OLDIES BUT GOODIES..ARCHIVE OF VALUABLE REAL ESTATE RELATED ARTICLES

Most Expensive Rental Markets In America 2008"
 

Good News for Landlords; "Condos Cool Off, Apartments Heat Up"

Vapor Barriers and Dealing with Moisture. This is an informative q&a with practical tips on dealing with unwanted moisture in various parts of your structure. It should help you deal with mold.

Cabinet Q's and A's. Are you getting your rental unit ready for a new tenant? Do you have problems with the cabinets? This article should help with most of them.

California Creating Permanent Renters' Class. This article shows exactly how government no-growth policies can distort a market. And no, the shortage of housing in general is not good news for landlords who already own buildings. Think about the impact inflated housing will and is having on the economy in general, which is where tenants get the money to pay their landlords in the first place.

Rental Concessions Landlords May Consider. The author discusses several types of concessions you may consider if you are caught in a slow market. It is very useful, despite being written from a tenant's point of view.

Fair Housing Advertising: What You Can And Can't Say. We already have a treatment of Fair Housing issues in our discussion of marketing the rental unit. This article is another perspective.

Lender Policies Put Condo Owner in Real Estate Pickle. A fine column from Robert Bruss with a series of Q & A dealing with mortgages to 1031 exchanges to living trusts.

IRS Updates the ‘Dirty Dozen' for 2004: Agency Warns of New Scams. The IRS warns of a dozen illegal tax scams that could land you in big trouble. You really should read this, unless, that is, you want to join Martha for a year or so at Club-Fed.

A Home Owner's Guide to Buying a New Roof. This treatise (it's more than just an article) will help you determine when you need a new roof, what type is best for your building, and how to find a competent and honest contractor.

Interior Painting. If you do the prep work on your rental units yourself, check this article for instructions on how to get a durable, professional looking interior paint job.

Home Values Soared in the Last Quarter of 2003 The title says it all.

Be Aware of Potential Lead, Asbestos Hazards When Remodeling. If you have an older rental unit and are thinking of a remodel, you should consider potential environmental hazards and select a contractor accordingly.

"Tax Time Bombs" May Be Ticking Away for Unsuspecting Home Sellers ‘Tis the season…. Are you looking at a time bomb? Read this and find out.

The Tax Treatment of Points Did you refinance last year? This Q&A deals with points and their impact on your 1040.

Sacramento Area Market Trends If you want an idea of how the market is doing in Sacramento, then follow this link. You will find an expert's opinion for Zipcodes 95831, 95822, 95818.

Apartment Industry Looks Cautiously at Broadband We guess they figure it's just a passing fad.

Urban Redevelopment Hits Real Estate Snag It's the old story: the government gumming up development. In this case it is infill development, the blockage of which will guarantee a housing crisis, which in turn guarantees new government power grabs to remedy the problem they themselves have created.

HUD's Mortgage Reform Will Increase Loan Costs Yes, most such reforms do.

Affordable Housing Remains Unaffordable for Many.  This article discusses “affordable” housing and how it is going out of the reach of more and more persons.  The National Low Income Housing Coalition has found, surprise, that there is a “crisis” in housing affordability justifying increasing government intervention and funding of “affordable” housing.  Of interest to persons interested in getting into the government subsidy business. 

Changing Demographics Power Apartment Growth.  Thought provoking article about the impact the new demographics are having on demand for apartments, it is increasing.  This may be a good starting point for long term investment planning. 

Chimney Checkup.  Yes, we know it's hot, but Fall is approaching like an express train and your tenants in units with fireplaces are going to want to use them.  Now is the time to start thinking about giving your chimneys a safety check so they will be ready for use when the chill comes.  Do not trust your tenants to do it.  This is important enough to see to yourself. 

Financing with a Spiritual Perspective.  Can a home be purchased without the payment of interest?  Islamic law forbids both charging and paying interest, which would seem to make home ownership out of the question, as a practical matter, for members of the Muslim faith.  Not so, as some very creative persons in Canada have shown.  This article is food for thought on the degree to which ingenuity can be employed in real estate acquisition and sale. 

How to Take Title with a Friend.  If you are planning to marry, and want to buy now, this article shows how to take title jointly. 

Keep Your Cool with Proper Attic Insulation.  One way to reduce wear and tear on the air conditioning and electricity expenses during the summertime is through adequate attic ventilation.  This article discusses the issue. 

Pay Down Debt or Make a Down Payment?  Exactly how does debt affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage?  Does it make more sense to use spare cash to pay off non-real estate obligations, or to make a larger down payment?   

What Should I Do If Defects Are Discovered?  Having professionals inspect a prospective purchase for defects is only half of the battle.  This article discusses what to do if defects are discovered. 

Condos, Co-ops, & PUDs:  What's the Difference?  A brief discussion of the different ways to hold title to property and how it affects the amount of control you will have over it.   

Innovation is the Key.  Experts at Real Estate Connect, the San Francisco real estate technology fashion show, give their opinions on what real estate dot coms need to do to succeed now that the blood has stopped running in the streets.  Seems as if this is exactly what the same people did just before the blood started running in the streets. 

