ARE YOU READY TO PLAY THIS RISKY GAME?!

YOUR GUIDE TO!

BECOMING A LANDLORD!

2!

WHAT TO CONSIDER !Like any business venture, it is important to consider revenue, expenses, legal, and tax consequences. Typical expenses for a rental house may include... !•  mortgage principal and interest!•  taxes and insurance!•  homeowner’s dues!•  repairs and maintenance!

3!

REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE!Renters don't normally trim bushes, clean gutters, change air filters, etc... so maintenance & repair costs for a rental home often are higher than for a home occupied by the owner. On average, most rental homes require a budget of 10-15% of the rental income towards repairs & maintenance.!!Wear and tear for a one year rental usually results in the need to repaint the interior plus clean or replace carpet, depending on the age and how hard the house was lived in. Most rentals require $2000-$5000 per turnover with a new tenant. If a tenant intentionally damages property, the costs can be $10,000+.!

4!

INSURANCE!It is recommended the owner consider an umbrella insurance policy for liability reasons because if a renter sues an owner, the owner risks not only losing the house they are renting but all their personal assets can be at risk too. An umbrella policy protects against this risk and so does setting set up an LLC and putting the house in the name of the new LLC.!

5!

TAX & LEGAL!Legal or CPA help to draft a lease and review legal & tax issues for the owner.!!The owner pays income tax on the income from the rental which can be 20-35% +/- depending on the tax bracket. The owner depreciates the house on taxes but "recaptures" that depreciation when selling, which means the owner owes taxes on what they depreciate when they sell. In some cases, if a landlord lives in one state and rents a house in another state, they have to file income tax returns in both states.!

6!

VACANCY!Maybe the scariest part in becoming a Landlord is the likelihood of vacancy. If the house is ever vacant due to no renter or a renter who simply skips town, the income flow abruptly stops and the owner is paying the mortgage if there is one, plus utilities, plus additional insurance required due to it being a vacant home - which is riskier from an insurance standpoint. Vacant homes have higher rates of vandalism, including stealing HVAC and copper, as well as fixtures and appliances.!

7!

NOT AN EASY GAME!

Risk & Reward!While being a Landlord can certainly be rewarding financially, it’s not an easy game to win.!!Typically, the most successful Landlords treat this as a second job and live nearby so they can work the job as often as required. BE sure you are willing to take on all the risks associated with the potential reward.!