Don't forget too, as rents increase, improvements will likely be needed too.Reminds me of the little kid who going into the room with the Christmas tree seeing his new train set running, after playing with it, he looks at the book that came with the train set.

I just recieved an email from Austin Institute of Real Estate running a christmas special for $229.

Hi Josiah,The Christmas party is always a good time.

But my husband is very kind-hearted and did not feel we should send such a better for this Christmas season.

If the landlord cannot evict on Christmas day for non-payment then you are in the wrong business.Landlords try to reason with tenants emotionally, in dollars and sense,etc.Tenants will manipulate whoever they can that is listening.

I'm in it for the long run so I have to be about the journey and not the trophy.

The 3-BR I just started last month, and booking rate so far is about 70 to 80% occupancy.Both places are competitively priced based on size, area, etc.Peak months are the summer and winter months, with random/specific events near by in between that bring in a wave of renters [Valentine's week, Christmas, events in Pocono raceway, etc].Both properties bring in about 5% income for me, but I am not sure if a unit 3x more expensive and 3x nicer as my 3-BR will bring in 3x the income.

Think about the stories that hit every Christmas about a Chinese toy factory using lead-based paint.  

Maybe I am soft and lazy (I'm definitely lazy) but I inherited a tenant who is paying below market rent in a property I purchased around Christmas time last year. 

I just traded in my car (BMW 650) and took a massive hit on it because I left the top down in the rain and it was lit up like a Christmas tree and I just didn't want to own it anymore and the thought of fixing and/or selling it myself made me want to gag.