Management by Going Away.  If you own your own business you should realize that there are times when your best management bet is to leave your people alone. 

New Products Reduce Lead Paint Exposure.  Alternatives to expensive removal of lead paint are becoming available. 

Permit, Please.  The importance of getting a permit when improving your properties. 

So You Want to Add a “Mother-in-Law Suite.”  The pros and cons of adding a mother-in-law to your residence, from the tax and local regulation angles. 

Spotlight on Mold:  Tips to Protect Your Home.  Mildew problems are entering the public awareness and becoming the subject of court awards.  Learn how to protect your properties from this infestation. 

Time-Out.  Taking time off is one of the most important things you, as an owner of your own business, can do.  It not only teaches you how and what to delegate, it also gives you perspective, i.e., a good view of the big picture. 

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Are Credit Scores Plummeting? A new study seems to show that credit scores in general are going down, meaning that people tend to be less and less qualified for loans.  The drop is most dramatic among those in the lower end of the spectrum, but exists across the board.  A reason not mentioned in the article may be that, with the permeation of the entire credit system by computers, and the reporting  of everything even vaguely negative, including payment for your groceries with wrinkled currency, the system is becoming more and more unforgiving.  Does this mean that lenders will have to revise their credit scoring to more accurately reflect the universality of some types of blemishes? 

Commercial Leases Require More Than Rent.  Author Clifford Hockley presents an excellent article on what is involved when you are renting your commercial property.   

Computer Virus Facts and Fictions.  Everything you needed to know about viruses and how they work.  This article will calm many fears and allow a rational approach to protection from computer viruses.   

Identifying Time Wasters.  You have a lot on your plate, and maybe you think you have too little time to get it done.  Guess what:  you probably have plenty of time if you stop wasting it. 

Seven Truths of Automating the Real Estate Industry, The.  Tongue-in-cheek but still informative look at what the automation of the real estate industry really means and will really take.   

Tax Credits for Energy Upgrades Proposed.  A new bill would offer tax credits both on new construction and the retrofitting of homes with energy efficient stuff.  There are numberless bills currently proposed in this vein so that legislators can be seen to be doing something about the energy shortage while blocking all efforts to enlarge the supply of energy.  When reading this article it is well to keep two questions in mind.  First, if energy efficient retrofits are such a boon to the home owner, why do they need to be subsidized?  Second, won't a subsidy designed to offset the cost of overpriced energy efficient retrofits simply deter the development of cost effective alternatives? 

Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses.  This IRS publication, available in PDF format, tells you what the IRS says about the deductibility of these expenses.  Helps to answer the question “to deduct or not to deduct.” 

Will You Pay Too Much for Your Mortgage?  What is overage?  This article will tell you and why it is important to you if you are searching for financing. 

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Energy Improvements Add $18,000 to Homes, Say Studies.  Does the replacement of appliances, light bulbs, and other energy consuming devices with more efficient ones add value to your property?  Some studies say so. 

Fixing a Squeaky Floor.  Floor squeaks are inevitable and annoying to your tenants.  Learn how to take care of them yourself.  It is not as difficult as you think.  Be sure to follow the links.  

How to Reduce Email Burdens.  Once the newness of email wears off, responding to it can become a chore.  This is especially so if you have to answer a large number of similar mail, such as vacancy inquiries.  Learn how to make your email routine more efficient without losing the personal touch that people will expect.   

Sec. 8 Now “Housing Choice Vouchers.”  The Section 8 program is in its new guise, “Housing Choice,” and has significantly bulked up in the process.   

Should You Keep a Surplus Property or Sell It?  This article will give you pointers when you are trying to answer this question.  If you are thinking of entering the investment arena by retaining and renting your present home after you move, instead of selling it to buy a new one, this article is a must read.   

Should You Use Flash in Your Website?  If you have your own Website and plan to include a Flash feature, read this before you do. 

Supreme Court Victory Opens Way for “Taking” Claims.  The US Supreme Court has ruled that a landowner may contend that environmentally based zoning and other land use restrictions may be challenged as an uncompensated taking under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.  IMPORTANT.  Find the full text of the decision here, courtesy of Findlaw.  

Tax Rebate.  This is your guide to the Economic Growth & Tax Relief Act of 2001.  

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Garbage Disposal Plug.  If you are installing a new garbage disposal to get your unit ready for the next tenant, or replacing one that has given up the ghost, the Carey brothers have an important installation step often overlooked by amateurs.  

IRS – Small Business and Self-employed Community.  It isn't really an article, but this new government site deserves some scrutiny, at least to find out who the five putatively self-employed taxpayers sporting those cheek-numbing ear-to-ear grins in the de rigueur graphic on the main page are.  (In the interest of full disclosure we mention that we are not vouchsafed this information anywhere on the site.  This is pure speculation, but we suspect they do their banking in the Bahamas and that's why they're happy, or maybe it's only gas.)  As they say in their introductory blurb, “If you run a small business or are self employed, our site is here to help you.”  In general, when the gummit says something like that, our reaction is BOHICA.   

