Author: Real Property Associates

Any real estate investor who puts money into rental property aims to make a lucrative return on investment in the process. It allows property owners to generate consistent income and establish equity in an easy and relatively secure manner. However,...

As a property owner, one of the linchpins of successful management is having the right tenants occupying your space. Choosing tenants is more than just filling vacancies; it determines the flow of your rental income, the degree of property...

Creative real estate investing is an innovative way to make money through buying, selling, or managing properties. It can be an excellent alternative for those real estate investors who have been learning how to create wealth investing in real...

As experienced property managers in Seattle, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities the real estate market presents. We work with many rental property owners to help them overcome challenges and experience more revenue from their...

Being a Seattle rental property owner can be a great feeling: you're building a lasting legacy for yourself and your family—plus, it’s a great source of long-term income! However, to experience the benefits of real estate and the Seattle rental...

If you're a property owner in Seattle, you understand that managing your real estate investment is no small feat. It involves numerous moving parts, including tenant relations, property maintenance, and financial management. One crucial aspect of...

Published April 8, 2021. Updated October 12, 2023. Hiring a property manager is one of the best ways to protect your Seattle rental properties—but it's not the only protection you need. If a renter suffers an injury on your property, you could be...

For property owners, maximizing returns is a crucial aspect of success in real estate. At the heart of aiming high is effective property management. Without the right approach and insights, your rental properties might fall short of your goals or...

Published March 12, 2020. Updated September 28, 2023 Before you advertise your Seattle rental property, making sure you set an ideal monthly rent rate to attract quality renters is crucial. However, when your rental price is too low, you lose money...

How do you know if you're charging enough (or too much) rent? It's a crucial question to explore for every rental property in your portfolio! Setting the ideal rental rate for your property is a complex task that requires careful consideration and...

Published November 22, 2022. Updated September 14, 2023. There are many reasons why you might have served a 30-day notice. In many month-to-month rental situations, this notice is how you let the renters know that you will move on and do something...

As a property owner, deciding whether or not to allow pets in your rental property is one of those decisions that doesn't just affect you; it also influences the quality and type of tenants you attract. Offering pet-friendly rentals has advantages...

Published March 25, 2021. Updated August 24, 2023. As you grow a real estate investment portfolio in Seattle, you'll encounter a wide variety of renter situations. Whether they're coming, going, or renewing a lease for another term, no two residents...

We hear this question often, so we thought we'd pull together some expert insights for property owners in Seattle! However, when asking, "Should I get a home warranty for my rental property?" the answer is not always straightforward. Is buying a...

Published November 17, 2021. Updated August 10, 2023. When you are a property owner in Bellevue, making strategic improvements to your properties can attract better renters and boost ROI. In addition, keeping your properties in great condition can...

Rent collection is an essential part of a successful real estate investment, but what happens when a tenant doesn't pay rent? This situation can bring about complex issues for property owners, especially those managing their properties...

Published April 16, 2020. Updated July 27, 2023. Setting the ideal monthly rent for your investment properties can feel like a guessing game. As much as you might want to set the monthly rent at a price you have in mind, your property and the rental...

Vacant properties can be costly problems for property owners, as they lead to significant income loss without a tenant paying the rent. While it's essential to anticipate some vacancy time, lengthy vacancies can be detrimental to your revenue and...

Published December 16, 2021. Updated July 13, 2023. In 2023 (and looking ahead to 2024), rental property investors may wonder where to put their money next. With the cost of homes seeming to continually rise, knowing what kind of ROI you can expect...

Maintaining a rental property is a crucial aspect of being a property owner. However, the question many property owners ask is: should you take on rental property maintenance tasks yourself, or is it better to enlist the help of professionals? In...

Published February 6, 2020. Updated June 22, 2023. Moving into your next phase of life in Seattle is exciting—but you have decisions to make. Leaving a house behind means you've probably been asking yourself this question a lot as moving day draws...

Renewing a lease is an important process for property owners and landlords to maximize revenue. It allows them to retain good tenants, maintain a steady rental income, and avoid the costs and hassles associated with finding new tenants. When should...

Published July 21, 2021. Updated June 8, 2023. If you invest in rental properties with cash as your only form of investment capital, we have some insights for you to help analyze your success! Not every investor can buy a Seattle rental property...

Renters insurance is a topic of great importance regarding property management in Seattle, WA, but should you require it of your tenants? Renters insurance protects tenants' personal belongings and provides liability coverage in case of accidents or...

Published October 28, 2021. Updated May 25, 2023. As a rental property owner dealing with daily property management tasks, it's essential to do all you can to make your residents happy. This might be easier with some renters than it is with others....

