The Rental Roof Blog
Only the good stuff. Never fluff.
Financial Analysis
The full report on my portfolio’s performance in 2022, including all the numbers and lessons learned.
High inflation and rising mortgage rates have changed the landscape for rental property investors. But you can still navigate the current climate and make money — here’s how.
Are you waiting to buy rental properties because of recent rapid increase in home prices, or higher interest rates? You shouldn’t be. In fact, you shouldn’t be thinking about market timing at all.
A look back at my portfolio in 2021, including all the numbers and lessons learned.
I took out a mortgage on Property #18 earlier this year, effectively completing my first BRRRR. Here’s how it turned out in the end, including all the numbers.
The tax code favors you in numerous ways when you own rental properties — so much so that I paid $0 in taxes on my rental income last year. Find out how I did it.
Home prices are rising, inventory is low, and many houses are receiving multiple offers above asking price within 24 hours of being listed. This must be another housing bubble, right? Not so fast.
You can learn a lot by looking back at your rental properties’ performance at the end of the year. Here’s how to do it — along with my full results from 2020.
It turns out that rental properties are the better investment in the long run — and I can prove it with numbers.
A detailed comparison of the various ways to finance your rental portfolio, and how to avoid the risks of over-leveraging.
Buying a rental property with a tenant already in place means immediate cash flow. Vacant properties give you the peace of mind of screening and placing your own tenant. There are risks to consider either way.
The FIRE movement has been getting a lot of attention lately. But one of its central tenets is misleading and due for a careful re-examination.
What expenses will your rental property incur? Will it generate cash flow? The second part of my step-by-step guide to financially evaluate any property using the RIA Rental Property Analyzer.
What will your target property rent for? Will it generate cash flow? Use this step-by-step guide to financially evaluate any property using the RIA Rental Property Analyzer.
You wouldn’t think it, but leveraging mortgage debt can actually INCREASE your cash returns. And that’s not all…
A deep dive into the projected and actual performance of my first remote rental property.
The three reasons rental properties are the best passive investment vehicle on the planet.
Evaluation & Selection of Properties
A new crop of online gurus are touting Section 8 as the best strategy for rental property investors. A close look at the promises they’re making raises lots of red flags.
If you’re perplexed by all the plexes (duplex, triplex, quadplex), worry not! Learn about all the pros and cons of single family vs multi family, so you can decide which strategy works best for you.
I took out a mortgage on Property #18 earlier this year, effectively completing my first BRRRR. Here’s how it turned out in the end, including all the numbers.
A complete guide to Section 8 for landlords, covering all the risks & rewards.
Looking to buy rental properties? Here’s a look at 12 markets that offer the best opportunities for cash flow investors. Updated for 2023!
All the pros and cons of investing in condos as rental properties – and why I’m selling my condos now.
Many aspiring investors think that out of state rental properties won’t work. But their fears don’t match the reality — and limiting yourself to your local market can come at a high cost.
Buying a rental property with a tenant already in place means immediate cash flow. Vacant properties give you the peace of mind of screening and placing your own tenant. There are risks to consider either way.
Turnkey rental properties promise to take the uncertainty and hassle out of real estate investing. Do they live up to the hype?
What expenses will your rental property incur? Will it generate cash flow? The second part of my step-by-step guide to financially evaluate any property using the RIA Rental Property Analyzer.
What will your target property rent for? Will it generate cash flow? Use this step-by-step guide to financially evaluate any property using the RIA Rental Property Analyzer.
Confused about which markets are best for rental properties? You’re not alone. Here’s what truly matters in selecting a market, and how to choose one that works for you.
Understanding A, B, C, and D neighborhood designations, and finding your sweet spot as an investor.
A deep dive into the projected and actual performance of my first remote rental property.
Investing Mindset
A new crop of online gurus are touting Section 8 as the best strategy for rental property investors. A close look at the promises they’re making raises lots of red flags.
Investor and author Alan Corey visits the blog to give his thoughts on a question I get all the time from clients: should I get a real estate license?
A guest post examines early retirement five years in, and the various ways it has turned out differently than I thought.
Are you waiting to buy rental properties because of recent rapid increase in home prices, or higher interest rates? You shouldn’t be. In fact, you shouldn’t be thinking about market timing at all.
The tax code favors you in numerous ways when you own rental properties — so much so that I paid $0 in taxes on my rental income last year. Find out how I did it.
Home prices are rising, inventory is low, and many houses are receiving multiple offers above asking price within 24 hours of being listed. This must be another housing bubble, right? Not so fast.
A complete guide to Section 8 for landlords, covering all the risks & rewards.