Price is Right – Or Is It?, The  How reliable is the appraisal you got when the loan on your building closed?  Maybe not very, says this article.   

Tenant Appreciation Is a Key to Investment Profits.  This article argues that, to remain profitable, you must create a sense of community among your tenants, as well as to provide them the bare minimum of clean and decent housing. 

When Faucets Drip and Toilets Run.  Instructions from a professional on how to save money by doing minor plumbing maintenance yourself. 

When to Repair and Replace Appliances.  This article explains the factors to consider in deciding whether a major appliance should be repaired or replaced.  Some of the ideas are not obvious.  This is definitely worth a read. 

Who Owns the Property If an Owner Dies.  The author analyzes the most popular means of owning property and what happens when one of the owners passes away. 

Why Landlords Shouldn't Let Tenants Make Their Own Repairs.  This article explains why relying on your tenant to make even minor repairs is a bad idea.  

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Best Rate Guarantees?  Consumers Beware!  Even though your mortgage company has guaranteed they are giving you the best rate available, how do you know it is true?  What exactly is a rate guarantee? 

Can the APR Be Made Understandable?  What exactly is the APR and what does it mean? 

Can Lease Purchase Home Buyer Deduct Interest and Taxes?  The answer may surprise you, and it has implications for “creative” financing schemes. 

Conveyancing.  This article covers the basics of the transfer of title to real estate, describing the different ways title may be held. 

Deadlocked over Deadbolts.  If your rentals, or your own home, are equipped with double cylinder deadbolts, they may be safer from burglary, but death traps in the event of fire. 

Dos and Don'ts of Advertising under the Fair Housing Act, The.  The title of this article is self explanatory.  Understanding the Fair Housing Act is indispensable. 

Five Phone Tips.  Useful hints for using your telephone more effectively.  

Getting a Loan after Bankruptcy.  If you were forced into bankruptcy in the past, that does not mean you can never own real estate. 

How To Use Second Trusts To Sell Your Home.  If you take back a second trust deed or mortgage when you sell a property you are assuming risks.  This article will explain what they are. 

Land Use & Zoning.  The basics of land use and zoning laws.  

NAR Named Among Top Ten Washington Power Brokers.  The National Association of Realtors is the ninth most powerful lobbying organization in the nation's capital, according to members of Congress and their staffs. 

Nature of Bonds, The.  How do bonds work and how are they related to mortgage rates? 

Navigating the Rent Control Morass.  Read about how rent control works, with Washington D.C. as an example. 

New to the Web?  Get Up to Speed Fast.  Learn how to use the Web to market yourself and your product. 

Organizing Your Warranties and Receipts.  If you are a landlord you buy a lot of stuff, and most of the items will have limited warranties.  Learn why it is important not only to save, but also to be able to find, the warranties on the things you buy. 

Property Owners and Managers Survey.  In 1995 the Census Bureau compiled statistics on property owners and managers.  The results make interesting reading.  This is a useful tool. 

Section 8 Scam Lands Landlord in Jail.  If you are accepting subsidies from the government, don't cheat.  This article gives a good example of why cheating is not a good idea. 

Smells Can Increase Sales.  Your vacancies will rent faster if they're smelly.  Seriously, this is a very interesting technique and is definitely worth a read.  

Streamlining the Service Request Process.  This is important if you expect to retain your tenants for any length of time. 

Tips for Rent Adjustments.  Some good ideas on when and how to impose rent increases. 

To Lock or Not? How to Do It Right.  Locking in a mortgage rate can be a good or a bad thing, depending on whether rates rise or fall.  Learn about the lock-in process and when doing it is a good idea. 

Turning a Service Request into a Customer Service Opportunity.  Mindy Williams explains how you can turn a negative into a positive, increasing your tenant retention. 

Vacation Checklist:  What To Do When Your Home's Alone.  Give a copy of this to your tenants, especially if they are renting a single family home from you.  The advice will not do you any harm either. 

Why We Buy.  Very useful article on adapting retail sales techniques to improve your marketing effort. 

Will Higher Utility Costs Increase Rents?  No, say most of the experts.  Rent levels are determined by supply and demand, which is why rents in California's Silicon Valley have actually decreased in the face of soaring energy costs.  Demand for commercial space is down because of the local economic downturn.

Reading the Fine Print.  Someone paid a lot of money to have all the fine print written into the sales contract form you are about to sign.  Those words have significance, and you need to read them to understand your rights and duties. 

Reflective Roofs Are So Cool.  The color of your roof can result in increased life and substantial energy savings. 

Scandisk's Thorough Mode.  Learn to use the Scandisk Thorough Mode to head off problems with your hard drive before they arise. 

Should I Accept a Contingent Sale Offer?  The title says it all. 

What Does “Due on Sale” Mean?  Almost all mortgages contain a “Due on Sale” clause, but there are many situations in which your mortgage can be assumed without lender permission.