If you own rental property in Orlando and/or the surrounding Central Florida area, you’ve likely made a very good choice in terms of your investment. That’s because – in addition to the roller coaster stock market, where you could essentially lose thousands of dollars every day – a recent report from the landlord-software TurboTenant found [...]
While purchasing a personal residence and an investment property are both considered sizable financial transactions, the way you go about funding them can differ – in some cases, significantly. So, how can you find the right lender for your rental / investment property purchases? Certainly, one option is to check with a bank or other [...]
Sometimes, even tenants with the best of intentions must vacate a property before their lease is up. When this is the case, there are a couple of things that could happen. One is that you must market the unit or property for lease again, in hopes of finding another tenant quickly. Another is that the former [...]
For many Central Florida real estate investors, the either / or between investing in single family or multi-family properties can be a challenge. One reason for this is because, like many other things in life, there can be pros and cons to both. But going in with a full understanding of the advantages and the [...]
If you’ve been contemplating the purchase of a (or another) rental property in Orlando, you might be wondering whether a single family house or condo will be your better money-maker. The good news is that either answer could be right – depending on what you’re looking for in an investment. For instance, condominiums are typically [...]
One way that many real estate investors are making things easier on themselves is by using various technologies. Just like in most other industries, the right technology can help to save both time and money. As the owner of residential rental property, you’re likely well aware that the way you manage your investment(s) has a [...]
Making your Orlando rental property stand out can be somewhat difficult with a plethora of other options available to renters. So, just like any other item or service that’s trying to gain the attention of purchasers, you’ll need to make your offering different. One way to do that is by sprucing up the kitchen with [...]
While the goal of many investment property owners is to generate a “passive” stream of rental income (as well as to garner several attractive tax-related benefits), the process can be easier in states that are considered to be “landlord friendly.” The good news is that Florida is one of those states! One of the top reasons [...]
Although rental property can provide you with a steady – and passive – income stream, there may come a time that you decide to sell, move on and pursue other investment opportunities, or even to just simplify your life. But before you put up the For Sale sign, it is important to determine whether or [...]
With the 2008 economic downturn still fresh on most peoples’ minds, there has been talk lately about another recession that could be heading our way. If it comes to fruition, what can it mean for rental property owners? With the possibility of lowering interest rates in the future (in a recession), it could mean that [...]
With the fall season quickly approaching, many investment property owners have concerns about finding good tenants for their vacancies. Similar to the process of selling a home in the fall and winter months, renters can be harder to find – especially those who have children that are just beginning a new school year (and don’t [...]
As a real estate investor, it’s likely that you’re already familiar with the many favorable tax-related benefits that owning rental property can have. Depreciation, expenses, and even the mortgage interest can offer some nice deduction opportunities each year at tax time. But what happens when you’re in the market to sell your current rental units and [...]
One of a rental property owner’s worst fears is having a vacant unit that requires ongoing carrying costs. In fact, the longer a property sits empty, the more expensive it can get both from a monetary standpoint, as well as the likelihood of vandalism. Even worse than a vacant unit, though, is filling a property [...]
Even if your rental properties hold the best of tenants, real estate investors are never fully immune from lawsuits – even ones that may be frivolous. So, it is important that you protect yourself…just in case. One way to do so is to own your real estate investments through a Limited Liability Company, or LLC. [...]
If you’ve found an ideal property that can be used as a rental, one of the most difficult components of the purchase process is finding the money to get the deal done. This is particularly the case if you already own other properties and could present a higher financial risk to a more traditional lender. [...]
Insurance is oftentimes considered a financial “necessary evil.” That’s because even though no one likes to pay any type of insurance premiums, when the time comes to file a claim, the benefits that are received are a welcome relief. So, as an investment property owner in Florida, are your tenants required to purchase renters insurance? In [...]
One of the last things that an investment property owner wants is an empty unit that isn’t producing any incoming cash flow. That’s because, every day that goes by, revenue is being lost. So, how can you make your rental property stand out and be more attractive so that potential tenants not only notice it, but [...]
If you’ve owned rental property for any length of time, then it’s likely that you’ve received at least one call from a tenant, informing you that the air conditioner is on the fritz, the dryer is only blowing cold air, and / or the refrigerator isn’t keeping food cold. While these types of calls can be [...]
As another hurricane season is upon us in Central Florida, it’s time to think about how to prepare your Orlando rental properties, both physically and financially, to best minimize damage. During this time, which officially begins on June 1st and ends on November 30th, the formation of tropical cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere is more [...]
