax time.
We outline 15 rental property tax deductions that every landlord needs to know if they want to minimize tax liabilities and maximize ROI.
Bonus depreciation in real estate allows you to deduct the full amount of a normally depreciable asset in a single year.
2022
Effective real estate accounting will enable you to better understand your finances, accurately file taxes, and maximize tax deductions.
12
Good real estate accounting will provide valuable insights into the performance of your portfolio and save you both time and money.
We explore the benefits and limitations of Xero for rental property accounting compared to a property management specific software.
Simplify your rental property accounts so that you can maximize your profits and spend more time doing the things you want to do.
The gross rent multiplier formula is a useful tool for analysing investment properties for beginner and experienced real estate investors.
The operating expense ratio in real estate measures the operational costs of a property compared to the overall income of that property.
The wrong tools can prevent accountants and CPAs from properly helping their schedule e clients and prevent them from scaling their portfolios
We take a look at operating expenses vs capital expenses, how they need to be treated, and how landlords can maximize end-of-year deductions.
2021
How to calculate ARV in real estate, how to use it to analyze potential investments, and what are the limitations of this metric?
Oct
Net operating income (NOI) is a commonly used figure that investors and lenders use to determine the potential profitability of a property.
Sep
Cash on cash return vs ROI: two key metrics real estate investors need to understand when analyzing potential real estate investments.
Know your numbers like the back of your hand with quality financial reporting from software such as Landlord Studio.
2020
With the tax year coming to a close it’s time to start thinking about getting your books in order and ensuring everything is accounted for.
Landlords need to understand these key metrics to be able to prove their investments profitability and secure favorable loan terms.
We explore 7 aspects of rental property accounting that are essential for landlords to know when they are expanding their portfolios.
QuickBooks is an industry leading acccounting software, but is it the right solution for rental income and expenses tracking?
We explore common accounting mistakes landlords make and how the right tools and software can allow you to easily resolve them.
Jul
What are the pros and cons of Freshbooks for rental property accounting? And how does it compare to property management specific software?
Jun
Bad security deposit accounting can result in a number of problems from lawsuits to large and unnecessary out of pocket costs for landlords.
Whilst owning a rental is a great way to build equity and generate ongoing passive income, it can also be a lot more trouble than people first realize.
From getting financing, to managing tenants, we take a deep dive into the best softwares and landlord solutions for end to end property management.
2019
To evaluate an investment property you need to understand the numbers at play. Here are the key figures you need to be familiar with, and an example.
When it comes to property management software, there are plenty of options for you to choose from. So why should you use Landlord Studio?
Reduce expensive vacancies and keep your great tenants for long with these seven actionable property management tips.
A co-signer can give landlords the peace of mind they need when approving tenants who may not have a good credit score or renting history.
Aug
Staging rental properties can help you rent your property faster and can even attract more considerate tenants.
May
What is a guarantor? A rent guarantor co-signs a tenant's lease and agrees to take responsibility should the tenant default on rent
Landlords must follow best practices and know rental property inspection laws that stipulate when a landlord can enter a rental property.
We deep dive into which of the two biggest platforms, Airbnb or VRBO, is better for your short-term rental business.
How do you write a great listing to stand out from the competition, attract the best tenants, and reduce expensive vacancies?
We take a look at the key features to look for in a tenant tracking and lease management tool to improve your business efficiencies.
Whether you manage one property or fifty, the right tools will help you run a profitable and efficient rental business.
Can and should you charge a pet deposit in California? Pets can cause damage, but they also make your property more attractive to renters.
There are several things you need to do to prepare your unit when getting ready to show your rental property to tenants.
Knowing the best time to rent a house can help landlords keep vacancies short and minimize costly vacancy periods.
Ensure you’ve found the right tenant; run a rental history report to check an applicant's rental and eviction history and financial stability
31
Using social media to advertise your rental is an easy way to get your vacant properties in front of thousands of prospective tenants.
There’s no requirement to have rental application fees, but many landlords choose to charge applicants to cover screening expenses.
Only 46% of renters have Renters Insurance! We've partnered up with Lemonade to help fix this. We outline the top 5 reasons renters insurance is so vital.
What are renters looking for? Although every renter has different priorities, there are eight property amenities that almost everyone wants.
Tenants love their pets and if you don't allow them you could be missing out. But how do you set a good pet policy to protect your rental?
We explore three reliable strategies for vetting your next tenant and successfully renting out your investment property.
25
We outline four actionable tips to improve your tenant communications to keep tenants happy and reduce expensive vacancies.
