Property Management Blog

It seems fairly innocuous; a friend or family member wants you to co-sign on a loan because they don’t qualify. They assure that they’ll make the payments; they’re quite convincing and very appreciative. You don’t want to disappoint them and after all, it&...

As rates are inching up but still very affordable, buyers should remember that there is an alternative to a fixed rate mortgage that can provide the lowest cost of housing for the homeowners who understand the parameters.  A $300,000 fixed-rate mortgage at 4% has a principal...

Making additional payments toward the principal of your mortgage will do three things for the homeowner: save interest, build equity and shorten the term on fixed rate mortgages.  These things should be beneficial enough to justify the extra payments but another huge advanta...

A home can easily be a person’s largest personal asset and it can be a powerful tool to increase financial stability also. Since most mortgages are amortizing, the loan becomes a forced savings account that reduces the unpaid balance with each payment. The equity could be u...

Some people take their credit for granted and don’t start paying attention to it until they need it. The problem with this is that it could delay if not altogether cause the loan to be denied.  The most common issue is not correcting items on your credit report. A larg...

An unexpected, larger-than-normal water bill could lead a person to think that they might have a leak. Before incurring the cost of a plumber, it is fairly easy to run your own test.  Locate your water meter. They’re usually in the front of the house, near the street. ...

What if you could live in a larger and possibly newer home for less than you are currently? Would you consider moving? Do you want to hear more? Interest rates, while they’re expected to go up, actually took a small dip and are still hovering at the 4% or below mark for a 3...

One of the important things as a parent is to plan for their children’s education. Let’s look at two different approaches: a savings account or investing in rental real estate. Assuming your child is five years old and you start putting $250 a month in a savings accou...

There is a frequently quoted expression “more money has been lost from indecision than was ever lost from making a bad decision.” Regardless of the extent of its accuracy, most people can recall when procrastination has cost them money.  There are markets so shor...

The Super Bowl and World Series determine the football and baseball champions. Since there can only be one champion, the other team loses the competition. In feudal times, a knight might champion for the king or a patriotic, romantic or religious cause. Fierce competition can occ...