Whether you manage five units or 500, you're sure to find some helpful tips here!
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or seasoned landlord, you likely want to maximize the return on investment (ROI)—a.k.a. Profit—on your rental property as much as you can.
Here are the basic principles to use to manage your rental properties from anywhere in the world.
Property management companies only thrive when they have a full roster of properties to manage, and owners trust them to represent their interests responsibly.
Landlords and property managers have had to shift from business, as usual, one day to invent procedures for no-contact showings the next, and wonder all the while about tenants who may not be able...
When it comes to investing in real estate, it's not as complicated as some make it out to be. Here are three rules of thumb that can help you be on your way to a successful career in real estate.
When a tenant damages your property, you are dealing with one of two situations.
Here are 8 ways you can increase the income of your asset and increase the value to maximize your profits with apartment buildings.
Are you looking to get your property rental-ready? With just a few updates, you can maximize your return on investment (ROI) and avoid costly liability issues, maintenance, or grievances down the...
Happy and motivated employees are an essential ingredient of a successful property management business. When your employees are happy and motivated, it makes for a great work environment....
It’s not hard to find a suitable property manager. You just need to look for certain qualities.
Being a property manager encompasses a lot of responsibilities. As a mediator between the property owner and the residents, you and your team will need exceptional people skills, organizational...
If you are a landlord and you want to learn how to best incentivize tenants to stick around, check out what things have the greatest impact upon keeping good tenants around.
There are many benefits to reporting your residents’ positive rent payment data to credit bureaus.
The start of spring and the approach of summer means peak rental season.
Stop wondering what you are doing wrong and use these valuable tips for moving properties that remain vacant.
Finding a perfect tenant is never easy, but finding a perfect landlord isn’t any less difficult either.
The end of a lease marks an anxious period for landlords. If tenants decide to move, the rental must be marketed and the process of finding good renters starts. It’s why having tenants stay is much...
You need to understand the healthy boundaries and obligations of a tenant-landlord relationship. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. The lines between the landlord and the renter often...
If you value your tenants, help keep their lease active year after year by regularly demonstrating how much you appreciate them.
Communication is vital to the success of your relationship with a tenant. It is more vital to the landlord because they have more to lose. Here are 4 tips for how to properly communicate your lease...
If you are trying to determine whether you should provide a long-term or short-term lease, check out the pros and cons of a M2M lease here in contrast to a long-term lease.
Employ the six smart tech guidelines and products discussed below to attract new demographics and increase revenue.
How do you go about attracting qualified tenants? Check out these top tips for finding the right renter for your property.
To help visualize the eviction process, Legal Templates created an infographic to detail how this works and what to expect.
Make sure you consider the following obstacles, and suggested solutions, before you invest in smart home tech for your rental:
Once you have successfully marketed your property, screened applicants, and chosen the right tenant, it is time to welcome the new tenant to the rental property.
Trying some or all of these money saving tips will hopefully have you making a little bit more each month as you use rental properties to increase your personal wealth.
When you own or manage a rental property, your success hinges on renting out the property rented at a rate that earns you a profit.
Rent control has been a hot topic for 2020. With moratoriums in place on both evictions and rental rate increases, many property managers are concerned about the financial implications of their...
As an investor, you may find you have a knack for finding and buying specific types of properties that have significant cash flow and are earning you money.
In this article, we show you the advantages and disadvantages of investing in multiple properties so that you can make an informed decision about what to do with your capital.
The following are six tips for improving the number of applicants interested in your property.
As a property manager, how can you be sure your tenants are satisfied with how your company serves their needs with well-maintained, safe, and functional housing? Ask them.
If you have a living space you are not using; you may have thought about renting it out. This something more and more people are doing, with 36.6% of households renting their homes in 2020. And...
Being a landlord is about much more than sitting back and collecting rent checks. While it can be a good way to make some money, managing a rental property comes with a lot of responsibility. Here...
When it comes to a rental application, landlords want to know as much as they can about the person that will be occupying their property.
Test your knowledge by reading below and see if you can spot something new. You might be surprised.
As you enter the world of property management, you want to ensure that your investment is a success. Here are several tips for effectively managing your rental properties and getting your maximum ROI.
Any investment property owner will tell you there's more to the game than sitting back and collecting the rent! Handling the responsibilities of property management can take a toll. That's why it's...
