BiggerPockets Daily

For some of us, the most fun part of the real estate journey is actually furnishing and decorating your STRproperties (Okay, the revenue part is pretty great, too). But purchasing a house worth of furniture in a matter of days or weeks can be overwhelming for anyone. 

There are certainly services you can employ to help you, including your property manager, but this task is also definitely something you can tackle yourself. Here’s what to consider as you get started.

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When investors set out to find a new investment, they’ll likely come across an HOA property. Unless you know exactly what an HOA property entails, you may be left asking yourself, “Should I invest in a property with an HOA?”

Investing in a homeowners association property requires significant effort because of the many oversights and restrictions. It’s a challenge, but it has benefits if you’re willing to do the work.

From fees to rental restrictions, we’ll dive into what to expect when investing in a property under a homeowners association.

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When it comes to investing in real estate, securing the right type of financing plays a crucial role in any successful transaction. This principle holds even more truth for investors aspiring to venture into the short-term rental space—a burgeoning sector in today’s real estate industry. 

The available options for financing are varied, encompassing traditional loans, hard money loans, or even loans sourced from personal connections. However, in this comprehensive guide, our focus shifts toward an incredibly powerful tool for scaling your real estate portfolio: DSCR loans.

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When you’re self-managing short-term rentals (STRs), you will eventually need a system. Maybe you can get away with chatting with your guests directly in the native VRBO interface with one or two doors, but as soon as you scale much beyond that, you’ll need to bring in a little help from apps or sites designed to address every stage in the STR rental journey. And there are a lot to choose from out there. 

We asked three experienced STR investors and property managers—people who have basically tested everything on the market—to share some of their favorites and the reasons they love them. These lists are not exhaustive by any stretch but offer great insight into platforms they use and trust.

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Buying a house with an LLC has many benefits for real estate investors. When the limited liability company owns the property, you can access tax benefits and asset protection. You may also find it easier to partner with other investors. However, setting up an LLC can be complicated, and you may struggle to secure a mortgage loan.

Are you a first-time real estate investor looking to buy your first investment property? Or do you already own multiple properties and wonder if you should transfer property ownership to an LLC? If so, this article is for you.

From setting up an LLC and managing legal and financial considerations, this article will guide you through the process of buying a house with an LLC. You will also learn about the pros and cons of owning an LLC.

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The BRRRR method of real estate investing continues to be one of the most-used strategies in 2023. With interest rates elevated yet property values remaining resilient, finding cash flow with a reasonable down payment is an incredible challenge.  

However, the BRRRR strategy (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) makes sense for a lot of investors, as value can be created through forced appreciation (renovations) and capital recycled through cash-out refinances. With rates high and competition fierce, nailing the financing piece of the BRRRR method has never been more important.  

This article will explore the loan options facing BRRRR strategy investors, with a focus on the all-important third R: refinance. Specifically, we’ll compare DSCR refinance loans to traditional options, namely bank or conventional loans.

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It might be expensive to buy, but rental prices are also rising across the U.S. While some might think it might be better to rent than own, in some cases, that’s not always the case. Inflation has drastically impacted rental prices, which rose 6.2% year over year in 2022, according to a study by WalletHub.

But some areas in the U.S. are better to rent in than other areas. WalletHub’s latest report on the 2023 Best & Worst Places to Rent in America found that many of the best places to rent are in the western part of the U.S. Looking at not just rental prices but also quality of life standards, the study ranks 182 of the top cities across the U.S. for renters based on 21 key measures of rental attractiveness and quality of life.

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Investing in real estate isn’t something that involves using just one strategy. The best strategy for you depends on the type of investor you are and the current market dynamics. In 2023, build-to-rent (BTR) is quickly becoming the most effective investment strategy for beginners and experienced investors alike. 

BTR gives investors the opportunity to purchase new construction properties below market value in growing locations. There are many advantages associated with using BTR to grow your investment portfolio, which include hardly any maintenance, builder warranties, substantial appreciation in growing markets, the ability to attract high-quality tenants, and more financing options. We’ve started using a unique portfolio lender that finances new construction rentals with as little as 5% down, with no PMI (private mortgage insurance) costs. It is creative financing options like this that have allowed us to expand our portfolio quickly in the BTR space, obtaining more properties with less capital down.

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Foreclosures across the U.S. are on the rise and nearing pre-pandemic levels, according to real estate data firm ATTOM.

ATTOM’s midyear foreclosure activity report found that foreclosure activity has been gradually increasing over the last few quarters as COVID-related policies have ended.

Across the U.S., 0.13% of all housing units foreclosed in the first half of 2023. Foreclosures are up 13% from the same period in 2022 and up 185% from the same period two years ago.

“Similar to the first half of 2022, foreclosures activity across the United States maintained its upward trajectory, gradually approaching pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2023,” Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM, said in a statement.

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Earlier this month, Democratic lawmakers introduced a new bill designed to disincentivize investors from buying up single-family homes. The bill, known as the Stop Predatory Investing Act, would eliminate interest and depreciation deductions for investors who acquire 50 or more new single-family rental homes after the bill is enacted. 

The bill allows a couple of exceptions—investors would still be permitted to take deductions on homes built to rent or financed using Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. And those who elect to sell a property to a homeowner or qualified nonprofit would be permitted to take deductions for the year of the sale. 

The bill is aimed at increasing housing access and affordability, particularly for first-time homebuyers purchasing starter homes. Proponents of the bill allege that corporate investors outbid families for homes and rent those homes at increasingly high prices, creating too much competition for would-be homeowners amid a housing shortage. 

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