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
What Is an HOA Reserve Study, and Do We Need One?
A reserve study estimates when major components will fail and how much cash the HOA needs on hand — the single most important document for avoiding surprise special assessments.
What Is HOA Quorum, and Why Does It Matter?
Quorum is the minimum owner participation required for an HOA vote to count. Miss it and the vote is challengeable — always check your own bylaws for the number.
FIRPTA and Non-Resident Landlord Tax Withholding
Buying real estate from a foreign seller triggers FIRPTA — typically 15% of the sale price withheld and sent to the IRS at closing. Here's the basic process.
How to Fight an HOA Special Assessment
A special assessment feels final, but there's usually a process behind it worth understanding — and a phased payment plan or procedural challenge sometimes wins.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist, Tied to Your Records
A generic fall checklist repeats itself every year. Tie each task to last year's service date and warranty windows and it becomes a real plan.
How Much Does One Extra Mortgage Payment a Year Save?
One extra mortgage payment a year — biweekly or lump-sum — typically cuts 4-6 years off a 30-year loan and saves tens of thousands in interest.
How to Calculate Cost Basis on an Inherited House
An inherited home's cost basis "steps up" to fair-market value at date of death — usually meaning far less taxable gain than the original purchase price would suggest.
Do I Owe Capital Gains After 30 Years in My House?
A long-owned home can outgrow the $250K/$500K Section 121 exclusion — but tracked improvements shrink the taxable gain far more than most owners expect.
How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment
An assessment isn't a final answer. Get the property record card, gather comparable sales, meet your county's deadline, and most disputes resolve in the informal review.
Sprinkler System Basics: Watering, Zones, and Winterizing
One frozen sprinkler pipe can cost thousands. Four basics keep your irrigation efficient in season and protected in winter.
Tree and Shrub Trimming: 4 Safety and Technique Basics
One wrong cut can knock out your power — or tear up the tree. Four basics keep trimming safe and your plants healthy.
Starting a Vegetable Garden: 4 Things to Get Right First
Most first gardens die within a month — almost always from the same avoidable mistakes. Here's how to set yours up to thrive.
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 →