Author: Real Property Associates

Do schools matter? It's a question that Bellevue, WA rental property owners often ask when looking for a new investment. In this blog post, our property management team talks about evaluating nearby schools when choosing an investment property. ...

Investing in a Bellevue rental property can be a lucrative business, but it requires some knowledge to get the best return on investment out of your properties.  Do you know the value of your rental property? Whether you're looking to buy a new...

Successful rental property owners know how important it is to stay current with the latest trends in technology. The home tech industry has changed drastically over the last few years, and rental property management companies recommend adapting to...

Looking for a new investment? Property taxes are one of the most important factors to consider when buying Bellevue rental properties. Bellevue real estate management companies will help you find new homes for rent by evaluating the rental...

When investing in Seattle real estate, there are many factors to consider when determining the success of a property. One important metric is the return on investment (ROI)! Use ROI to determine the success of a single rental property, or use this...

As a property owner, you know how important it is to keep your rental properties up to code and looking great. However, you might be wondering why property managers are specifically talking about cleaning your real estate investments in this blog...

Seattle is a desirable city for renters and real estate investors alike! Rental properties are always in high demand. However, neighborhood quality can vary greatly, and not all neighborhoods are created equal for investors.  While some areas have...

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! While not every investor can buy a Seattle rental property with cash (and without financing) if you're...

The real estate industry has plenty of variables when it comes to property values and making smart investments. Ask any Seattle property management professional about the most important aspects of a good rental, and they’ll likely say "location" is...

Is it worth it to allow renters to bring pets into the best home rentals Seattle offers? If you've ever considered it, you know that it can be tricky to navigate! Understanding the laws about pets vs. service animals and how to develop a pet...

Investing in residential property is an opportunity many take advantage of to build long-term income. However, before investors can purchase a property (or analyze profit), they must understand how to calculate ROI!  Seattle property managers help...

Quality residents are hard to come by. Some renters pay the rent on time and take care of your property. Other tenants may never pay rent, damage what you own, and leave you in a mess. Cleaning up after bad renters and losing rental income hurts...

Investing in real estate is one of the more reliable (and popular) ways to create long-term wealth. However, as with other ways to invest, property owners can get burned without the right information and skills to succeed with income properties. ...

Real estate investment professionals need an accurate assessment of their return on investment. Return on investment (ROI) is a key metric to help investors assess the profitability of a rental property. Seattle property management experts can...

Real estate investors should always look for ways to increase their return on investment. Your ROI is a crucial metric to determine the success, or failure, of the rental property. One of the best ways to generate more income and boost ROIs is with...

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,...

Investing in real estate is an ongoing cycle of working hard to deliver the best home rentals Seattle can offer, then finding (and hopefully keeping) the best quality renters in those properties. When finding excellent renters, property owners have...

If you conduct routine property inspections (or work with Seattle property managers that do them for you), you're probably aware of resident instances of failing to follow the lease. From not keeping up with their responsibilities to care for your...

Protecting your real estate investments includes regular inspections, working with residents to maintain your rentals, the right upgrades. Did you know that some property "upgrades" can actually work against you? It's tempting to renovate a property...

Protecting your investment properties in the best possible ways requires multiple strategies for success. From strong leases that leave no room for misinterpretation to setting up the right business entity and landlord insurance coverage, your...

Loopholes in your lease agreements can sink your income and leave your Bellevue rental properties unprotected. Any reasonably savvy renter can spot a "leaky" lease and exploit it to their benefit, leaving you without a way to enforce the rules or...

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 liable. Without the right business incorporation for...

You carefully screen renters before allowing them to move into your Bellevue rental properties. Good residents take care of your properties, pay the rent on time and follow the rules.  What happens when you discover more people living in your...

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 are the same.  What happens when a renter moves...

Investing in Seattle real estate is one of the most effective ways to build long-term income, but it's not without risks. A successful real estate portfolio provides consistent monthly income—until something goes wrong and you don't have a plan or...

What's your rental property maintenance budget? Successful Bellevue investors know that planning and budgeting for routine maintenance (and emergency repairs) helps maximize ROIs and reduce overall costs. However, without the right approach to...