Connectivity can determine whether a potential tenant chooses to sign on the dotted line.
Hoarding is a serious mental disorder, and when your tenant starts showing signs, it can be equally as hard to be understanding while keeping your tenant and the rest of your local community safe.
Being able to think of what your rental listing would need while you are asleep is what constitutes the secret sauce to writing a bestseller rental profile!
Finding ideal tenants is one of the essential parts of a landlord or property manager's job. A bad tenant can be a drain on all resources – your time, money, patience, and even the goodwill and...
Investing in new features for your rental property can help increase the number of applicants interested.
If you're a tenant who now needs to figure out how to make your rent payment … or a landlord who must determine how to collect rent, ease tenant anxiety, and rethink rents moving forward … where do...
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic drastically affected the financial situations of residential and commercial tenants. What does that mean for property managers and landlords, and how might they...
When you are searching for a rental property to buy, there is plenty of legwork to do before you can send out any purchase offers. The good news is that you can do most of this work online!
It’s important to consider this advice before you decide to manage property in another state.
As we find ourselves in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of questions are coming up in the insurance world with regards to whether insurance policies can provide any relief to landlords.
Your tenants are usually used to enjoying the common spaces and amenities your facilities have to offer. However, with the impact of COVID-19, you've had to close most of those spaces to maintain...
Moving to a new place is often taxing. Moving somewhere from far away only compounds the stress, and tenants who travel a long distance might struggle to adjust.
As the global pandemic continues, residential real estate will shift as more renters will trade urban, crowded cities for suburban, spacious areas. These areas offer a lower cost of living for more...
When setting up your rental properties, one of the first things you'll have to consider is how much to charge future renters. It might be tempting to push your rents as high as possible.
As of the first quarter of 2020, the US's homeownership rate was 65.3%, up from a stable 64% from 2019. The other 34.7% of the population rent their homes, and 40% of those renters are 45 or older....
To make a profit from your property investment, you need good tenants. This doesn’t necessarily mean tenants who are nice people.
Investing in unknown markets on your own carries more risk than investing in your immediate backyard.
These tools, resources, and apps will help keep you organized and will help you operate your rental properties smoothly.
Do you dream of becoming a landlord one day? Do you want to know what it's all about? Well, if you're going to become a landlord or property investor, there are a couple of things that you need to...
Renters that Pay Their Bills on Time Save Money and Enjoy More Financial Flexibility
Renters are willing to pay more for energy-efficient spaces, according to new research. The research builds on earlier studies, which showed that properties certified green rented for more than...
In this article, we are going to focus on retrieving: 3 years of capital improvements, property taxes, current payroll and copies of all warranties.
Do you dream of a vast and flourishing real estate realm that brings opulent spoils to its supreme ruler, your majesty? Well, I would encourage you to think big, but do not get ahead of yourself.
As many areas of the country pause or slow down re-opening efforts due to the pandemic, a growing number of businesses have decided to close up their conventional offices and operate with most...
Being a landlord comes with lots of perks. But at the same time, the job can prove to be tough. This is especially true when you find yourself facing a tenant who has stopped paying rent or asking...
Whether you're a landlord or a tenant, you have specific rights and responsibilities outlined by the law of your province, territory, or state. Protect yourself; know what they are. Here are the...
A property management company cares for, controls, monitors, and oversees the running of the real estate, personal property and physical capital assets.
Check out these quick tips for making your property showing the most effective and efficient process possible.
To be most effective, use the following checklist to prepare for your upgrades. This will allow you to prioritize what needs to be done and be most efficient with your time.
The changing role of the property manager today requires more and more knowledge of ever-changing local city ordinances, state laws, and federal rules.
There are many ways you can increase revenues for your rental property portfolio without buying more properties. Try focusing on increasing the value of each property - one at a time – and...
While managing property can seem overwhelming at first, rental vacancy rates are consistently declining, making it an extremely lucrative field.
Over the years, two basically different professions blurred, and a lot of people don’t really understand the difference. The main distinction between contractor and consultant is the following.
Most new real estate investors are unaware of all the options available to them for rental property financing. As they buy more properties and discover new forms of financing, they often find...
In order to keep up with tenants needs, it’s important to make sure you have the ability to offer the features in which they are most interested in.
