Taxes & Accounting
Deductions, basis, Schedule E, and staying audit-ready.
First-Time Landlord Checklist: 4 Things to Set Up First
A $2,000 1099 threshold starts in 2026, and it's one of at least four things a first-time landlord needs sorted before a tenant signs the lease.
A First-Time Buyer's Guide to Reading a Purchase Agreement
A purchase agreement is the legally binding contract that locks in your price, deadlines, and exit clauses before you own the property.
9 First-Time Landlord Mistakes That Cost Money in Year One
Missing the $2,500 de minimis safe harbor and filing 1099s at the wrong threshold are two of the priciest mistakes first-time landlords make.
15 Things Nobody Tells You Before Buying Your First House
First-time buyers often miss 2-5% of the purchase price in closing costs alone, plus recurring bills that never show up on a listing sheet.
10 Home Repairs You Can Safely Do Yourself in 2026
10 common repairs — from caulking to caulk gun jobs to faucet washers — are safe for most homeowners, and knowing which ones qualify as deductible repairs matters at tax time.
Which Pipes Freeze First and How to Protect Them (Landlord Guide)
Pipes on exterior walls and in unheated crawl spaces freeze first once temps drop below 20°F, and a burst pipe can turn into a costly rental property casualty.
First 60 Seconds of a House Fire — What Landlords Should Do
The first 60 seconds of a house fire decide the outcome — get everyone out, call 911, and don't go back in for anything.
What Repairs Landlords Are Responsible For — The Real Rules
A $2,500 per-invoice safe harbor lets landlords deduct many repairs immediately, but the line between a repair and an improvement decides everything else.
The Itemized Deposit Deduction Letter, Step by Step (2026 Guide)
An itemized deposit deduction letter should list each repair, its cost, and a receipt — the same records the IRS wants if that repair shows up on Schedule E.
The First 5 Smart Devices Every New Homeowner Should Add
Five smart devices — lock, thermostat, leak detector, doorbell camera, and a hub — cover most of what a new homeowner actually needs.
The First 10 Things to Do When You Lose Power (2026 Guide)
A power outage can spoil food, freeze pipes, and damage a rental — what you document in the first 48 hours decides whether any of it is deductible.
Rent to the First Qualified Applicant? A Landlord's Fair Housing Rule
Renting to the first applicant who meets your written screening criteria is the safest default because it removes the appearance of picking and choosing.
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