ezLandlord Newsroom
Market Updates, Industry Trends, & New Property Management Tools
Saturday April 27, 2024
What to do when roommates don’t want to live together anymore.
What happens when a tenant no longer wants to live in your property?
What to do when your tenant does not want to follow the lease.
Here are 10 things NOT to do when you head to court - lessons that I learned the hard way.
Knowing when to go to court is as important as being successful in court. What’s the right choice for your situation?
Trying to decide if it is worth it to show up for court? Here are some great tips from real life experience about representing ourself or working with a representative to make sure your landlord tenant court case is settle quickly and smoothly.
When my tenant is self-employed, how should I compose my lease?
Should I exchange rent for repairs on the house?
It sounds like an appealing arrangement at first glance: your tenant has offered to perform repairs or improvements to your home in exchange for rent. Your mind may race to all of the needed repairs or desired improvements that your willing laborer could perform. Having your tenant perform the repairs frees you up from the tiresome process of meeting with contractors, obtaining quotes, and having the liquid capital to pay the bill.
Qualifying self-employed tenants may be easier than you think.
Are you hesitant to place a tenant who is self-employed? Do you feel paralyzed by what to do next? Can you feel confident approving a tenant who is self-employed? Let’s take a look at how to screen a self-employed tenant, so you can feel confident that you are getting the best possible renter.
Roommates can improve your bottom line, but they bring their own baggage. Here are some ways to protect yourself when you write roommates into your lease.
When your tenant will not qualify financially on his or her own, a cosigner can help. How does a lease with a cosigner work?
Sometimes third party organizations such as businesses, places of worship, and other institutions will pay the rent for a tenant. It may be easier than you anticipate to protect yourself while accommodating this non-traditional arrangement.
As a property owner, you can design a pleasing exterior while keeping the safety of your property and your tenant in mind. Natural elements, smart landscape design, and strategic plant selection can be incorporated to keep your property safe. Check out these easy exterior solutions to safeguard your rental property.
Should landlords give holiday gifts, or does it cross the line between tenant and landlord?
Which seasonal decorations will you allow as a landlord?
Collecting rental debt from a tenant who moves out is never fun for the landlords. Unpaid rent collection is an utterly frustrating task for the landlord especially when it is hard to locate a tenant who has run-away. There is a loss of money and waste of time in finding a runaway tenant to get the money back.
Don’t panic! Some mischievous tenant skips out rent and moves out. But there are some ways you can get the money back from your former tenant who moves out.
Read the article to discover the ways to get the money back.
How one investor used 1031s to build her rental portfolio.
The 1031 Exchange allows a landlord to defer taxes when selling one property in order to buy another, under certain circumstances.
Are you thinking about selling your rental? Is the profit you anticipate truly how much you will receive after all the taxes and fees?
Are you considering purchasing an investment property with tenants who are already placed? This article reviews some pros and cons of inherited tenants.
Five commonly asked questions about buying a property with an inherited tenant.
Have you been thinking about buying a property where a tenant is already in place? Here are some things you should know about acquisition tenants.
When you live far away from your rental property, you can either hire a property manager and managing your rental yourself. We examine the pros and cons of each option.
Neither landlords nor tenants enjoy handling the cost of utilities, which leads many people to try alternative options to heat or cool their residences. For example, a tenant may try to use space heaters to reduce their monthly heating bill. While using a space heater may be a great option to keep you warm in a confined space, using several will likely lead you to spend more money than you’re saving.
Whether you are using your personal home or your rental unit, there are certain steps to take to start offering a furnished rental unit. These six tips will get you started.
Even as technology allows the world to become cheaper and easier to explore, traveling is still expensive. Increasingly, short term rentals through sites like VRBO, Airbnb and the like have become popular for vacationers and business travelers alike. You already pay for your housing costs, so why not offset your mortgage with some rental income during the times when you are not home? Turning your personal dwelling into a short term rental might be a good idea for you, but first you must weigh the pros and cons. Here are five things to keep in mind when exploring this option.
Are you interested in transitioning into short term rentals? As with every new idea, it is important to make sure that it meets your rental goals. Here are several considerations when determining if short term rentals are for you.
The correct documentation of your property’s condition is the key to being able to protect yourself from damage upon move out.