Writing a rental listing that actually converts a prospect into a client is not a walk in the park. Here’s why we think so.
In order to appeal to your dream tenant, you also need to be their dream landlord – it goes both ways. And all you need to do is get everything ready to ensure a smooth, successful turnover.
Finding a perfect tenant can be a long and daunting process, and landlords would rather spend more time on finding the best person possible rather than renting their apartment to just anyone.
In this era of rapid digital transformation, the residential real estate industry has traditionally been lethargic when it comes to adopting new technologies, but businesses are starting to view...
For many large purchases, buyers are given an option to purchase a warranty.
A property manager’s work is never done. Contrary to what some people might think, getting prospects to visit a community and secure an apartment lease is not the hardest part of property management.
Whether you have first-time millennial applicants or experienced 65+ tenants, making them comfortable with the application process should be a priority.
If you are not an experienced real estate agent, it will probably be difficult for you to advertise and rent or sell your property. This sort of business depends on various internal and external...
Grappling with tenants who pay their rent late is one of the worst parts of a landlord’s job. Here are some ways you can deal with late rental payments and tenants who just won’t pay on time.
If you are uncertain of how to reject or accept applicants, read on for tips on the best way to handle the screening process.
As a landlord, your goal is usually to keep your premises occupied at all times and to have tenants that won’t give you headaches. Choosing to make your rental more attractive to elderly is one way...
Even though many might tell you it is very easy to rent your property, whether we talk about a flat, a house or an office space, it’s not quite that simple.
As a landlord, real estate agent, or home seller, it’s time you look beyond stereotypes and find out what millennials are truly interested in.
Real estate is a roller coaster of emotions. In many larger cities and markets, it is very competitive. Rentometer will help review accurate rent estimations before buying.
If you're looking to rent out a property in an area that's already saturated with rentals, you know that you have to do everything in your power to make your property seem as attractive as possible.
It is crucial to find the right accountant if you're planning to invest in real estate. Hiring a professional will help you to minimize all possible taxes, decrease risk, maximize ROI, and optimize...
One of the best ways to retain quality tenants in your apartments is to create a sense of community, a place where tenants call home and where they want to live with their friends and family.
Here are some of the most common rental mistakes and how you can, even as a first-time landlord, avoid them completely.
The key is to follow practices that are fair, equitable, and responsible. Here are 10 things you need to do to avoid a lawsuit from any future tenants.
Real estate investors all over the nation know that certain types of rental properties outperform others. Each type has its own set of risks, but a manageable long-term tenant can offset much...
A property manager needs to anticipate how to deal with unforeseen circumstances and shut down any similar future problems in the future. This is where addenda come into play. Here are a few lists...
Despite the potentially busy season, this also a great time for you to consider a few mid-year updates that will improve your business for the next 6 to 7 months of the year.
An ideal location and price range help a great deal. But, they are just a fraction of what it takes to really tap into a steady stream of revenue.
Realtors know their business extremely well, and they just may be able to give you a new take on yours as well. Learn more inside.
As the country gradually reopens the economy, industries innovate fast to get back on their feet and survive in the new normal. For those in real estate rentals, deciding the next step for your...
Rental listing apps and online resources mean that renters can find your listing faster than ever before.
Generating leads is the key to growing a property management company. Reach the right property owners with these 10 strategies for generating property management leads.
Rental real estate is an excellent long-term investment that can give you a steady stream of passive income. But the reality is, it isn’t as easy as it may sound.
Online reputation might just be the difference between your property management company getting chosen as opposed to another.
If you're like most people, you're investing in real estate to earn wealth. Ideally, you'll accomplish this with minimal effort and risk. Here are 3 critical elements of a great real estate...
Time is one of the most valuable commodities, yet landlords seem to consistently run low on their supply, whether they’re driving around to meet tenants or spending hours fixing a leaky roof.
A rental property is a long-term investment that — when managed well — can become a reliable source of rental income. Unless you're paying for the rental property in cash, you will need to secure a...
A lot of people think being a landlord is easy; you just buy a place and start collecting rent checks. That’s true, to a degree. But there’s also a lot of peripheral work that goes into the job.
If you are looking for more opportunities to increase your profits, check out these methods for making more with your rental.
