Okoniq Journal
Property tips, taxes & HOA guides
Plain-language guides for homeowners, landlords, and HOA boards — written to help you stay organized and keep more of your money at tax time.
Browse by topic
Getting Started
New to managing property? Start here.
Taxes & Accounting
Deductions, basis, Schedule E, and staying audit-ready.
Renting & Tenants
Leases, rent, screening, and tenant relationships.
Maintenance & Repairs
Upkeep, vendors, and keeping a home in shape.
Mortgage & Money
Financing, refinancing, insurance, and cash flow.
Buying & Selling
Valuation, prepping to sell, and the closing process.
HOA & Community
Boards, reserves, meetings, and living in an HOA.
Latest articles
Why Overpricing Your Home Costs More Than Underpricing It
Homes priced even 5-10% above market value sit an average of 3x longer and often sell for less than a home priced right from day one.
Why Is My Electric Bill So High? 7 Causes & Fixes
A $200+ electric bill jump usually traces to one of five culprits: HVAC strain, an aging water heater, phantom loads, bad wiring, or a rate hike.
Why FHA Mortgage Insurance Doesn't Go Away Like PMI
FHA loans with less than 10% down keep mortgage insurance for the life of the loan, unlike PMI which drops off automatically at 78% LTV.
Why Did My Home Insurance Premium Go Up This Year?
Home insurance premiums rose a median of 11% to 20% in 2024, driven by rebuilding costs, reinsurance rates, and more frequent severe-weather claims.
Why Did My HOA Dues Go Up? 7 Common Reasons (2024)
HOA dues often rise 5-15% a year due to inflation, insurance costs, reserve fund shortfalls, and deferred maintenance catching up all at once.
Why Deals Fall Through: 7 Common Reasons (and Fixes)
About 1 in 20 accepted home sale contracts falls apart before closing, and inspection findings cause roughly a third of those failures.
Who Pays Closing Costs: Buyer or Seller? 2025 Breakdown
Sellers typically pay 6-10% of the sale price in closing costs, while buyers pay 2-5%, but negotiation can shift either side's share.
Rental Closing Costs: Deductible vs Added to Basis (2025)
The IRS splits rental closing costs into two buckets — a handful you deduct this year, and most of the rest you add to your property's cost basis instead.
Home Improvements That Increase Tax Basis vs. Repairs That Don't
The IRS lets you add capital improvement costs to your home's tax basis, but routine repairs like painting or fixing a leak don't count at all.
Where Your Old Escrow Balance Goes After a Refinance
Your old escrow balance is refunded to you by check within 20-30 days of your refinance closing, not automatically applied to the new loan.
Where to Keep Important Documents Your Family Can Find Fast
A fireproof, waterproof safe rated for 30+ minutes at 1,700°F protects paper originals, but your family also needs to know it exists and where the key is.
HOA Reserve Funds: Where to Keep Them Safely (5 Options)
FDIC insurance only covers $250,000 per depositor per bank, so most HOA reserve accounts over that amount need to be split or laddered to stay protected.
Get free property tips by email
New guides on taxes, rent, and maintenance — sent as we write them, not on a schedule. No schedule, no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer to dive in? Get started free →