Do YOU hold rentals in an LLC or your personal name?

[Ryan Daniels]

Has this topic been beat to death?

Do those of you who are renting out homes/apts/mutli-fam structure your investments to be owned by you personally, or by an LLC which you own?

I earn a pretty decent living outside of Real Estate (where I currently earn nothing). Having a somewhat sizable income, I have accumulated a fair amount of assets in the form of cash, stocks, bonds, and other physical assets. I think sometimes that this may present a target to renters who occupy the types of units that I am investing in. As such, I have major reservations about owning the properties in my name, in the event that a tenant slips and falls, or brings suit for some other problem.

I will be utilizing a property mgmt company for any rental properties that I buy, wherever I buy them. I don't actually want to meet the tenants at all, beyond reviewing their screening process. I will not be the one interfacing with the renters at any point... I already have a full time job.

So, do you use an LLC or some other corporate structure? Why or why not?

FWIW- i already own an LLC for my main working gig, so I'm familiar with that it takes to create and maintain one.