Rentometer provides a variety of statistics that can help you evaluate your rental market and, in turn, help you set the rent for your rental unit. By understanding the rental rates and...
Much has been written about the importance of getting your tenant to understand the lease agreement. By signing it, you both agree to abide by the contract and you both have a place to start when...
Here are five steps to maximize your return on your furnished investment.
Be prepared no matter what by taking the proper precautions. When you inherit tenants, put in action the following important tips.
Here are five of the top secrets to becoming a successful real estate agent.
Managing multiple rental properties can bring in a sizable income, it also brings many hindrances and challenges that can sometimes be overwhelming. If you want to manage multiple rental properties...
The following are easy, actionable items that you can implement in 2019 to become a more environmentally friendly landlord.
If you aren’t sure where to begin, check out these four effective methods for attracting more applicants.
In our modern world, it’s easier than ever for investors and landlords to be in more than one place at the same time. Red-eye flights can be booked from your phone and face-to-face online video...
One of the most common concerns for many landlords or property managers is how to save up on energy and you can do it easily with these simple tips and tricks.
2020 has been a challenging year for many industries – to put it mildly. Property management is an essential industry that had to make sweeping changes and adjustments at the pandemic's onset....
This is one of the many great debates among real estate investors, "Should I buy or build a new rental property," or "Should I buy an older property and potentially renovate?" Let's dig into the...
If you are new to navigating the waters of marketing online, handling social media, and other important components of your online presence, check out these must-know tips for managing your online...
There are many ways to welcome your tenant into their new home. A “little something extra” doesn’t need to be fancy!
Owning a rental property can be a great investment, but you need to consider the financial side of things before you start house shopping. These are some of the more popular ideas on how to finance...
A security deposit ensures renters pay their monthly dues and follow the terms of their contract.
Many home renovations provide such advantages, but focus on these eight. They will produce higher levels of safety, security, energy efficiency, and tenant contentment.
If you need to show an occupied rental property, check out these five helpful steps to ensure the process is smooth.
The preparation process of an eviction is the most important. It’s what will help you get the power you need to get your tenants out as soon as possible.
Early on, we learned that a Real Estate Broker is a vital team member and indispensable for your multi-family investing success. This article describes what qualities to seek out in a broker, what...
Effective tenant screening is a crucial part of the process, and one piece of that screening pie is the references you get from a tenant’s previous landlords. Here are 12 questions you should be...
If you’re considering a leap into the landlord game, or if you’ve already taken the leap and are looking for some practical tips, check out the following five simple steps!
Raising the rent is an important component in managing one’s property. In order to run a successful business—whether you manage one property or dozens—raising the rent comes into play.
Here are the most trending solutions for your property that you won’t regret trying.
Neither tenants nor landlords look forward to when the time comes around for a rent increase. But with the cost of living increasing year by year, landlords can choose to cover their higher costs....
Renting properties has become a more prolific business as of late. And if you have an empty home or apartment, it’s always better to have someone look after it for you and pay for utilities,...
There are a few mistakes that new landlords often make which can quickly result in a loss of income.
As a real estate investor, you need to understand all of the costs that factor into buying, fixing, owning, and operating a rental property. Without assessing these numbers, you won’t have a clear...
At Rentometer, we wanted to know more as well. We’ve partnered with the American Apartment Owners Association (AAOA) to bring you a special Virtual Real Estate Roundtable.
If you're young and have been renting for quite some time, you've likely wondered if it's smarter to continue renting or save up to buy your own home someday. After all, we've all been conditioned...
It is a difficult task to find an apartment, a house or an office that will satisfy all your needs, and at the same time, you will not have to give 90% of your earnings to pay rent.
Urban planning needs to improve cities regarding the environmental, social, economic and mobile issues as well as the city health outcome.
From dealing with maintenance requests, chasing rent payments, tracking expenses and a thousand other small jobs, being a landlord can be overwhelming.
Setting prices on rental properties can be tricky, but don’t panic. Although you do have to set a price, rent prices are not permanent. As a landlord, you can always adjust the rent through a fair...
Some landlords allow cosigners while other landlords avoid them. There are legitimate reasons to explore using a cosigner on the lease. Let’s explore this further.
We put together a list of tips to help you keep your rental profitable. By implementing some of these tips, you should be able to improve your rental value, and therefore, remain successful.
