Property Management Blog

By Aaron Zimmerman

How Accountants Contribute to Your Business

Tax preparation and tax planning are two valuable services offered by the best CPA (Certified Public Accountants)/EA (Enrolled Agents). In this article, I'll detail some ways a skilled accountant can help your business. Tax preparation is ensuring you and your rental bus...

By Tom Shallcross

What is Debt Service Coverage Ratio?

What is Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) and as a Chicago real estate investor why should you care? DSCR is a measurement of your property’s net cash flow compared to your debt obligation. To calculate your DSCR you take your annual net operating income (NOI) and divide b...

By Aaron Zimmerman

Multi-member LLCs for Taxes: The Inside Scoop

LLCs are often talked about in real estate circles. Everyone knows about the asset-protection benefits that LLCs provide. And, as it turns out, many people also don't realize that LLCs can save them a substantial amount of money on their taxes, too. In this article, I'll ...

By Tom Shallcross

How Chicago Investors Benefit From the NSBC

By: Tom Shallcross, an interview with Nicky DeLeon and Jeff WeinbergI had the pleasure of sitting down with Nicky DeLeon and Jeff Weinberg who head-up the Northwest Side Building Coalition (NSBC). The NSBC is one of several great organizations within the Neighborhood Building Own...

By Mark Ainley

THE CLOSING STATEMENT: A TREASURE TROVE OF VALUABLE INFORMATION

When you close on a property, at the closing you'll receive the Closing Disclosure. This will show you, amongst other things, your principal and interest, mortgage insurance, escrow amounts, and cash to close. However, there's so much more information that becomes va...

By Aaron Zimmerman

RETIREMENT ACCOUNT FOR THE SELF EMPLOYED

While it is increasingly more popular to become an entrepreneur, there also needs to be some consideration for setting yourself up for future growth. In traditional W-2 jobs, there are 401(k)’s that function as excellent retirement vehicles with some restrictions. When you&...

By Tom Shallcross

CHICAGO’S ADU ORDINANCE - WHAT INVESTORS NEED TO KNOW

At the end of 2020, Chicago approved the Additional Dwelling Units (ADU) ordinance in hopes to leverage the city’s existing housing inventory to provide affordable housing options. The program identified five pilot areas within the city in hopes of incentivising building ow...

By Mark Ainley

3 Common Myths Beginner Real Estate Investors Believe

Each year, thousands of people get into real estate investing. Some see it as a speedy way to profit. This happens because the “get rich quick” attitude can lead to bad results for beginner investors.Newbies tend to go into the “win or bust” mode. They put...

By Mark Ainley

SELLER FINANCING 101

Have you ever wondered about seller financing? As an investor, I'm sure you're aware of how advantageous seller financing can be for a buyer. However few buyers realize that sellers can benefit as well. This article will help clear up any confusion and explain the ins and...

By Aaron Zimmerman

Passive activity losses—what are they, and do you need to know about them?

In this article, I'll discuss the basics of passive activity losses. This can be a complicated topic, but I'll boil it down to its essential elements. I'll start by discussing what PALs are and where they're formed, then move on to how you can use them up in...