Masking Ownership of Buy and Hold Properties from Tenants

[Sean Salandy]

I am planning to purchase properties to hold and rent. I am also planning to manage these properties with a separate property management entity. Is it best to try to prevent the tenants from knowing the name, address, etc., of the owner (in this case myself)? If so, what are the best strategies for doing so? Since I am a beginner, I will be handling all of the property management duties myself, without any employees. This means that I will be doing showings to prospective tenants, inspections, evictions and things of that nature. I will personally be in contact with the tenants which means they can look up ownership and most likely match me up as being the owner. Thanks

[Johann Jells]

Originally posted by @Sean Salandy:

Thanks for the responses. It never really occurred to me about masking ownership until I read several people hint at it recently. I just assume if you're going to do a lot of evictions you would be wise to keep as much of your personal information away from the situation but I do understand that most of this information would be in the public records. I will look into the land trust option and speak to a CPA.
Thanks again all.

Your assumption that you'll be doing lots of evictions is disturbing. Eviction is a failure of the landlord to properly screen tenants, or set the rent at a point where you get good tenants not someone desperate. In 17 years, starting with 6 rentals and now with 12, I've only had one eviction and he was inherited. All my tenants know where I live.