Did you know you can complete the entire renter application process online? Streamlining this process can help you to effectively manage your tenant selection.
Is your rental agreement up to the challenge of problem tenants? Having a strong legal document is the key to surviving the test. Is your lease ready?
It’s time to send a renewal to that tenant who ruins your day! Before you decide whether to renew, take a closer look at the problem to see if it can be fixed during the renewal process.
As a landlord, social media may be an invaluable resource for you. Any problem that can be imagined has probably been encountered by some other property owner at some point. You can also learn from other people’s lessons, rather than living it yourself. But how can you use a critical eye to separate useful advice from distractions?
When the rent check comes through each month, do you stop of ponder whether you’re maximizing your return? The best way to make sure you have enough income to cover daily expenses and pay yourself for your trouble is to charge the proper market rate for your rental.
Depreciation is a tool used by landlords to lower their overall tax bill. It is a deduction that must be paid back when you sell your property, whether you have claimed it on your taxes or not.
Understanding the differences between tax Schedule A and Schedule E is the first step in realizing all of the tax advantages of owning a rental.
Is it cheaper to pay a CPA or to use an electronic tax program How do you decide which option helps you come out ahead?
It sounds like a dream come true: sell your house to the person who is currently renting it. By doing so, you can avoid the costs of turning over the property as well as fees associated with selling your home. But is it all positive?
Now that social media is so prevalent, the question of whether or not to connect with your tenants on social media is more common. Should you accept this kind of request, and if you do, what should you do with the information you can learn?
More and more tenants are requesting to pay their rents all at once, for many reasons. Whether they just sold their house, or they want to offer a lump sum due to a poor credit rating, the occasional tenant may want to put a large quantity of cash in your hand. While that sounds like a dream come true, it is important to evaluate why the tenant is requesting this, and if this makes sense for you.
As a real estate agent, you would think my response would be “Always!” but here is my unbiased opinion on this matter. Choosing a tenant, although time consuming, is not exactly rocket science; however, there is some skill involved. For this reason, brokers may be necessary to make the lives of property owners easier; but this convenience comes at a cost. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before you decide to hire a broker or DIY.
When choosing a new tenant, it can be difficult to navigate the information overload that confronts you. You must analyze each tenant's work history, references, number of occupants, and the like. Here are five red flags that can act as shortcuts, and weed out some potentially problematic renters. While these aren’t 100 percent accurate all of the time, they will save you from headaches most of the time! If your prospect does any of these things, take a step back and ask yourself, is it worth the risk?
Traditionally when a renter moves into a new apartment the landlord requires a security deposit (usually equal to one month’s rent) to pay for any damages that may occur. Coming up with a security deposit and the first month’s rent all at once may be difficult for some people, so tenants maytry to pay in increments or negotiate a lower security deposit. While you may feel sympathy for their struggle, it’s imperative to get some form of collateral from them to give you peace of mind, and assist you in case of any damage to your property. With that being said, the “security deposit” doesn’t have to be fixed at one month’s rent or even be a security deposit at all. In fact sometimes a security deposit is the wrong move!
It used to be easy for landlords to control energy costs at their rentals; they simply offloaded utility bills onto tenants. That still happens, but when tenants pay for electric, gas and water, they are more likely to demand efficiencies. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much effort to slash energy bills; the chance to save hundreds of dollars a year should be all the incentive you need.
No matter who pays the bills, a landlord’s chances of getting and retaining the best renters improve with the ability to cut energy costs. Either tenants renew the lease because the landlord gives them ways to save on their utility bills, or they stay because the landlord controls rising energy charges, rather than automatically boosting the rent.
When things turn sour with a tenant who hasn’t paid the rent, or who has broken other terms of a lease, it’s time to consider eviction. Evicting a tenant is a stressful event, and it is rarely an easy process. To compound matters, there are so many myths about the legal steps that can and cannot be taken during eviction. One pervasive fiction is that tenants can’t be turned out of the rental during cold weather.
Is this true? Mostly, no. However, there are actions that a landlord may not take during the eviction process. There are also very strict regulations about cutting off heat-related utilities when the thermometer plummets.