We explore some of the alternatives to Cozy for managing your rental listings to minimize vacancies and mitigate the risks of bad tenants.
Tenant tracker tools will help you streamline your property management so that you can spend more time building your rental business.
Keeping your vacation rental property clean and well-maintained is one of the best ways to increase the number and value of your bookings.
Renting out a property for the first time can be a daunting prospect. But, if everything goes to plan you’ll create a new revenue stream...
Knowing these property decorating tips will save you money and ensure your rentals have mass appeal to prospective renters.
Online leasing allows you to streamline property management by leveraging digital tools and reducing the need for face to face interactions.
What happens if you get an applicant with a bad credit score? Should you pass the opportunity to rent or risk having them skip payments?
Landlord's should inspect their property before a tenant moves in and when a tenant moves out using a move-in checklist.
10
There are disadvantages and advantages of both month to month and annual leases and landlords need to make sure their lease suits their needs.
Awesome! So, you’ve got some new tenants moving in. You can relax now… well, almost. There’s one more key thing to do to welcome you new tenants...
When it comes to rentals, knowing what your tenants actually want, will not only help you secure the best tenants it will also help you retain your tenants.
When it comes to a dispute over property damage, the best protection you can have is pictures of the property before the tenant moved in.
2025
Learn how to write a proof of rent payment letter with our step-by-step guide. Download free templates and simplify the process using Landlord Studio.
Learn what a reasonable rent increase is in 2025, including key factors like market conditions, legal requirements, and tips for managing rent hikes effectively.
Having a good rent payment platform is more convenient for landlords and tenants and has been proven to help dramatically reduce late rent payments.
Should you be using Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal to collect rent or a landlord-specific system like Landlord Studio?
We take a look at some of the best rent collection apps that landlords can use to modernize and streamline their rent collection processes.
There are a number of things a landlord can do to avoid missed or late rent payments, from efficient tenant screening to regular reminders...
There are numerous reasons not to use payment apps for rent collection, and now the IRS is cracking down on them too.
The right online rent payment solution will help you ensure on-time payments, reduce admin work, and improve landlord-tenant relationships.
A security deposit return letter should be provided at the end of a tenancy detailing the amount of deposit being returned and itemizing any deductions.
A security deposit receipt serves as proof of payment for the tenant and indicates where the deposit will be held during the lease period.
However you collect rent, providing your tenant with a rent receipt is a good business practice, and in some states is a legal requirement.
Collecting back rent must be done properly and in compliance with the renter's rights. Here's what you need to know...
A formal process to increase the rent will make the process easier and ensure that everyone involved is on the same page.
The challenge for real estate investors is understanding what counts as operating expenses and what's not included.
It can be tempting to accept multiple rent payments in advance, however, doing so could land you in trouble later.
An easy-to-use rent collection system for your commercial property will help tenants stay on top of their payments and save you time.
We explore strategies for landlords and real estate investors to increase rental property cash flow and overall profitability
When it comes to the collection of security deposits and first months rent landlord must follow best practices and keep detailed records.
What are the steps landlords can take if the rent is late? And how can you encourage on-time rent with tools like online rent collection?
Should you or shouldn't you accept partial rent payments? And if you do what's the best way to handle them so that everyone wins?
The right online rent collection tool can reduce admin work and increase the likelihood of rent being collected on time.
We look at the pros and cons of collecting rent online versus more traditional methods like cash or check.
By combining these four points you can dramatically reduce both late rent payments and the time and stress of chasing up missed rent.
As the next step towards our ambitious goal to automate rental property management we have launched ACH payments!
We take a look at 3 simple things landlords can do to simplify and improve their rent collection processes to avoid missed rent payments.
The purpose of any software is to help you optimize your processes. Using Zelle for rent collection allows landlords to do just that.
Rental properties are a wonderful investment, but they do have risks such as late rent. We explore how to best handle and reduce late rent payments.
Rents vary greatly from market to market, from one street to the next. Use our free custom rent report and these 6 tips to help get your rent prices right.
Maximize ROI on rental property renovations with strategic upgrades and effective cost tracking. Learn top renovation tips to boost property value and rental income.
3
Discover the 30% rule home renovation tip and explore the best ROI home improvements to boost your rental property's value and tenant appeal.
Well-maintained roofs can reduce energy bills for tenants and make the property more appealing, leading to lower vacancy rates and increased rental income.
Knowing the types of rental property maintenance expenses to expect can help you evaluate potential purchases and budget for future maintenance costs.