Do you want to increase your property management company’s exposure and generate more leads? As a property management company, you can use YouTube to increase your exposure to landlords and...
Whether you want to rent an apartment, an office or storage space, chances are that you are not the only landlord on the local market.
What is the secret to retaining long term renters? The answer lies in a variety of important tips. The following are the best ways to ensure you keep happy, responsible tenants.
One of the most critical aspects of looking for a rental home is the impression you’ll make upon the landlord or rental agent showing the property.
As a landlord, it is in your own best interest to do your job well. You can reduce the likelihood that you will encounter problems or issues with tenants by being a great landlord.
Become a savvy landlord and implement these five quick, easy tips to make your life simplified. Not only will it save you time and money currently, but it will help prepare you for future investments.
With your goal in mind of renting out the property again to another qualified tenant, the following must know tips will help you when a tenant moves out of your property.
Eviction is the first thing that comes to mind, but that may seem a bit drastic.
Here are five smart gadgets to help you ride the home automation wave in style.
The rental business can be pretty cutthroat, and if you go in unprepared, you’re probably going to end up getting burned. Here’s how you can protect yourself.
Nowadays every aspiring homeowner is looking to find that one diamond in the ruff that will transform their lives and inspire them to fall in love with the neighborhood, the exterior, and the vivid...
Attracting good tenants that are compatible with the place you are renting while giving you a good payment can be tricky. How can you do all that? Well, there are a few important factors that have...
Really bad real estate photos can kill your listing and decrease your home potential market value. Learn how to take great marketing photos from our exclusive guide!
Real estate is a fascinating asset class for investment. It’s the only asset class that you can get so locationally specific that you can invest not only by city, but by neighborhood or even by...
Managing properties isn’t easy, but it can be easier. As you prepare for the new year, these tips will help you make renting your properties simpler.
In almost any real estate market, you will find this business blooming. There will always be people looking for a place to live, so knowing the basics will soon turn you into a property expert. But...
To make your rental property a success, read on and consider these five immediate things that renters want from their property manager. Get right to the point of creating a home people will enjoy...
Moving is stressful enough. For landlords, the difficulty of a move can be compounded by the learning curve of a new rental market and a new property.
Before buying your first rental property, here's what you can do to minimize your risks.
Real estate investing has always been about being in the right position to make the most of the shifts in supply and demand. Every investor has a different set of factors to identify an ideal...
Being a landlord doesn’t require only a property to rent and tenants to rent that property to. Even though many believe that’s all it takes, to be a truly good landlord, you should do your best to...
Here's a list of low-cost procedures you can make to increase the value of your property.
Being a landlord could be a very profitable occupation, the one that is also interesting and fulfilling.
There is no need to stop investing in the property in order to earn a profit when you can write most of it off against your taxable income.
In the world of real estate investing, there are two numbers landlords consistently analyze: the cash flow their properties could produce in an ideal scenario, and the actual monthly cash flow they...
In this article, we will review three ways you can plan ahead and set 2019 up to be a great year for your rental property.
Have a look at our tips on how to improve your occupancy rate for maximum return on your investment property.
Some tenants do not feel the property they are renting as their own. Others simply have bad cleaning habits and no respect for other people’s belongings.
If some people would put as much energy into finding honest work as they do into perpetrating scams, the world would be a much better place.
As a new property manager, there’s a lot to think about: marketing your property to find tenants, making necessary upgrades without spending too much money, and much more.
As a landlord or property manager, you will have to deal with complaints from tenants. It’s the nature of the business.
Our friends at SmartMove contributed an article on tips on how to become a landlord.
Just like everything else in real estate, working with a rental property manager has advantages and disadvantages, and we’ll have a look at them below.
Investing is something many hear about, but few do. Many don't realize is that there is a type of investing where investors can profit during market crashes and yes, even pandemics,— it's called...
Today, many of us live in our own plain and simple financial castles that are much more vulnerable than yesterday's castles. Not only do our financial castles not have any moat for financial...
Understand and master the use of time, and you can buy a property for thousands less!
This article will go over some basic tips for writing an engaging rental post; you may find this especially useful if you have no prior experience writing copy for rental businesses or have no...
Many people don’t realize how important it is to make sure their rental properties are properly protected.
Staging your real estate for new tenants can be overwhelming regardless of your experience.
