The envelope looked official. Clearly not junk mail. But I had no idea what was inside. It landed on my desk on a fall day in 1996 at my office in suburban Detroit. The return address was for Ernst & Young, a prestigious national CPA firm. I decided to finish my call before opening it, but I admit I…

Snow, ice, sub-zero temperatures… Winter sounds like the worst possible time to move to another home, doesn’t it? Well, not necessarily. Even though a winter move, compared to a summer move, can present its own unique set of challenges, moving in the winter months can also have indisputable…

This article does not constitute legal advice. We recommend you seek the counsel of an attorney familiar with your specific situation and market to ensure you make the best decisions within your real estate business. As an asset protection attorney, it’s my job to anticipate problems and potential…

You work for a great company that has offices in the United States and overseas. While you don’t want to leave your job, you would love the chance to move overseas and continue your work there. Does this sound familiar? If so, we totally get it! Being transferred overseas is the dream of many…

Social media for apartment communities is a must-have for connecting with both current and potential residents. Platforms are free to use, give you tools to track your progress, and allow you to reach your audience through various channels. You can reach future residents as they hunt for a new…

Choosing what to include and what not to include on a scope of work is just as important as picking the right contractor. Some work is obviously necessary (say, repainting a tired house), while other upgrades are more elective. And when it comes to elective work, there are some improvements that are…

When choosing your new hometown, the cost of living is probably something you’ve considered. What is rent like? How expensive is city transportation? Are restaurant prices on par with the national average? We know you’re all about getting the most bang for your buck, but have you considered that…

Are you looking forward to when it’s finally time to push your sweet little darling child out of the nest and into the real world? This can be a bittersweet moment for parents on several levels. Being financially prepared to pay for college takes careful planning, but never fear. We’re here to help.…

Most people think there are two options when buying rental property. Option A is to buy in a hot market with little to no cash flow and wait for appreciation. If you’ve been listening to the BiggerPockets Podcast for a while, you know this method is frowned upon by most investors here. Option B is…

One of the many factors that must be analyzed when considering an investment property is the cost of utilities. Usually with every investment property, there will be some utility costs associated with it. Sometimes these costs may be minimal, as they may be with a single family rental. Other times,…

Moving to a new city can be a stressful and intense experience. Once it’s over, you’ll want to treat your body to some nice, productive therapy — also known as working out! Working out is a great way to help yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially, and it’s the perfect way to…

Editor’s note: It’s hard to believe that this is the Buildium Blog’s 1,000 th blog post and that we’ve been publishing content for over 10 years now. In that time span, it’s also mind-boggling to conceive how much technology has evolved with us and the property management industry as a whole.…

This is an important moment for real estate investors to step up and bring in more capital to syndicate real estate deals. Those who recognize this and make the commitment to scale now are likely to not only to see the benefits in the bank, but to solidify their position in the business and…

A fellow investor from Arizona, Shiloh Lundahl, posted a thread recently on the forums entitled Rich Dad investing principles — good or bad? While the book Rich Dad Poor Dad is oftimes credited as having shined the light on many principles of personal finance and REI, the question is posed: Is it…

October 11, 2018 by Sara Sugar Headquartered in San Diego, CA, Douglas Allred Company is a full-service real estate firm with a reputation for excellence and teamwork. In 1970, Douglas Allred entered the real estate industry with the mission to develop properties of lasting value that would enhance…

Learning a new language after moving abroad can be one of the most challenging aspects of starting out in a new country. It’s also one of the most crucial aspects of succeeding in your new environment, which means that as much as might want to, you can’t avoid it. Luckily, learning a new language,…

Moving your valuable possessions from one home to another is never easy! In fact, there are too many situations where you may find the home moving process to be too challenging and too overwhelming to handle on your own – from having to protect and pack all the household items you’ve chosen to take…

Most tenants are fine, don’t get me wrong. But some of them can be an enormous pain. Tenants, like just about everything else in this world, follow the Pareto Principle: 20 percent will cause 80 percent of your problems. Furthermore, 20 percent of that 20 percent (or four percent) will cause 64…

A pass-through entity is a business structure, such as an LLC, series LLC, or S corporation. We use the term “pass through” because you can claim the income of these types of businesses on your personal income tax returns. Ordinarily, you would have to file a separate return for your business (or…

Spoiler alert: Drew and Scott Hoefler still work today. Except now it’s by choice. Now in their early 30s, the twins live and invest in the Twin Cities, and a decade ago never even considered a career in real estate. After five years of investing in real estate, they successfully reached financial…

You know you've really made it when your house has its own limo bay. However, Hollywood horror impresario Oren Peli is attempting to shed this particular trapping of success. He's selling his grand, Mediterranean-style estate in Westlake Village, CA, for $6 million . The writer/director/producer…

If hot, sunny summers are right up your alley, you may have considered moving into a house with a pool. There’s nothing quite like lounging by your own cool waters with friends and family, serving up snacks and drinks and belly laughs… right? There are, in fact, some pros and cons to owning a house…

October 08, 2018 by Sara Sugar Amanda Thomason is a powerhouse real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Arizona , assisting clients in both the buying and selling of homes. As a long-time Arizona resident, Amanda has both the knowledge of the geographic region and the real estate expertise to…

The truth is, paying off your mortgage isn’t the best investment. You can definitely earn higher returns on your money investing it into other assets, such as real estate or stocks. For me, that has been a huge battle in my mind. Do I pay off my house faster, or do I simply take the money that I…

Is Hollywood a true mirror of our lives? Clearly not, but extreme depictions of daily events and truths can teach us a thing or two if we are willing to look. There are numerous real estate or finance-related movies that make clear certain mistakes that should be avoided, even if the results are not…

Thinking about moving to Lincoln, Nebraska? Then make sure you add a line in your moving checklist about finding out as much about the city as possible before you move. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be for your new life in this interesting, vibrant city. Weather You’ll experience all…