Years ago, I leased a small second-floor apartment over a detached garage. They don’t let you do that in my town anymore. I think it has to do with updated building codes and safety rules. Anyway, like most college students, I abandoned my apartment over the holidays for a trip home. I saw what I thought was a good opportunity to save on my utility bills, and turned the heat way down.
Pick the right tenant for your property. Hint: It may not be the most eager or first tenant you screen.
A realistic dummy laid on a lawn in Michigan each Halloween caused panic when passersby didn’t realize it was a prank. Many thought someone was seriously hurt and called 911 as the homeowner giggled inside the house. A much more gruesome scene, hosted each October on a front porch in Texas, included a child’s crib filled with zombie babies. And, in Illinois, a homeowners association felt compelled to enact new rules about Halloween displays after receiving complaints about a home whose decorations included 2,000 lights that blazed for weeks.
Difficult tenant situations can make landlords feel as if they must turn into ogres to put things right. The tenant promises to pay back rent and never does. Garbage that should be bagged and on the curb each week is piling up and stinking. The lease says that only Mr. Jones may live in the rental, but three friends appear to have moved in with him. And, on and on.
Fortunately, someone invented written notices. These simple, straightforward directives take feelings out of the equation, and place the focus on the broken rules. They help landlords manage rentals like a business, rather than a social service. And notices only need to mention basic details:
Devastation from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma is still underway, and total damages won’t be known until the storms recede. Estimates so far have nudged $200 billion. These record-setting disasters have turned people out of their homes, and closed down whole cities. Rain and flooding are still affecting communities along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, as well as towns that are hundreds of miles inland.
Stanley Roper, the grumpy landlord in the ‘70s pop sitcom “Three’s Company,” lived in the apartment directly beneath his tenants’ apartment. If something went wrong - and of course things routinely went awry to keep viewers watching - Roper knew about it within minutes.
Without a doubt, landlords must supervise their rental properties, but a landlord needn’t listen through the pipes, as Roper did, to stay on top of things. They want to assess problems and resolve them before they get worse - and more expensive to fix. In particular, appliances, plumbing, and a home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system - HVAC - require routine inspections and servicing.
Having a bank account for your personal and business income is key to successfully tracking your money.
New landlords often consider dipping into the pool of family and friends to fill vacancies in their rentals. After all, these people are known entities, whereas complete strangers come with unfamiliar histories.
Why, then, do some experts advise landlords to steer clear of relatives and pals? The easy answer is that doing so carries unnecessary financial risk. Specifically, landlords risk lost tax deductions and lost profits.
Here are some measures to consider if you are thinking of renting your property to some friends, or your adult children, or other relatives. If you have already leased to family or friends, see if you took the proper precautions to protect your investment.
Ever reward your tenants? You may want to consider a bonus to show your great tenants how much you appreciate them.
It is important to always know your state regulations for landlord tenant laws. Make sure you have all forms and documents that you need to provide and are required to have in your area.
Short-term rentals are eliciting a strong backlash in communities across the nation. Officials from Los Angeles to Capitol Hill are fielding complaints and mulling new regulations as the trend in short-stay leases grows. Airbnb alone has 3 million properties listed for rent worldwide, up from 550,000 in December, 2013.
For residential owners, the chance to host strangers who want to live like locals during brief visits to unfamiliar cities is an opportunity to get ahead on their mortgage or save for retirement. To the visitors themselves, short leases can offer the most affordable vacation opportunity.
Did you know that if you are a Pennsylvania landlord with a tenant who hasn't paid rent - and your written lease agreement states that no notice is required to evict for non-payment of rent - that you can legally start the eviction process without sending your tenant a notice?
Yes, that's allowed by Pa. law.
But you'd better not try that in the adjacent state of New Jersey. Rights of tenants in the Garden State cannot be waived. A N.J. lease agreement that declares tenant rights are waived, even if the tenant signed the lease, is unenforceable.
You want your tenants out and you want them out today. You have been more than patient, your tenants are taking advantage of you, and things are only going to get worse.
So, why can't you just kick them out immediately? Wouldn't any judge understand that eviction is appropriate under these typical scenarios?
• Tenants haven't paid rent in months.
• Tenants let other people move in and never told you or asked permission.
• The last time tenants let you in to inspect, you saw the unit was trashed.
