Gross rent multiplier: formula, examples and limits
How to calculate the gross rent multiplier (GRM), convert it to gross yield, estimate value from comparable sales and see what the GRM leaves out.
Buy-to-let investing8 min read
Blog
Practical guides for landlords, buy-to-let investors and property owners: yields, financing, tenants, service charges and upkeep.
Buy-to-let investing
Buy to let due diligence checklist before you buy
A practical buy to let due diligence checklist: numbers, condition, legal title, building and HOA documents, existing tenants, financing and red flags.
Buy-to-let investing8 min read
Buy to let investing: a practical beginner's guide
Learn how buy to let investing works: returns, financing, hidden costs, risks and a step-by-step plan to assess and buy your first rental property.
Buy-to-let investing12 min read
Cap rate vs cash on cash return: the difference
Cap rate measures a property's income; cash on cash return measures your money after the mortgage. See formulas, worked examples and when to use each.
Buy-to-let investing7 min read
How to calculate rental yield: gross and net
Step-by-step formulas for gross and net rental yield, with a worked example, the costs to include and the mistakes that make a property look better.
Buy-to-let investing8 min read
Rental property cash flow: how to calculate it
Calculate rental property cash flow step by step: rent, vacancy, operating costs and mortgage payments, with a worked example and a stress test you can copy.
Buy-to-let investing8 min read
What is a good rental yield? How to judge a deal
There is no single magic number. Learn how to set your own minimum rental yield based on costs, financing, risk and growth, with worked examples.
Buy-to-let investing7 min read
Mortgages & financing
Mortgage refinance break-even: is switching worth it?
Work out your mortgage refinance break-even point: switching costs vs interest saved, why the simple formula misleads, and a worked example to copy.
Mortgages & financing9 min read
How mortgage amortization works, with worked examples
Learn how mortgage amortization works: the annuity formula, why early payments are mostly interest, and how term, rate and overpayments change the cost.
Mortgages & financing8 min read
Interest only vs repayment mortgage: which fits you?
Interest only vs repayment mortgage compared with worked numbers: monthly cost, total interest, end-of-term debt, risks and when each one makes sense.
Mortgages & financing7 min read
Loan to value ratio explained: formula and examples
Loan to value ratio explained: how to calculate LTV, why lenders care, how it changes over time and how to lower it before you buy or refinance a property.
Mortgages & financing7 min read
Letting & tenants
How much rent should I charge? Three ways to decide
How much rent should you charge? Start from comparable rents, check your cost floor and target yield, respect local limits and price to let quickly.
Letting & tenants9 min read
How to manage a rental property: a landlord's guide
Learn how to manage a rental property step by step: tenants, rent, maintenance, money and records, with routines and checklists for small landlords.
Letting & tenants12 min read
How to raise rent: process, timing and tenant letters
How to raise rent fairly and lawfully: check your contract and local rules, set the right amount, time the notice and explain the increase to your tenant.
Letting & tenants9 min read
Index-linked rent increase: formula and examples
How an index-linked rent increase works: the CPI formula, worked examples, caps and floors, thresholds, base-year changes and rounding, step by step.
Letting & tenants10 min read
Tenant screening checklist: how to vet applicants
A practical tenant screening checklist: what to verify, which documents to request, how to score applicants fairly and how to handle their data lawfully.
Letting & tenants9 min read
Property management
Which costs can landlords pass on to tenants?
Which costs can a landlord pass on to tenants? Recoverable vs non-recoverable service charges, typical examples, the lease clause and a worked example.
Property management8 min read
How to choose a property manager: step-by-step guide
How to choose a property manager: define the scope, compare candidates with a scoring matrix, ask the right questions and spot contract red flags.
Property management8 min read
How to split utility costs between tenants fairly
How to split utility costs between tenants: equal, by area, by occupants or by meter, with worked examples, a comparison table and common mistakes.
Property management10 min read
Property management fees explained: what you pay
Property management fees explained: percentage vs flat fees, letting, renewal and maintenance charges, plus a worked example to compare the true yearly cost.
Property management9 min read
Reserve fund planning for apartment buildings and HOAs
Reserve fund planning step by step: list components, estimate lifespans and costs, set annual contributions and avoid special assessments. Worked examples.
Property management10 min read
Service charges explained: what you pay and why
Service charges explained in plain English: what they cover, how costs are split between units, budgets vs actuals, and how to check your statement.
Property management12 min read
Maintenance
Wear and tear vs damage: what landlords can deduct
Fair wear and tear vs damage explained: examples room by room, how to charge only the remaining value of worn items and how to justify deposit deductions.
Maintenance8 min read
Rental property maintenance budget: how much to save
Set a rental property maintenance budget that holds up: compare rules of thumb, build a component-based reserve and adjust for age, size and tenant turnover.
Maintenance8 min read
Rental property maintenance checklist, season by season
A rental property maintenance checklist by season and building system: what to check, how often, who is responsible and how to record it, for small landlords.
Maintenance9 min read