Save time, reduce costs, and keep your property in tip-top condition with property maintenance management software like Landlord Studio.
This vacation rental inventory checklist provides you with a baseline of the amenities and furnishings you need to provide.
We ask, what are the pros and cons of using a smart lock or rental lock box for your property and how do you choose the best one for you?
Pests in a rental can compromise the structure of the property, and the health of your tenants. Are landlords responsible for pest control?
A move in or move out inspection allows you to identify damage caused by tenants and any maintenance that needs to be carried out.
Providing an itemized list of damages will set a clear expectation for your tenants, should any property damage occur during their stay.
Do you keep your rental property in good shape? In the long run, preventative maintenance can save you time, money and stress. It's a win-win.
Wear and tear is part and parcel of operating a rental property. It is the minor damage that comes about through normal everyday living.
The best flooring for your rental property is cost-effective, durable, and easy to clean. We outline the pros and cons of common floorings.
We explore the best way to manage and track maintenance expenses to ensure you never miss a deductible expense again.
While maintenance is still a requirement for your properties, carrying out maintenance safely during COVID-19 is a new challenge.
When it comes to property maintenance, there's always seems to something that needs attention. How can you optimize maintenance management?
We outline 9 renovation ideas to consider when planning your property refurb. Find out how to add value and appeal to your investment property...
Landlords often find themselves with many roles and positions, everything from property management to prospective therapist.
Every property has its own idiosyncrasies, and a rental is no different. Here are 10 maintenance jobs you can do yourself to save yourself $1000s...
Learn how to calculate depreciation on rental property, including methods like straight-line and accelerated depreciation, to maximize tax benefits.
Learn key real estate IRS requirements, common audit triggers for landlords, and how to simplify tax prep and compliance with Landlord Studio’s rental accounting tools.
Cost segregation in real estate allows investors to accelerate their depreciation to decrease tax liabilities in the earlier years of owning their investment property.
Travel and mileage make up a significant tax deduction for landlords. Keep detailed records using software like Landlord Studio.
Is it possible to pay no taxes on rental income? If so how? Discover actionable real estate tax strategies to defer taxes, minimize liability, and increase ROI.
According to the IRS regulations, landlords and property managers must now ensure they file form 1099 for rental income over $600.
1031 exchange rules enable investors to exchange like-kind properties and defer capital gains tax as part of their wealth building strategy.
There are several 1099 requirements for landlords, for example, if they hire an independent contractor and pay them more than $600 over the course of the year.
Learn how to handle an IRS audit with confidence. Follow these 6 essential steps to safeguard your financial standing and navigate the audit process smoothly.
Having access to advanced reports including a rent ledger will allow you to gain deeper insights into your portfolio performance.
What is a profit and loss statement for a rental property, what needs to be included, and how it can be used by real estate investors?
Learn the pros, cons, and tax implications of converting your primary residence to a rental property, plus tips for a smooth transition and maximizing benefits.
With the right real estate tax planning strategies you can significantly reduce your tax liability, improve cash flow, and increase ROI.
Discover how the IRS knows if you have rental income, the risks of misfiling, and essential property management tools to keep you compliant.
What is real estate professional status, how do you qualify, and how can it help you reduce your rental property taxes?
Learn about Schedule C vs Schedule E and which form you need when declaring your rental property income and expenses at tax time.
Below, we take a look at essential real estate investing tax strategies that investors need to know to mitigate taxes and increase profits.
Are their states without property tax? We explore the best and worst states for real estate investing according to the real estate tax rates in each.
What is a T12 in real estate, and how should real estate investors track income and expenses to create an accurate & useful trailing twelve months report?
When it comes to filing your short-term rental tax, your financial records need to be organized and accessible.
Cash-on-cash return vs cap rate in real estate - both are important ROI metrics that investors use to measure the financial health of rentals.
Gross yield for real estate is a calculation that lets you easily compare properties with different values and rental returns.
Taxes on a rental property sale can quickly compile. Landlords need to be aware of these taxes and plan accordingly.
With some exceptions, landlords are entitled to deduct operating expenses, including HOA fees and COA fees, from their taxable rental income.
What is pro forma in real estate and how can real estate investors use pro forma calculations to analyze potential deals.
We take a look at what it takes to qualify as a real estate professional and the tax benefits that come with this status.
Though some closing costs are tax deductible on a rental property, most must be added to the properties basis and depreciated.
Landlord-tenant laws at federal, state and local levels aim to protect both parties during the rental process.
The Cap Rate and ROI are good starting points when comparing multiple potential investments. How're they calculated and how're they different?