Your homeowner's insurance isn't enough! Operating rental properties in Seattle means you own and operate a business. With a business comes the need for the right insurance coverage to protect your properties, income, and business from potential...

Don't underestimate the foundations of real estate! Success as a Seattle rental property owner requires a commitment to basic principles, strategies, and practices that help your properties stand out, stay occupied, and generate the most income for...

Did you overdo it on your last rental property rehab project? If you spent more on renovations for your home rentals in Seattle than you're able to recover with a reasonable monthly rent price, you did too much.  Making smart upgrades is a good idea...

Real estate investors with big goals often look outside of their local rental markets to grow larger portfolios. The income from a few rental properties is an excellent way to build more long-term wealth. More properties in more markets (like...

Please note: This article is not legal advice. For up-to-date information and guidance, reach out to your attorney or Real Property Associates. Owning a profitable Seattle rental property requires the right strategies for success while avoiding...

Please note: This article is not legal advice. For up-to-date information and guidance, reach out to your attorney or Real Property Associates. When you don't own multiple rental homes in Seattle, you may think the easiest option for handling...

Please note: This article is not legal advice. For up-to-date information and guidance, reach out to your attorney or Real Property Associates. As a Seattle property management company, it's not uncommon for us to see a preference in investors to...

The average price of a home in the Seattle area was $760,000 in 2019; in Bloomington (Indiana's most expensive city to call home), it was only around $261,000. This steep difference in value isn't the only reason why Seattle has been a desirable...

Real estate is one of the best bets that you can make as an investor, and the kind of home rentals Seattle has are no exception. If you buy the right property at the right time, and work with experienced Seattle property management to manage it,...

When it comes to full-service property management Seattle investors can count on, We come out on top for the seasoned real estate investors we serve. However, property management services aren't the only crucial element you need to successfully grow...

The time and heartache that it takes to manage a rental property in the Seattle area can be a real hassle. You'll need to be ready to take care of major maintenance issues promptly People are going to call you for maintenance and repairs You'll need...

Real estate investments are a solid vehicle for anyone looking to break out of the 9 to 5 lifestyle, achieve financial stability, and secure retirement. However, growing a profitable real estate investment portfolio takes a lot of...

Sustainable wealth is built upon a foundation of real estate investments in the Seattle area that are held long term for the sake of your financial future. The more assets, the merrier—although the workload can quickly get extensive. With the help...

Contrary to popular belief, renting out your single-family homes, condos, or apartments to renters with pets can be beneficial. It gives you access to a wider pool of potential renters, and as a Seattle property management company will tell you,...

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 own and operate home rentals, Seattle investors, it’s your responsibility to make sure that all of your renters are well-cared for, regardless of their needs—and this includes people with disabilities. For instance, if someone in a wheelchair...

As any Seattle property management firm will tell you, real estate gains in the Seattle area have the potential to be non-stop. You just have to keep your rental property running in ship-shape through consistent maintenance.  However, are you:...

In his book Good to Great, writer Jim Collins observed that 'Great vision without great people is irrelevant.' For a Seattle property owner, bringing a great vision to reality takes hard work, a healthy appetite for risk, and a lot of time. However,...

There are over 847,000 employees providing property management services in the United States alone. Yet, even with all those choices, it’s still easy to end up with the wrong Seattle property management company without proper research. However, if...

Warren Buffet simplified investing into two rules when he said, 'Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1.' However, if a Seattle-area property owner has long-term vacancy cycles, they’re breaking rule number one: the most...

Whether it’s due to a lack of mental bandwidth—or only having a single pair of arms—most people struggle to juggle. Barbara Walters once remarked, 'Most of us have trouble juggling. The woman who says she doesn’t is someone whom I admire but have...

Every business has assets and liabilities. For a Seattle-area rental property owner, one of the biggest liabilities can be a 'Professional Tenant.' Not only can they be a waste of time and money, but the frustration they cause can feel like a job in...

You could be the fairest and most flexible property owner imaginable, but that doesn't mean you're not going to encounter difficult residents. No matter what you do, it seems impossible to make one of these renters delighted—or even just satisfied!...

Whether you want to generate passive income or build long-term wealth, investing in rental properties is an excellent option. Finding the best rental properties at the right time with an experienced Seattle property management partner is your first...