Guess who ranks in the top 10 happiest cities in America?
Every once in a while, it’s good to take a minute to appreciate, celebrate and be proud of the city where you live and work. Sometimes the reason to celebrate is that your sports team is crushing it like the Royals did last year. But one reason we can celebrate today is a recent list we saw that had the top 10 happiest cities in America. The list was compiled by Zippia, a career search company. (Thanks to Paul, our Director of Investment Services, for seeing this article recently and thinking it would be a great blog post!)
The reason we love the list is that it’s not arbitrary. It’s based on scientific data captured about the 200 largest cities in America. You can argue pros and cons about each data point leading to “happiness.” But the general idea is that people are happier when they have money, can afford a reasonable lifestyle, and can spend time having and raising a family in a safe environment with good schools.
The Data:
- Education (percentage of population with a degree)
- Employment (based on unemployment rates)
- Average length of commute to work
- Cost of living
- Having a family (percentage of population that is married)
- Owning a home
- Having money (based on poverty rates)
The List of 10 Happiest Cities in America:
- Olathe, KS
- Overland Park, KS
- Cedar Rapids, IA
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Bellevue, WA
- Cary, NC
- Gilbert, AZ
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Chesapeake, VA
- Frisco, TX
We are proud to live and work in Kansas City and we hope you are too!
[Video] – 5 Ways to Attract Top Notch Tenants to Your Overland Park Property
Attracting top notch tenants for your investment property is crucial to ensure that cash flow continues to come in. Today, we’re sharing five ways to attract great renters.
1. Keep the House Super-Clean
Make sure the house is always clean. That doesn’t just mean the carpets and the bathrooms. You want the woodwork and the windows to be extremely clean as well. The house should also be clean smelling. When a prospective tenant walks in, there shouldn’t be anything that smells like smoke, pets, or mustiness.
2. Remove Personal Items
Make sure the house is free of all stuff. Doing property management in Overland Park, we notice that people tend to leave behind flower pots, hoses, old lawnmowers, exercise equipment, or even pool tables. It all needs to be removed. New renters don’t want to deal with other people’s stuff.
3. Provide Beautiful Paint
Have the whole house either freshly painted on the inside or make sure it looks freshly painted. This is what we recommend to all of our property owners. The paint should be fresh or look fresh. You don’t want it to look like a rental.
4. Update the Light Fixtures
Have updated light fixtures. When you’re putting them in, make sure they’re the right size so adequate light reaches the rooms. Gigantic and tiny light fixtures look awkward, and sometimes landlords forget to consider that.
5. Establish Curb Appeal
Make the outside of the property neat, clean, and tidy, with fresh mulch. Trim bushes in the summer months, and keep the front door clean. You don’t want a tenant to walk up to the front door and see bugs or cobwebs on the porch. That’s not appealing. Make sure the door is clean or freshly painted.
These are five ways to attract top notch renters and keep the cash flow coming in on your property. If you have any questions or need help with Overland Park property management, Lenexa property management, or services in any of the surrounding areas, please contact us at Home Rental Services.
Home Rental Services Celebrates 27 Years!
We’ve been in the business of managing investment properties for our clients since 1989.
Do you remember what life was like in 1989?
Interest rates were 10.5%, the average monthly rent was $425, a USPS stamp cost 25 cents, and the average home cost $120,000.
It was the year the Berlin wall came down. It was the year Toyota launched their luxury brand… Lexus. It was also the year that the first 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS) were launched into orbit.
In 1989, Microsoft released the first version of their productivity suite called Microsoft Office. You could watch first run episodes of The Simpsons. You could go to the theater and watch the grand opening of The Little Mermaid.
And the most popular bands were Madonna, Depeche Mode, Phil Collins, Prince, The Bangles and New Kids on the Block.
We’ve come a long way since then.
So many things have changed since we opened the doors in 1989.
We’ve gone from managing a few properties to managing a few hundred properties. We’ve gone from writing everything on paper and passing around folders to web based applications and instant messaging. We’ve gone from a couple of employees to more than ten.
It’s taken hard work, persistence and some luck, but we really enjoy helping people while making a living. We’re so thankful for all the people that have helped us get to this point. Our property owners, vendors, renters and peers that continue to trust us and cheer us on. If you are reading this, there’s a good chance that you are part of our story. Thank you!
Please join us as we celebrate 27 years of property management in the Kansas City Metro!
[Video] – 4 Reasons You Should Consult a Property Manager Before Buying Investment Property in Overland Park
At Home Rental Services, we work within the greater Kansas City area, and we love providing helping investors find properties that will make great rental homes. Today, we are sharing four reasons you should use a property manager when buying an investment property.
Overland Park Property Management Knowledge
A property manager will know the local market. This is invaluable when you are trying to buy an investment property that is in demand. A property manager will be able to help you with the areas that are in demand and the rental price point that good tenants are willing to pay.