These examples – among many others – are lease violations and landlords do not have to put up with them. And, yes, action is definitely called for. Unfortunately, far too many landlords make wrong assumptions about the action they are per
Alarm is spreading among rental property owners over a proposal that would hold them liable if they failed to stop their tenants from harassing other tenants who are protected by anti-discrimination laws.
The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development rule could be enacted as early as this fall.
What has landlords with multiunit properties worried is that they would be held responsible for failing to stop discrimination action by one tenant against another tenant in a protected class – even if the landlord didn't know the discrimination was occurring.
No need to panic, according to HUD. The rule is only a clarification of an existing policy. And since it doesn't call for any new duties on the part of landlords, HUD states,
Things were getting out of hand at the small senior center in Quebec City. Hordes of people gathered every evening on the lawn of the private center on a quiet residential street. Strangers set up chairs and spread blankets as if it were a public park. Using smartphones loaded with a hot new game, the crowds played late into the night.
Some nights, according to seniors who live at the site, groups of more than 100 people played Pokemon Go until 3 a.m., keeping the neighborhood wide awake. The center director finally hired a security guard to shoo away trespassers, some of whom had been urinating on trees and dropping trash on the property.
Imagine that the single family home you own in a quiet neighborhood was just leased to a family that moved from out of state. You pop by a few weeks after lease-signing to drop off extra keys and see how they are settling in. Instead of beds, sofas and other décor, you find that each room has been fitted with grow lights connected to hazardous tangles of electrical cords. Your tenants have stripped your house of furnishings and converted it into a greenhouse for growing marijuana.
If you own rental property, you own assets that are at risk. Just as large corporations protect their assets, landlords must be sure their investments are protected, even if they have just one rental property.
What happens when landlords enter a rental property without notice, or let others in, even in an emergency? A case study from the San Bernardino tragedy.
As HUD proposes making all of its public rental housing smoke-free, should private landlords follow suit and ban smoking in their rentals?
Here are trends affecting landlords around the country, along with some tips on how you can earn even better ROI than the average landlord.
A growing number of Americans are trying homesharing, and joining multiple families and generations in a single home for pooled responsibilities.
There's some evidence to suggest that fewer Americans buy real estate during presidential election years; could 2016 see an election year housing slump?
Real estate companies are finding new and innovative ways to gain disturbing insight into which property owners are likely to buy or sell.
Fashion may recall prior decades, but home designs have changed radically in the last fifty years. Here's what real estate investors need to know.
The Supreme Court ruled that landlords can be sued for Fair Housing violations regardless of intention, based on the disparate impact rule.
A recent report found systematically false forecasts by Social Security, further demonstrating that Americans need other retirement income.
Accepting rent in bitcoins and other virtual currencies may appeal to some landlords, but do the risks outweigh the potential benefits?
Increasing numbers of foreigners are visiting the US to give birth for the citizenship rights, but authorities are cracking down.
With incomes stagnant, many renters are feeling the pinch between higher rents and few prospects for boosting incomes in the short term.
With homeownership rates down, today's renters are more diverse than ever... here are the rental trends that landlords should know.
A family's home suffered $150,000 in damage when Airbnb renters threw a massive party and nearly destroyed the short-term leased property.
Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction, as these wild and unbelievable real estate facts just go to show.
Raising the minimum wage would push rents and housing prices higher, a boon to landlords and homeowners, but tough for renters and buyers.
California's drought may have a profound impact on housing markets, as it crushes agriculture and threatens water and food price spikes.
Cleaner streets actually do mean less crime, and factors like the height and density of trees are surprisingly correlated with lower crime.
Three of the largest cities in Canada are seeing rapidly shifting market conditions, as interest rates keep dropping and prices move quickly.
Millennials are rapidly changing the rental and real estate industries; here's what you need to know as a property manager or landlord.
Disturbingly, a new report finds that almost all of Americans' income growth occurs by age 35, and only the wealthiest continue to earn more.
While the housing data from the close of 2014 is mixed, one trend is clear: the shift towards leasing is still alive and well.
Vacation home rentals can be both fun and lucrative; here are ten US cities that Zillow named as the best places to buy vacation rentals.
First-time homebuyers are making up a smaller proportion of real estate purchasers, alarming economists and frustrating would-be homeowners.
