Articles
Choosing the Right Neighborhood For Your Multi-family purchase
You’re looking for a nice multi-family property that you want to both live in and partly rent. How do you find it and what are some key factors to consider? Not every neighborhood allows multi-family housing. Zoning laws are very specific. That’s the reality. So, the...
Choosing the Right Agent for Your Multi-Family Purchase
Choosing the Right Agent for Your Multi-Family Purchase If you’re like many first-time buyers over 50, purchasing a multi-family property is both exciting and a little intimidating. You’re not just buying a home—you’re stepping into the world of real estate investing,...
A Mortgage Designed for Owner-Occupant Landlords
I’ve been promoting the concept of owner-occupied landlords for years. Well, I’m not the only one who believes in the concept - Uncle Sam does as well and offers some remarkable financing to support it. Effective November 2023, Fannie Mae (the Federal National...
Why older citizens seeking a more secure future should consider being an owner-occupant landlord.
Being an owner-occupant landlord means living in the property you own while renting out a part of it. The rental income helps pay for the costs of homeownership. You could rent a section of your house, or have an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) in the backyard. It can...
Should You Offer LTR, MTR or Short term rentals?
So, you’ve got a vacancy - what should you do with it? While long-term rentals are traditional, there are three common options each with its own pros and cons. Your building can have a mix of them. Let’s look at each possibility – primarily from the perspective of the...
About pests. Landlords vs Mice, Squirrels, Alligators, and more.
Houses and apartments may attract pests such as mice, roaches, squirrels, and ants. Addressing the problem immediately is the best course of action. It usually is the landlord’s responsibility (some city laws mandate this), especially in urban areas, but as an...
How Often and How Much Should You Raise the Rent?
This is one of the thorniest questions in the landlord business. One camp says to raise it regularly and to the maximum that the neighborhood will bear, and if they move out, then find a new tenant. Another perspective is that turnovers are expensive and...
Airbnb for income and some things you need to know about it.
Since it’s inception, Airbnb has grown rapidly and millions of people now earn money as part-time hosts. Some folks rent out their personal living space when they travel, and others rent out a room or basement apartment in their primary residence. I am an...
Annualized cost comparison between a Condo and an Owner-occupied duplex (part 1)
It’s the premise of SeniorLandlord.com that being the owner-occupant of a multi-family property is a better choice than owning a single family home or condominum. As many of us approach our retirement, we don’t need the extra bedrooms that we had for the kids, nor do...
Utility costs – How to handle when utilities are not separated by apartment
In a multi-family property, utilities are either separate (meaning each unit has its own gas and electric meter, and maybe a water meter), or they are “common”, meaning there is only one electric meter for the entire property. Sometimes there is a common furnace or...
Common landlord chores – what to expect as an owner-occupant landlord.
Chores that owner-occupant landlords will have.