Importance of Tenant Screening in Houston for Property Managers

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, June 6, 2023

The number of monthly evictions in Houston is far above the pre-pandemic average. Evictions can be a real pain, and no one (tenant or landlord) wants to deal with them. They're somewhat unavoidable, but there is one way to protect yourself against them.Tenant screening may be...

A Houston Landlord's Guide to Security Deposits

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, May 23, 2023

The cost of a security deposit for a rental can range from state to state. Some states limit the amount to one or two months of rent. Others leave the fee amount up to the landlord's discretion.Collecting security deposits before you have a tenant move into a property seems l...

Support Animals vs. Pets: What Landlords Should Know

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, May 9, 2023

More than 32% of pet owners have had their furry friend registered as an emotional support animal. These animals provide their owners with relief and comfort from symptoms they experience from their emotional disabilities. Any species can be considered an emotional support animal...

A Landlord's Guide to Evictions in Houston, TX

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Were you aware that the median gross rent in Texas is almost $1,150 a month?If you have a good number of tenants, then this amount can add up to quite a pretty penny. The problem occurs if you encounter one or more tenants who don't pay their rent on time, if at all. At that ...

A Quick Guide to Texas Real Estate Investing for Beginners

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Did you know that Texas's single-family starts value is worth $2.2 billion? Real estate includes more than just single-family homes, but how can you invest in real estate? Real estate investing takes knowledge, research, and an acceptance of risk.If you're interested in T...

Townhome Property Management: The Benefits of Choosing the Right Team

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Less than 5% of the homes in the Houston, TX, area used to be townhomes. But over the last 15 to 20 years, about 10% of all the new homes built in Houston have been townhomes. This has led to a big spike in the number of townhomes in Houston.Do you own one or more townhomes in Ho...

Seeing-Eye Dogs: What Landlords Need to Know

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, March 7, 2023

There are over 30 million people in Texas right now, and many of them need places to rent. But, some of those people need seeing-eye dogs.Landlords are legally compelled to make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities. This includes allowing them to keep serv...

3 Great Benefits of Offering a Tenant Portal

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Did you know that over 38% of Texan housing units are occupied by renters rather than owners?If you've bought one or more properties and want to rent them out for extra income, you may be wondering what property management services are essential and what ones aren't. One ...

Disabled Tenant Rights: A Guide for Texas Property Owners

By Michael Mengden Tuesday, February 7, 2023

According to the CDS, there are over 5 million adults in Texas that are disabled. There's a good chance that one of your future potential tenants will have one or more disabilities. As a property owner, it is your responsibility to provide acceptable living conditions for all...

Rent Collection: What to Do If Your Tenants Won't Pay

By Michael Mengden Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Everyone has had trouble paying rent at least once in their life. Maybe they had a medical emergency or miscalculated their budget.But what's the best path to take as a landlord when dealing with tenants who haven't paid their rent? While some people work with their landl...