Rental Property Investing Blog

Straight talk on rental property analysis. How to buy your first deal with confidence.

Buying US rental property from Canada? Guides, a checklist and tools are collected on the Canadian investors page.
Best US States for Canadian Real Estate Investors
Which US states Canadians buy rentals in, and what to check in each: state tax filing, property tax, landlord rules, insurance and flight access.
The BRRRR Method Explained: Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat
How BRRRR works, with a worked example: the 75% refinance, how much cash you leave in, what a low appraisal does, and why it's harder at high interest rates.
Buying US Rental Property Personally, Through an LLC or Through a Canadian Corporation
Hold US rental property personally, in a US LLC or through a Canadian corporation: the LLC tax mismatch, estate tax, liability and lenders.
Can a Canadian Get a US Mortgage or DSCR Loan?
Yes, but the options are narrower. How foreign national DSCR loans work for Canadian buyers, what lenders ask for, typical down payments and a worked example.
Foreign National Loans Explained: Financing US Rental Property as a Non-US Resident
How foreign national mortgages work for non-US residents: who qualifies, down payment and reserves, documents, and how they differ from ITIN loans.
Funding a US Rental Property From Canada: HELOC, Cash and Currency Exchange
How Canadians fund a US rental: a Canadian HELOC, why RRSP and TFSA don't work, proving source of funds, and cutting currency exchange costs.
House Hacking: Buying a 2 to 4 Unit Property and Living in One Unit
How house hacking works, the low down payment loans that make it possible, a worked example with real numbers, and the catches that surprise first-time buyers.
How to Buy a US Rental Property From Canada, Step by Step
Step by step for Canadians buying US rental property: budget, accountant, market, lender, offer, inspection, closing and what to set up after.
How to Find a Property Manager for an Out-of-State Rental
What property managers charge, how to vet them, the contract terms that matter and the questions to ask before you hire one for a rental you can't visit.
Selling a US Rental Property as a Canadian: FIRPTA, US Tax and Canadian Tax
Selling US rental property as a Canadian: FIRPTA withholding, the withholding certificate, US and Canadian capital gains tax and recapture.
Tenant-Friendly vs Landlord-Friendly States: Where Rental Property Is Easier to Manage
Which US states are landlord-friendly, balanced or tenant-friendly, with deposit limits, rent control and eviction notice periods.
US Rental Income Tax for Canadians: Your First Year, Step by Step
How Canadians are taxed on US rental income: the 30% withholding, the net election and W-8ECI, Form 1040-NR, ITIN, and T776, T2209 and T1135.
Investing in US Rental Property as a Canadian: Taxes, Financing and Exchange Rate
How Canadians buy US rental property: FIRPTA, ITIN, the Canada-US tax treaty, financing as a non-resident and what CAD/USD does to your numbers.
DSCR Loans Explained for First-Time Investors
A DSCR loan is approved on the property's income, not yours. Here's how the ratio actually works and when this kind of loan makes sense.
How Much Cash Do You Actually Need for Your First Rental Property?
The down payment is the biggest number, but it's rarely the only one. Here's the full list of what to actually save up before you buy.
The 1% Rule in Practice: When It Works and When It Breaks
How to use the 1% rule as a fast filter on rental listings, where it still works, and why it barely works in some markets anymore.
What Is a Good Cap Rate for a Rental Property?
Cap rate tells you how a property performs on its own, before financing enters the picture. Here's what the number actually means and what counts as good.
Buying a Rental Property Out of State: What Actually Matters
A lot of first-time investors buy their first rental somewhere they've never lived. Here's how to do it without flying blind.
How to Calculate Cash-on-Cash Return on a Rental Property
A plain-English walkthrough of cash-on-cash return, the number that tells you if a rental property is a good deal.