One of the worst situations that a real estate investor can have is paying expenses on an empty unit, without receiving any incoming cash flow. So, getting the word out to potential tenants can be crucial for generating income from the rental property. While there are a number of ways to advertise available rental property, [...]
With another hurricane season right around the corner, it’s important to prepare your rental properties in Florida from potential damage that could occur. Each year, May 15th through November 30th are considered the peak dates for hurricanes to take place along both the Atlantic seaboard and the Gulf Coast. While you certainly can’t prevent hurricane [...]
Any type of real property should be insured against potential damages. This is particularly the case in areas like Central Florida where the likelihood of natural disasters like hurricanes exists. But, while you can protect yourself and your investment with property insurance, what about the personal items of your tenants? This is where renter’s insurance [...]
As the owner of rental real estate, you may always be looking for ways to increase the revenue you receive. One way to do so is by renting your unit(s) furnished. Doing so could allow you to charge up to 75% more for in monthly rent. But, before you start moving furniture into any rental [...]
As a landlord or the owner of rental real estate, you are likely looking for ways to keep your tenant(s) in place and in turn, the rent checks coming in. Certainly, one way to accomplish this is to communicate regularly with your renter(s). But, while good landlords will typically respond to tenant needs in a [...]
If you’ve been tossing around the idea of purchasing (or purchasing more) rental property in Florida, 2019 could very well be your year to do so. That’s because, as a whole, this year is anticipated to be a strong time for the Sunshine State real estate market. One of the biggest reasons for that is [...]
While owning rental property in Central Florida can certainly be a profitable endeavor – and a great way to earn “passive” income – being a landlord isn’t quite as easy as the late night real estate informercial gurus make it out to be. In fact, there are a number of common mistakes that are made by [...]
As the owner of rental real estate, one of the biggest benefits is the long list of tax deductions that are available to you through your investments. Yet, just like many other areas of the U.S. tax code, knowing what is an isn’t allowed can be somewhat complicated. Because of that, it is always in your [...]
With the holiday season now officially in full swing, you may be trying to come up with the ideal gift for your tenants – particularly if you want to thank them for taking good care of your investment property. Depending on just how generous you’re feeling – or on how much you have available to [...]
While many people see the tremendous value in owning rental property – including both the income and equity it can provide – there is another factor involved with this type of investment that may not be so appealing to everyone. That is performing the duties of a landlord. “Landlording” can require you to be involved [...]
Although it is important not to fall for any and all financial-related “opportunities” – take, for instance, “getting rich while sitting in your underwear at your kitchen table” – there are also some instances where unfounded myths could actually be holding your back from generating a nice side, or even full-time, income stream. One such [...]
As a real estate investor, acquiring or selling property via a 1031 exchange can provide you with some nice tax advantages. If executed properly, you could reduce – or even eliminate – taxes on what could otherwise be a substantial IOU to Uncle Sam. Using a 1031 exchange, a real estate investor can sell a [...]
Image Courtesy of My Trading Skills As a real estate investor, it could be that your goal is to have numerous rental properties dotted throughout the Orlando area, each generating a nice amount of passive income for you. But, one of the biggest barriers that may be keeping you from moving forward is getting [...]
If you’ve been considering the purchase of a (or another) rental property, a mediocre – or even a low – credit score doesn’t have to stop you from obtaining the financing that you might need. In fact, there are several possibilities for getting around low credit, and still taking advantage of rental real estate. One [...]
If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines long enough, and you want to jump into the potentially lucrative field of rental property, now could be a perfect time to do so. But, before you dive headlong into the process, there are some important tips you need to keep in mind. Otherwise, it could cost you [...]
If you’ve been thinking about taking the plunge into real estate investing, then Florida – and Orlando in particular – could provide you with numerous benefits. In fact, according to a recent survey by Forbes (1), O-town was ranked as the third best U.S. location for investing in real estate. There are several key reasons [...]
As the owner of rental property, certainly one of the top (if not THE top) priorities is the rent collection from tenants. After all, in addition to building up equity, having a regular incoming cash flow is the reason most real estate investors obtain property. So, what are the best rent collection techniques to use? [...]
If you own rental real estate that is either in or near any large metro area - such as Orlando - then it's likely that there is at least one college or university nearby. And because of that, it is also a possibility that there could be thousands (or even tens of thousands) of young [...]
There comes a time in nearly every landlord's life when the amount of rent being charged to the tenants should be increased. But, just like with most any other product or service, "buyers" (or in this case, tenants) aren't typically happy when they are asked to pay more. This is particularly the case if they've [...]