Real estate prices nationwide continue to normalize, and spring 2015 housing markets look to be appreciating at a healthy pace.
The average US city resident is slowly being priced out of America’s largest cities, risking a host of social and economic problems.
With the majority of New York Airbnb rental transactions illegal, how can short-term landlords stay within the bounds of the law?
Young adult migration patterns are a strong indicator of future economic growth and housing demand, marking good areas for real estate investment.
A new survey of Canadian real estate buyers shows that they are expecting to pay more for less house. Rental investors and homebuyers beware.
Micro-cottages can be great for bringing in vacation rental income from Airbnb, as guest lodging, or a million other inventive uses.
As Zillow launches a new premarket listing option which could help sellers and landlords sell/lease faster, some realtors are fighting back.
Virtual reality tours of real estate combined with interactive features, could revolutionize the way people initially browse rental listings.
Surprisingly, a closer look at the rent affordability gap reveals relatively stable rents, while real incomes are down since 2009.
Not all rental markets are created equal. We take a look at some of the most expensive - and cheapest - leasing markets, and examine causes.
Get ahead of the curve with this housing market forecast for investors. Learn why vacancies are projected to be higher in the southern states for 2014 & 2015.
A recent squatting case in California reveals the limitations of Airbnb's ability to protect vacation rental owners.
Here are the top 25 rental investing markets in the US, based on housing market data provided by RealtyTrac and RentRange.
Military service members have given a great deal for our society, so EZ Landlord Forms is proud to propose the Military Discount Movement.
Harvard's annual State of the Nation's Housing study found that the ongoing real estate recovery will depend on millennial participation.
Real estate values and rents continue to rise, but at a slower pace than the last several years' impressive gains.
Real estate investors looking to expand their portfolio overseas should consider these oft-overlooked gems, which are still affordable.
With investing icons like Warren Buffett and Sam Zell spending millions buying trailer parks, more mom and pop investors are taking interest.
Flipping homes may seem very 2006, but it is rapidly recovering in popularity (and profits) after a post-Recession slump.
A fascinating new poll by Gallup shows what percentage of each state's residents wants to move away, revealing deep discontent in many states.
RealtyTrac reversed course this week, rescinding its recent move to include comprehensive additional data alongside real estate listings.
Many analysts are scratching their heads as mortgage originations reach a low not seen since 2000, as several causes of the problem emerge.
RealtyTrac has started displaying a massive amount of neighborhood data alongside its listings, but the data may hurt many sellers' prices.
A recent survey taken by Zillow reveals some troubling results, as few landlords truly understand some of the basics of landlord-tenant law.
Existing home sales have dropped precipitously, leading real estate analysts to wonder if market fundamentals are weakening.
Once confined to the tech sector, patent trolls are becoming more aggressive and targeting massive real estate companies.
The demographics of homeownership are changing, with adults waiting longer before buying real estate... if they end up buying at all.
The the legal marijuana industry expanding, what can landlords and real estate investors do to capitalize on the changing times?
With many states legalizing marijuana usage in some form, can landlords legally prohibit cannabis use in their rental properties?
As short-term subleasing becomes increasingly popular, more landlords and municipalities are trying to prohibit tenants from doing so.
The residential energy efficiency tax credit and the mortgage debt forgiveness tax break both expired at the end of 2013, raising taxes for millions.
While residential home prices dropped slightly in November, they increased when seasonally adjusted, and are up 13.7% year over year.
Walkability has been a growing buzzword and trend in residential real estate in the last five years; what does it mean for savvy landlords?
As of 1/10/14, there are new restrictions on mortgage loans, even seller-financed loans. Here's the breakdown of the new Dodd-Frank law.
As households become more energy efficient and Americans use less power, scant incentives exist for landlords to upgrade rental properties' energy efficiency.
More families in the US and Canada are sharing a home with multiple generations, and developers are now building homes to accommodate them.
With a spike in new construction starting in November, homebuilders and apartment developers have shown they see a strong 2014 for housing demand.
As U.S. real estate markets continue a steady recovery, foreign money has flooded in to scoop up investment properties at perceived bargain pricing.
The data comparing homeowner and tenant happiness is intriguing... and intriguingly mixed.
The housing data has been largely mixed about purchase activity and home prices, what exactly is going on in the real estate industry?