Increasing an Investor’s ROI
When you talk to a property manager before you buy an investment property, you’ll get the maximum return on your investment. We recently spoke to an investor about the value of buying two $200,000 homes instead of one $400,000 home. The return you earn will depend on what’s in highest demand in terms of school districts, desirable locations, and the floorplan of the home.
Overland Park Property Management Home Evaluations
We will walk the property down before you put a contract in on a home. We know what renters are looking for and what will work for the home you’re considering. Recently, we looked at large house with a huge utility box in the middle of the back yard. That’s not a useable yard, and tenants would see that. So, we encouraged our investor to continue looking.
Helping You Attract Top Notch Tenants
When we walk the property, we put together an A-B-C list. On the A list are things you have to do. That might mean painting the purple bedroom or the red dining room. These are the things that must be done to get the property ready for the rental market. On the B list are optional things like upgrading the light fixtures or putting in stainless steel appliances. The C list is what you’ll refer to when you still have money left over. You can do granite counter tops or put in some new landscaping.
These are four good reasons to work with a property manager when you’re buying an investment property. For more information on investing wisely, please contact us at Home Rental Services. We’d be happy to talk to you about our Overland Park property management services.
Japanese Beetles causing damage across the KC Metro
Have you seen any Japanese Beetles on the plants or shrubs in your yard? Take a look at the picture. They usually have an iridescent green thorax and head and copper colors on their bodies. In a way, they are pretty. The problem is that they are destructive.
We’ve heard from some of our landscaping vendors that this beetle is causing damage all over the Kansas City metropolitan area. They damage plants by “skeletonizing” the foliage, that is, consuming only the leafy material between the veins of leaves, leaving skeleton leaves behind.
It’s called a Japanese Beetle because of where it originates. It’s not a problem in Japan because there are many natural predators that keep the population in check. But in the United States, there really aren’t any natural predators and they can quickly get out of control.
What to do if you find Japanese Beetles
When treating for Japanese Beetles, a multi-part attack is best.
- Purchase Japanese Beetle killer spray (here’s some for $10 at Home Depot.) The nice thing about this spray is that it also works against aphids, white flies, bag worms, spider mites, leaf miners and more.
- Hand pick. We know… it’s kind of gross. But Japanese Beetles are slow and easy to grab. If you have the stomach for it, you can remove them from plants and drop them in a bucket filled with soapy water to kill them.
- If you have a major infestation, it’s a good idea to take some preventative steps for next year. Consider researching grub guard and milky spore products that you can use to treat the ground. It takes about a year for these to become effective, but once in place they can protect your yard for up to 10 years.
- Finally, if you are a renter with Home Rental Services, have tried some of these measures, and are still having a problem, please contact your property manager for help with setting up professional treatment.
We hope you haven’t seen any Japanese Beetles in your yard. If you have, we hope this article was informative and gives you some steps you can try to take care of the problem!
An easy way to clean window tracks!
We’re always looking for tips that make household maintenance even easier. Joshua, one of our property managers, saw a great blog post on how to clean dirty window tracks easily. The following is from TheIntentionalMom.com and we loved the process! It’s an easy way to clean the buildup and grime that accumulates in the tracks of windows and sliding glass doors.
Tools for the job:
- Toothbrush
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Paper towels
- Rag
- Butter knife
The steps:
- Sprinkle baking soda on the worst parts of the track.
- Cover the baking soda with some vinegar and it will start to bubble.
- Let the solution sit for 5-10 minutes while the grime is loosened.
- Use the toothbrush to move the grime to the center of the track.
- Use a paper towel to wipe up the worst of the grime.
- Wet the rag and use it to clean up the rest of the track.
- Use the butter knife pressed inside the rag to help you get into corners if necessary.
- Give the track one last wipe with the rag, and you’re done!
It’s that time of year… Top 5 back to school safety tips!
Can you believe it’s already August? If you have younger kids, August is the time to grab the supplies checklist and head to your local Target or Walmart to stock up. It’s a busy time. But you should never be too busy to make sure your kids are safe. We thought it would be timely to provide our top 5 safety tips for younger kids heading back to school.
Communication
Make sure your children know their home phone number, address, how to get in touch with both parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to dial 9-1-1. Consider putting a note card in their backpack or school bag that has this information.
Product Recalls
Did you know there is a website for checking product recalls due to safety hazards? It’s the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission website at http://www.cpsc.gov. One of the most recent recalls is for 500,000 hover boards made by 10 different companies because their batteries can catch on fire. Here is a link to that recall. And here’s a link to all recalls so far in 2016. The recalls so far this year include IKEA shelves, video baby monitors, jogging strollers, and more.
Walking to School
Teach your kids to always walk on the sidewalk. When no sidewalk is available, explain that it’s a good idea to walk facing traffic so that they can see potential problems as they happen. Always look left, right and left again before crossing streets to make sure there is no oncoming traffic. Make sure electronics like MP3 players or handheld video games are not being used while walking to school, (especially with the recent craze with Pokemon Go!)
Biking to School
Make sure your child wears a helmet any time they are riding a bicycle or scooter to school. The helmet should fit snugly and be level with the top of their head. It may be a good idea to make sure their chin strap is buckled before they leave the house.