You can learn a lot by looking back at your rental properties’ performance at the end of the year. Here’s how to do it — along with my full results from 2020.
My first guest post traces my escape from the office grind using out-of-state rental properties.
It turns out that rental properties are the better investment in the long run — and I can prove it with numbers.
All the pros and cons of investing in condos as rental properties – and why I’m selling my condos now.
A detailed comparison of the various ways to finance your rental portfolio, and how to avoid the risks of over-leveraging.
Many aspiring investors think that out of state rental properties won’t work. But their fears don’t match the reality — and limiting yourself to your local market can come at a high cost.
Many investors are convinced they need to hold their rental properties in LLCs. But their arguments don’t hold up to scrutiny, and the downsides are significant.
The FIRE movement has been getting a lot of attention lately. But one of its central tenets is misleading and due for a careful re-examination.
Turnkey rental properties promise to take the uncertainty and hassle out of real estate investing. Do they live up to the hype?
A detailed guide for new investors covering everything a Property Manager manages – and why you need one.
The three reasons rental properties are the best passive investment vehicle on the planet.
How mid-career burnout as a retail executive forced me to seek a very different path.
Your Team on the Ground
Many aspiring investors think that out of state rental properties won’t work. But their fears don’t match the reality — and limiting yourself to your local market can come at a high cost.
Selecting a property manager is one of the most consequential decisions a rental property investor makes. Here’s how to get it right using the RIA PM Vetting Checklist.
Turnkey rental properties promise to take the uncertainty and hassle out of real estate investing. Do they live up to the hype?
A detailed guide for new investors covering everything a Property Manager manages – and why you need one.
RIA Roundups
Lead Story: Section 8 Gurus
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Jobs & AI
Lead Story: Pandemic Impacts on Rental Markets
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Cooperation
Lead Story: 2023 Year in Review
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Artifice
Lead Story: How Far Will Mortgage Rates Fall?
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Home for the Holidays
Lead Story: The Real Estate Brokerage Conspiracy
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Ethics & Evictions
Lead Story: Buying vs. Renting
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Habits
Lead Story: The Incredible Growing Home
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: The Cult of Busyness
Lead Story: The Mortgage Lock-In Effect
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Work / Life
Lead Story: The Commercial Crash
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Luck
Lead Story: The Recession That Never Comes
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Epidemic
Lead Story: Are Home Prices Headed Up Again?
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Consequences
Lead Story: The Housing Shortage
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: War
Lead Story: 2022 Year in Review
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Debt
Lead Story: An Awful Year for Stocks
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Respite
Lead Story: The Great Rent Run-Up
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: The Next Big Thing! (!!!)
Lead Story: Is Inflation Peaking?
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: Is Nothing Sacred?
Lead Story: A Shift in the Market
Portfolio Updates
In Other News…
Final Thoughts: How Much Is “Enough”?
Property Spotlights
Here is my 25th property in Memphis! It’s pretty much a carbon copy of Property #24, but we’ll give it a separate blog post anyway.
Check out my 24th property in Memphis! It’s completely unlike anything I’ve purchased before.
Here is my 23rd property in Memphis! Check out all the details and financials for this 3 bed, 1 bath turnkey house in one of my favorite rental neighborhoods in Memphis.
Check out my 22nd property in Memphis! The numbers for this one aren’t great, so why did I buy it? Find out…
Here is my 21st property in Memphis! Check out all the details and financials for this 3 bed, 1.5 bath house I bought from a turnkey provider.
I recently closed on my 20th property in Memphis! Check out all the details and financials for this 3 bed, 1 bath home.
I recently closed on Memphis Rental Property #19! Here’s a close look at my newest house, which has a lot in common with #17.
A few months ago, I closed on Memphis Rental Property #18! Here’s a look at my new property, which is my first duplex and my first foray into rehabbing.
It’s been a year since my last acquisition, but I just closed on Memphis Rental Property #17! Here’s a look at my new house, and why I’m still investing in rental properties in the middle of a pandemic.
A deep dive into the projected and actual performance of my first remote rental property.
Annual Portfolio Reports
The full report on my portfolio’s performance in 2023 — the good, the bad, and the ugly! Includes all the numbers and lessons learned.
The full report on my portfolio’s performance in 2022, including all the numbers and lessons learned.
A look back at my portfolio in 2021, including all the numbers and lessons learned.
You can learn a lot by looking back at your rental properties’ performance at the end of the year. Here’s how to do it — along with my full results from 2020.
The full report on my portfolio’s performance in 2023 — the good, the bad, and the ugly! Includes all the numbers and lessons learned.