San Francisco's rents have become too high for many low and middle-class residents, while new housing construction is often blocked. Rent control battles ensue.
New laws starting in January 2014 tighten the regulations on lead in water pipes, indicating a growing concern about lead poisoning from older water pipes.
Private equity firms have invested billions of dollars in the last few years converting foreclosed properties into rental units, concerning local landlords.
The ULI has just released its forecasts for 2014 real estate market trends and industry projections - where are North American rental markets heading in 2014?
With hundreds of billions of dollars in HELOCs about to reset to higher payments, borrowers are in for payment shock, which may ripple across housing markets.
Rents have been rising for several years, and most economists forecast them to rise even faster in the coming years, as demand is up and supply is down.
The First Amendment protects rights to free communication, but does that mean tenants and condo owners can litter their lawns and windows with political signs?
Research reveals a strong correlation between an area's homeownership rate and it's subsequent unemployment rate between the years of 1950-2010.
The NFIP loses billions of dollars every year on flood insurance, which may mean flood premiums could rise by up to 2,000% for coastline residents.
Some developed nations are already witnessing the economic pain that comes with lower fertility; how do negative birth rates affect real estate markets?
More taxpayers are leaving high-tax states like Massachusetts for lower-tax states like Florida, but high-tax states are not letting residents go quietly.
What impact does attractiveness have in landlord decisions such as hiring property managers and Realtors, and placing tenants?
In high-rent cities like Seattle, micro-units can help meet the desperate demand for affordable housing, but controversy follows as some activists object.
Rising demand for rentals has led to a shortage of affordable housing in many places across the U.S., creating an opportunity for savvy investors.
You're either for or against renting to Section 8 tenants, but the choice is being taken away from landlords as more states outlaw the rejection of Section 8.
The Affordable Care Act has an affect on a variety of new taxes that affect real estate investors and landlords, including these specific three new tax rules.
A recent ruling against a law firm representing a large apartment landlord raises questions about who is liable for what, and raises expectations of attorneys.
The definition of wealthy changes depending on who you ask, but this five-step ladder offers a universal guide to the different levels of wealth - and tips!
Landlord-tenant disputes are often heated, and can even turn violent. Here are several ways to improve both your cash flow and relationships with your tenants.
A lawsuit brought against a New York City landlord led to a tenant scoring $1/month rent for a $2,100 apartment, in a cautionary tale for landlords everywhere.
There's been a lot of debate about U.S. housing markets this summer. What are the facts and how does the real estate recovery actually stack up at the moment?
President Obama appeared online earlier this month to take public questions and promote his housing agenda, in a Q&A forum hosted by Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff.
Millennials reported lower interest in owning real estate during the Great Recession, but has that changed in the years since?
Mobile technology is gradually altering the way some property managers and landlords handle their business, but it comes with its own risks.
This easy-to-read infographic explains the fundamentals of real estate market cycles, and lays out where we are currently in the cycle of recovery.
When a deck collapsed during a tenant's Fourth of July party, several guests were injured. Who is liable if they decide to sue over the accident?
One-person households are on the rise, which means higher demand for housing - good news for real estate investors nationwide.
An Annapolis tenant received an $800,000 judgment against her landlord, after he failed to address a bedbug infestation.
A corporate landlord in New York City is under investigation for allegedly harassing and pushing out Hispanic tenants to make way for more expensive rents.
As baby boomers start reaching retirement age, the question arises whether a glut of suburban housing is waiting to flood markets across North America.
Why are mortgage interest rates increasing? Here are the basics behind the Federal Reserve and how it influences interest rates.
Landlords and property managers often venture into high-crime neighborhoods, but a new smartphone app lets colleagues and family know exactly where they are.
After her tenant moved out, one Atlanta landlord had a shock in store for her: an unpaid $19,000 water bill that the city is demanding she pay.
Covington, Kentucky is experimenting with a unique but simple approach to helping landlords screen tenants, to slash vacancies and defaults.
While rents are forecast to rise 4.1% nationwide, some rental markets will see slower growth in rents. Here are 10 rental markets forecast to grow slower than average, where rental investors should be aware of slowing growth.