Riding the Bus to School
Make sure your children stand six feet away (or 3 big steps) from the curb. If they need to cross the street in front of the bus, make sure they walk on the side of the road until they are 10 feet ahead of the bus. Explain that they should always be able to see the bus driver, and the bus driver should always be able to see them.
4 Reasons to Invest In Real Estate – Part 4: Tax Benefits
We answer lots of questions about why it’s good to invest in real estate. We thought you might want to know our top four reasons for owning investment property!
This is part 4 of a 4 part series of blog posts:
1) Cash Flow
2) Appreciation
3) Paying Down Your Loan
4) Tax Benefits
Tax benefits
Many landlords are not aware of all the great tax deductions you can get when you own investment property which means that many landlords are overpaying on their taxes… who wants to do that? Rental properties allow more tax advantages than pretty much any other investment vehicle. That is good news!
1. When you think of the rental income you are going to get, it’s great to know that expenses such as repairs, maintenance, leasing commissions, property management fees, interest on the mortgage, utilities, make ready costs, HOA dues and more are usually tax deductible.
2. Real estate taxes on your investment property are… tax deductible.
3. The IRS allows you to not only depreciate the house (not the land) but also capital expenses such as roofs, replacement windows, etc. All of these things work to reduce your taxable income.
4. If you have one of those not-so-fun years and you lost money; your losses can also help offset other income which is a bright spot. (There are some annual limits to this…check with your tax advisor.)
5. If you decide you want to sell your investment property at some point and you are looking at a sizeable profit, the IRS has a great program called a 1031 Exchange. This program has some specific date limitations but essentially allows a perfectly legal way to defer capital gains taxes (always a good thing).
Be sure to consult a tax advisor who knows all the deductions you can take when you own rental property. You want to be sure to take advantage of all of them!
We recommend that you work with your attorney or CPA before making legal or financial decisions.
Conclusion
When you consider cash flow, appreciation, paying down your loan, and tax benefits, owning an investment property can be an excellent way for you to generate passive income.
To learn more, please give us a call at (913) 469-6633 or email info@home4rent.com.
4 Reasons to Invest In Real Estate – Part 3: Paying Down Your Loan
We answer lots of questions about why it’s good to invest in real estate. We thought you might want to know our top four reasons for owning investment property!
This is part 3 of a 4 part series of blog posts:
1) Cash Flow
2) Appreciation
3) Paying Down Your Loan
4) Tax Benefits
Paying Down Your Loan
When you purchase a rental property with a mortgage, you make a monthly payment to the lender. That payment includes two parts: principal and interest. Interest is the profit for the lender, but the principal is money you are paying down the loan with.
For example, if you purchased a house five years ago for $100,000 and got an $80,000 mortgage. We’ll say it was a 30-year mortgage with a 5 percent fixed rate.
Today, you would owe only $74,000 because $6,000 of your monthly mortgage payments went towards the principal of the loan amount. Ten years from now, you would owe only $65,000. This means that every year your equity increases, you would gain value in the property as long as the market value didn’t go down. Equity is the difference between what a property is worth and what you owe on the mortgage.
If you are in a financial position where you can buy the property outright, you have 100% equity. But you’ve also tied up a sizeable amount of your liquid assets (cash) in that property.
The decision to take out a mortgage or purchase a property outright is influenced by many factors including interest rates, tax law and more. We recommend that you talk with your accountant about the best way to financially acquire a property.
Next week, we’ll talk about the fourth benefit of owning investment property, Tax Benefits!
4 Reasons to Invest In Real Estate – Part 2: Appreciation
We answer lots of questions about why it’s good to invest in real estate. We thought you might want to know our top four reasons for owning investment property!
This is part 2 of a 4 part series of blog posts:
1) Cash Flow
2) Appreciation
3) Paying Down Your Loan
4) Tax Benefits
Appreciation
We appreciate you reading our blog posts! But that’s not the “appreciation” we are referring to when talking about reasons for owning investment property.
Appreciation is the historical trend that properties rise in value over time. Sure, there are corrections in price when the economy is suffering like in 2007, but over the years, property values usually increase.
If you currently live in a home that you own, you’ve probably seen this happen first hand. You get a tax assessment every year and it’s rare that the assessed amount goes down.
Let’s say that you bought your home for $250,000. Ten years later, that home might be worth $270,000-$300,000 based on how well real estate performs related to the economy. If you sold your home, you would realize $20,000-$50,000 of gain (minus closing costs, etc.)
And that’s an example for just one home.
In the first part of this series, we talked about buying multiple investment properties and assumed that you were able to purchase 5 homes over a period of years. When you start multiplying appreciation gains across multiple investment properties, the numbers really start to add up. You could be looking at $100,000-$250,000 of potential gain after 10 years. (We say potential, because you won’t realize a gain until you sell the properties, and many investors choose to hold them for the long term.)
Next week, we’ll talk about the third benefit of owning investment property, Paying Down Your Loan!
