First-Time Landlord: Your Guide to Renting out a Single-Family Home (USA Today/Nolo Series) |  | Authors: Janet Portman, Marcia Stewart, Michael Molinski
Publisher: NOLO
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
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Seller: natarajbooks
Rating:  28 reviews
Sales Rank: 18432
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Pages: 336
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.8
ISBN: 1413309119
Dewey Decimal Number: 333.338
EAN: 9781413309119
ASIN: 1413309119
Publication Date: February 27, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
First-time landlord? Learn landlording fundamentals in this primer.
The declining U.S. economy has forced many homeowners to make tough decisions about their property. If you're one of the millions of Americans affected by the credit crisis, struggling to make your mortgage payments, and are considering renting out your home to make ends meet, you'll need to learn the basics of being a landlord.
Let First-Time Landlord show you how to start your landlording business and maintain it in your spare time. Get the concise information you need to start making money with a single-family home, written for property owners with little business savvy -- and even less time and patience. Learn how to rent out your property lawfully and safely with valuable information on:
how to determine whether or not the property will turn a profit landlord business basics finding the right tenants preparing and signing the lease handling repairs complying with your state's rental laws dealing with problem tenants, and preparing for sale of the property.
From timely tips to true stories from successful landlords, First-Time Landlord is an indispensible book for property owners who want to rent out a single-family home without the hassle -- quickly, efficiently and legally.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 28
 Exactly what an aspiring landlord will want to read! June 2, 2009
Derek G (Redneck, South Carolina)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I've reviewed three Nolo books now and all three have done a wonderful job of translating complicated legal mumbo-jumbo into readable material regular folks can understand. They may not replace the advice of a lawyer in my opinion, but perhaps I'm just a wimp. I was a little apprehensive of a book publisher of this caliber teaming up with USA Today as I consider their newspaper the sort of thing people read when they don't want to learn anything. Still, in a strange way, the combination works rather well. Nolo provides the information and the pages are sprinkled with interesting factoids or Snapshot Pictures to keep the material from getting too dry and putting you to sleep. It makes the entire book reader-friendly while still providing a valuable source of info.
Here are the different chapters:
1. Is Owning Rental Property for You?
2. Landlording with Family or Friends
3. Preparing and Marketing Your Rental Property
4. Screening and Choosing Good Tenants
5. Preparing a Lease and Getting the Tenant Moved In
6. Manage Your Rental Income to Maximize Tax Deductions
7. Keeping Things Shipshape: Repairs and Maintenance
8. Landlord Liability for Injuries, Crimes, and More
9. Dealing with Difficult Tenants
10. Hiring a Property Manager
11. Exiting the Rental Property Business
Each chapter has subchapters with specific topics that are easily referenced via the table of contents if you are searching for something specific.
Like other Nolo books, First-Time Landlord provides a step-by-step guide to the process of purchasing an investment property from start to finish. UNLIKE other Nolo books, First-Time Landlord does not provide a reference guide containing the various laws in the 50 different states that will impact you. Instead, you will frequently get phrases like, "check state law", that tend to get annoying. Even worse, they often don't provide suggestions as to which state department or authority we should talk to. Those blue pages in the phone book get larger every year and it's difficult to play the runaround game with state workers when we don't know where to begin. It's a significant omission and I hope it's updated in future editions, but it's my only gripe. Otherwise, any potential landlord will want to read this book first and I'm still giving them five stars for the info and layout. Nice job, Nolo.
A Fun and Informative Read May 13, 2009
Modern Blue Argonaut
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
Much of this book is common sense, but coming in at almost 300 pages plus the index, there is a wealth of information in here.
USA Today, in a joint effort with NOLO takes readers by the hand and explains in simple language the business of becoming a landlord. The graphics were well-placed, interesting, and informative.
Some of the things in the book appeared to be silly & unnecessary (such as don't hit your tenant, page 199). Other information was very valuable, such as providing accommodation for disabled persons, checking tenants credit (it says you don't need their permission!), and checking the sex offenders database. I also liked the staging checklist, but the book is full of checklists and bulleted lists that help to ensure you are covering your bases.
Overall, it was a very informative read and should be useful for new landlords.
Just what was needed! June 11, 2009
Work of Life (Miami, Florida USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Invaluable and timely guide for those considering renting out their property in the troubled housing market of mid-2009. Though we are not yet renting our property, this book made us much more confident about our decision to rent and what would be involved. Special attention is given to "first timers" so the text is not overly complicated or full of intimidating jargon. After you have digested this one, pick up "real estate investing for dummies". A bit more in depth and a good follow up to the "first time landlord".
A must read for the first-time landlord June 18, 2009
esanta (San Jose, CA USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I've been meaning to move closer to my work for years; with the collapse of real estate prices, buying a second property and keeping my current house as a rental has become a viable option, but I know nothing about being a landlord, so I was quite intrigued to find this book.
I was expecting a painfully dry and boring read, so I was very surprised to find out a very pleasant, friendly primer on the benefits, risks and responsibilities of being a landlord.
The book is logically organized into a dozen sections addressing all aspects of owning rental property such as preparing a lease, picking the right tenant, dealing with difficult ones, hiring a property manager, etc... and features a full index. The layout is airy and attractive, and the writing simple and easy to understand.
I'm still worried about this new venture, but at least now that I've read this book, I feel prepared. Although it certainly does not contain all the details and information you could possibly want, it teaches you the basics so that you know where to go for further information. It's not only thorough, but also pleasant to read, and that's quite a feat considering the topic. Very highly recommended.
Helpful Guidance April 27, 2009
Kent J. Smythe (CA USA)
Sometimes when people die you become something you didn't expect to become... A Landlord.
Inheriting property can be wonderful because of the added income but with that joy also comes responsibility for the property and for dealing with tenants.
This book offers valuable insight to many potential problems and helps with the ABC's of property management and spells out areas that could possibly come up that you wouldn't think about.
There are several areas in the book that don't apply to me but will to many people and for what this book costs it seems like a great deal to me.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 28
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