Despite the leap in home prices nationwide, there are still markets where cap rates for single family rental investments remain excellent. RealtyTrac breaks down the top 10 by cap rate.
New credit scoring models are available to borrowers which may improve their chances on getting approved for mortgages, auto loans, and more!
Many American workers have no money saved for retirement. Fortunately, rental properties offer some excellent advantages as retirement investments.
While some U.S. cities are hurting, others are booming! These 10 U.S. cities are the likeliest to continue seeing strong rent increases through the end of 2013.
This article includes information about a proposed bill in Oregon that restricts landlords from using certain criminal information when screening applicants.
Spring 2013 is looking brighter for real estate since the Great Recession reared its ugly head, and there are plenty of reasons to feel optimistic!
As the economy creates more jobs, many young adults are leaving their rural counties in the Midwest and Northeast and moving to the West and the South's cities.
In a mildly absurd landlord-tenant episode, an Ohio landlord allegedly spanked a tenant who had failed to pay his rent. Lawsuits and shenanigans ensue.
A Florida landlord changed the term on the signed lease agreement to favor his eviction case... and wound up in jail.
Many New Jersey and New York landlords are still struggling to repair rental properties damaged by Superstorm Sandy, and in some cases being forced to pay for repairs to public utility lines.
Homebuyers will be paying more to buy homes starting this spring, as the FHA hikes its fees and rates once again.
Every landlord has seen a strange eviction case in their day, but these are a whole different story, from Peeps pyramids to a "crazy rat lady."
Detroit proves a fascinating case study of a major American city crumbling under its debt, half of whose homes would cost more to demolish than they are worth.
The foreclosure rate has been slowing for several years, and in many states has passed entirely. Where are we today with the foreclosure crisis?
Review some of the best market indicators for the everyday landlord and investor, including where housing markets stand and how they look for 2013.
Should landlords be stand-ins for police, forced to evict disruptive tenants? Harrisburg is not alone, and is merely the latest city to adopt this stance.
How would housing markets respond to the fiscal cliff, with the end of the year nearing and no ample progress made on budget negotiations?
Tragedies like this should serve as wake-up calls to landlords, tenants and property managers about their responsibilities for furnaces and smoke/CO detectors.
A small but growing number of property managers are experimenting with creating small, free book exchanges to boost renter engagement and sense of community.
When a Pennsylvania landlord accidentally let a dog out of her tenant's house, it attacked a child, and the landlord now faces criminal charges.
As the election looms, now is a good time to take stock of the current real estate and rental market statistics, and how they compare with four years ago.
The new multi-billion dollar trend among private-equity firms began buying foreclosures en masse, and keeping them as rental properties.
In a disturbing cautionary tale, an Oregon tenant attempted an "estate sale" of the landlords' furniture that had been leased with a furnished rental agreement.
Anti-lead paint regulations have grown teeth, and landlords are now being prosecuted as criminals for failing to adhere to the letter of lead-based paint laws.
A recent lawsuit may urge more satellite television providers to require a landlord's signature if changes to the rental property are required for installation.
The rental industry has had a good year or two, compared to the rest of the American economy, but where does the American rental market stand now?
This overview examines housing market trends in 2011 and where we are headed for 2012, as well as the rental boom, new construction, shadow inventory, and more.
There is a self-reinforcing cycle at work among unemployment, real estate markets, credit markets, and government solvency, which is worth a closer look.
Real estate investors who normally bought, renovated, and resold are now finding themselves unable to sell, and signing a lease until they can find a buyer.
While the economy overall suffers and real estate values remain flat, the rental industry is surging forward with rising rents, and a high demand for rentals.
Federal tax law changed the capital gains rate for some filers between 2011-2013. But 1031 exchanges remain an option for many real estate investors.
The uncertainty and mixed news that characterized the 2010 real estate markets around the country is not about to clear instantaneously, but there are a few trends and predictors that we in the real estate industry can take away from 2010, and watch in 2011.
Telly Award-winning TV show Designing Spaces invites ezLandlordForms' CEO Kevin Kiene and legal counsel Paul Cohen to offer some landlording tips and advice.
Madison, Wisconsin provides a useful case study in how cities can survive and reverse real estate downturns and depreciation.
Landlords and Property Managers Vote YES for New One-Stop Online Document Resource.