Managing a rental property maintenance budget is crucial for property owners to ensure profitability while maintaining the value and appeal of their properties. However, while staying within budget is important, it is equally essential to make wise...

Published July 28, 2022. Updated May 11, 2023. Rental property owners have a lot to handle every time a lease agreement ends, and another one begins. They must make sure the renters move out, assess damages, make repairs or do maintenance, and find...

As a landlord or property manager in Seattle, ensuring the proper maintenance and prompt response to tenant emergency situations is crucial to maintaining the value and safety of your rental properties. However, not every maintenance call from a...

Published January 28, 2021 Updated April 27, 2023 Please note: This article is not legal advice. For up-to-date information and guidance, reach out to your attorney or Real Property Associates. It is not uncommon for investors to encounter renters...

The rental application is the first and an important step to finding your next quality tenant! However, before you can process it properly and legally, it's essential to set it up in a way that helps you gather critical information for a tenant...

Published June 9, 2022 Updated April 13, 2023 Sometimes tenants don't come into a rental property alone: they are accompanied by a dog, cat, or an emotional support animal that comes to live with them in their rented property. While some landlords...

Have you ever listed a rental property . . . and no one noticed? A property listing can help quality tenants find your property or go unnoticed on rental listing websites. In the worst-case scenario, a poorly executed listing can attract low-quality...

Published February 20, 2020 Updated March 23, 2023 Smart landlords know that it's a bad idea to place a resident in your rental property without a thorough screening process. Did you know you should do the same thing for pets? Deciding to allow pets...

Original publish date April 22, 2021 Updated March 9, 2023 Discovering more people living in your rental than are legally on the lease is a problem. Property damage caused by renters is also a common problem many Seattle real estate investors face....

Residential property management companies provide property owners with a broad spectrum of assistance to help with day-to-day operations, including business and property marketing. However, choosing the right property management company is vital to...

Do you consider yourself a DIY property owner? Perhaps you know how to fix a faucet leak or are skilled at preparing spreadsheets and forecasting. We all like to save some money, and being involved as much as possible in property management is a...

Whether you've just bought your first investment property and are preparing to put it on the market or have several assets in your collection, how you advertise your investments can determine the quality of your tenants, the number of leads that...

The eviction process is no fun for either party involved in the lease agreement. It's a costly and time-consuming procedure for the property owner and stressful for the occupants as they seek alternate accommodations. Once you factor in the legal...

The cash flow shows how much money flowed into, or out of each account listed. Most accounts (like rents and repairs) only have money flowing one way. Money generally flows into rent, very rarely out. Because of this, the cash flow will consistently...

You are a couple of days into the month and realize your tenant has not paid their rent. Best case scenario: your tenant has forgotten. However, you are concerned about your bill payments without collecting that payment. Even successful landlords...

Evicting a tenant can be a time-consuming and costly exercise. The tenant turnover process is costly for property owners, as well. To protect your return on investment and avoid the cost and time involved in replacing tenants, eviction prevention is...

Evicting a tenant is never pleasant. Rental investment property owners don't want to deal with unruly tenants, but occasionally it happens. When it does, you may have to begin the eviction process. So, you may be wondering, what does it cost to...

Serving an eviction notice letter is not something a property owner takes lightly. It's also not a task that is quickly and easily done when it becomes apparent that a tenant needs to be removed from a property. There are many steps involved in...

Rental property investors need property management insights to be successful. However, purchasing the property is just the first step in getting the ROI rolling. Next, you need the tricks of the trade to move ahead and be profitable. If you've ever...

While it's true that you don't need a law degree to become a landlord, most property owners find they need to brush up on some key aspects of the law when they start renting properties out and writing their leases. Renters trust you to provide a...

While investing in real estate can feel like an exciting way to build value in investments, a significant portion of the returns from the rental property depends on how you run those properties. It can seem like only a few simple steps until you get...

From the first time you scan over a free lease agreement online to when you buy your 10th rental property, there are many lessons to learn about being a great landlord. As with many jobs, it can be hard to find balance: you want to balance your firm...

Many property owners with more than one investment property start to notice how much time the rent roll, accounting, and other recordkeeping and monitoring tasks can take to stay organized and profitable. However, documents and other critical things...

Real estate rental agreements include plenty of customizable options. While property owners have to remain within the bounds of what real property management Bellevue experts can tell you to follow the law, you have many options for structuring your...

When a dispute arises between a renter and their real estate investor landlord, one of the first places they turn is to the basic lease agreement they both signed. The lease agreement is how renters and property owners agree to work with each other...