Practical notes for self-managing landlords—portfolio structure, leasing workflow, applications, and listings—alongside finance guides.
Practical notes for self-managing landlords, delivered when a new post drops.
A step-by-step guide to calculating your rental property depreciation deduction using ManorKeeper's calculator—including how to split land from building value and what the results mean for Schedule E.
Read articleA family buyer may be able to use a gift of equity instead of bringing the whole down payment in cash. Here is what that means for the lender, your sale proceeds, taxes, and the relationship.
Read articleMoving, co-owning with family, or turning your old house into a rental can change whether you qualify for a homestead exemption. Here is how small landlords should think through occupancy, ownership, deadlines, and rental math before filing.
Read articleA practical records policy for DIY landlords: which closing documents, lease files, tax records, maintenance receipts, deposit records, and insurance paperwork to keep, what can be scanned, and what should not be tossed too soon.
Read articleHow the IRS treats rental income as passive activity, what the $25,000 exception means for small landlords, and when losses are deductible against other income.
Read articleHow depreciation recapture works when you sell a rental property, what tax rate applies, and strategies to defer or minimize the tax hit.
Read articleThe difference between repairs and capital improvements for tax purposes, how to classify common expenses, and what it means for your deductions.
Read articleEvery deductible expense category for rental property owners—from obvious costs like mortgage interest to commonly missed deductions like mileage and software.
Read articleYour sister wants to move into your former primary-turned-rental. You'd charge her roughly mortgage cost—not market rent—for peace of mind. Before you hand over keys, understand personal use, fair rental days, and what the IRS stops letting you deduct.
Read articleA plain-English guide to Schedule E—what each expense line means, which deductions landlords commonly miss, and the record-keeping habits that make tax prep take an afternoon instead of a week.
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