Cash for Keys: How to Structure a Tenant Buyout That Actually Works
Cash for keys pays a tenant to leave voluntarily, often $1,000–$2,500 versus $4,000+ to evict. Here's the agreement, local rules and IRS 1099-MISC.
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Property Management
Trust accounting, reconciliation, and compliance for rental and HOA property managers
Nominee 1099s: What to Do When Income Reported Under Your EIN Belongs to Someone Else
Got a 1099 for income that isn't yours? File a nominee 1099 and Form 1096, then subtract the pass-through on Schedule B or C to avoid a CP2000.
Should You Report Your Tenants' Rent to the Credit Bureaus? A Landlord's Guide
73% of renters say credit reporting would make them pay on time. Compare landlord-led vs. tenant-paid services, costs, and FCRA consent rules.
Los Angeles Airbnb Enforcement in 2026: How SB 346 Data-Sharing Catches 120-Day Cap Violations in Days
California SB 346 forces Airbnb to share your address and nights booked with LA — 120-night cap breaches now surface automatically, at up to $2,060 a day.
Title-Holding Land Trusts for Rental Investors: Privacy, the Due-on-Sale Exemption, and When an LLC Still Wins
A land trust keeps your name off the deed and fits the federal Garn-St. Germain due-on-sale exemption — but it is no liability shield, so pair it with an LLC.
Montana's Homestead Property Tax Phase-In: Why Your Business Could Pay More in 2026
Montana's 2026 commercial rate drops to 1.50% below $2.27M, yet floating mills can still raise your bill — verify homestead and rental enrollment first.
Pet Deposits vs. Pet Rent vs. Pet Fees: What You Can Actually Charge
Pet deposits are refundable and often capped; pet fees and pet rent are Schedule E income when received — IRS Pub 527 rules, state caps, and how to book each.
Your Assessment Is Too High: How to Protest Your Commercial Property Valuation (and Win)
Most over-assessed owners who show up with evidence win a reduction: bring 3–5 comparable sales, your rent roll, and file before the Texas May 15 deadline.
Form 1098 for Rental Property Owners: Getting Every Box Onto the Right Schedule E Line
Form 1098 Box 1 goes to Schedule E line 12 and Box 5 to line 9, but rental points must be amortized over the loan term — never expensed in year one.
HOA Reserve Fund Accounting: Why Your Repair Money Needs Its Own Bank Account
Commingling HOA reserve and operating cash violates Florida and Washington law — and reserve interest is taxable on IRS Form 1120-H even when dues are not.
Renovating a Pre-1978 Home? The EPA Lead-Paint Rule Every Contractor Must Follow
EPA's RRP Rule fines uncertified firms up to $49,772 per violation per day — certify for $300, assign a Certified Renovator, keep records three years.
The Backyard Cottage P&L: What an ADU Really Costs, Earns, and Does to Your Taxes
ADU rental income goes on IRS Schedule E: split shared costs by square footage, depreciate the unit over 27.5 years, and plan for 25% recapture tax at sale.