Technology is changing how property owners do business, how people search for rentals, and why people ultimately chose a specific rental.
A lease is a contractual agreement and as with any contractual agreement, it’s legally binding.
Check out these indicators, which may point to some weaknesses in your landlording and their corresponding tips for improving your success.
If you struggle with property showings, check out these helpful tips for showing a rental property.
A business plan is the most important part of owning and running any business that you aspire to engage in.
Every landlord goes through rent negotiations at one point or another. Either a great prospective tenant wants to negotiate before signing the lease or an excellent tenant wants to negotiate before...
Check out our five easy tips for managing tenant turnover during your busy seasons.
Properly underwriting the value of an apartment building is critical to finding and making great deals. Generally, a bank will use three different ways to assess an apartment asset’s value.
Managing a rental property is tough enough work as it is. Trying to keep an eye on everything long-distance is even harder. If you own property out of state or at a significant distance from where...
Whether you're looking to rent your property, it's a good idea to analyze the rents in the area. Understanding what the market is like before getting too excited over a price will save you a lot of...
Have you ever thought of getting into real estate after you’re through with your college? Many people do, and most of them find it a great option to start off their professional journey.
We’ve compiled a checklist you can follow to help you understand, negotiate, and resolve your woes including determining which party is at fault.
The following are the top communication tips for landlords.
Today's landlords and property owners currently face a clash between rising rental demand, changing regulations, declining profits, and a shortage of affordable homes. Learn about the top rental...
Keep these details in mind as you craft your next listing or update a current one.
Owning a residential property can be very lucrative. However, the market is full of attractive properties so you have to play smart if you want to rent it fast and get a really good price for it.
Setting a rental property price is a difficult task for many landlords. You don’t want to price your rental property so low that you don’t make a profit, but you also don’t want to price it so high...
There are laws that govern landlord/tenant relationships which if overlooked can be financially crippling.
Whether you're selling your personal residence or your rental property, you may not be fully aware of all the expenses that await you when you do so.
According to the law, property owners are required to adhere to certain rules and regulations. For example, they are required to provide a written lease violation document.
Reporting rental payment history is one way to help create awareness about the significance of credit scores, while allowing each renter to build credit history.
All property owners look at the return on investment (ROI) when buying or maintaining rental property. The ideal is a positive cash flow, a tax deduction, and an increase in property value.
Being your own landlord and joining the ranks is as “easy” as owning a property that you lease out to a tenant, however, if you want to remain a landlord, you have quite a challenge ahead!
Most banks are not too keen on losing money over foreclosed investments; however, administering house deposits is still a number one priority in the quest to keep funds flowing through the economy.
When it comes to choosing a professional property manager, you want to hire the best management company with good referrals and strong experience.
The due-diligence or inspection period is a very important time when purchasing a property.
Setting a good rent price for your property can sometimes feel like a shot in the dark. You have a general idea of what landlords are charging in your area, and you’re keeping up with that.
If you want to get involved in real estate, which is something most investors want to do at some point, you can do so by turning your current home into a rental or by renting out your house and...
Are you ready to buy a new rental property? For some, it's an opportunity to make a fortune. However, like any other business, there are risks involved. If you want to make the jump before 2020,...
In the digital era, the real estate world has undergone a significant number of changes and shifts. Even more, since we’ve undergone social distancing, “Safer-at-Home” orders and using websites,...
Having a circle of trusted team members can not only boost your bottom line, but it can also boost your confidence and accelerate your timeline. So, who exactly should you get on your side?
Since 33% of renters will move this year, knowing how to find average rents as a property manager or landlord will help ensure you are prepared for your next round of vacancies.
Each state has a different time limit for completing repairs — follow your local guidelines. Even if you have 30 days to fix an issue, you shouldn't wait that long, or you'll have unhappy renters...
Get ready: peak moving season is here. If you own a rental property, your life is about to get pretty busy for the next few months.
When it comes to working out your tax deductions, what can and can’t you deduct? In this article, we explore 8 major tax-deductible expenses that landlords can take advantage of to minimize their...
If you’re keen to invest in a rental property, but not sure where to start, we have some pointers on preparing to buy an investment property once you find one, and how to set your rent prices for...
Investing in real estate and renting property can be a great means to make money. However, there are a few times when owning an investment property can lose you money.