Archives September 2023

Operating as a landlord is one of the best ways to pursue a career in real estate. For that matter, few exit strategies have proven more capable of generating long-term profits and facilitating financial independence. It is worth noting, however, that today’s most successful rental property owners are those who know where to invest. The market in which a rental property is located will play an instrumental role in its success or failure. Therefore, landlords must pay special considerations to where they buy their homes. Landlord friendly states, for example, warrant a great deal of consideration.

What Factors Make States Landlord Friendly?

From tenant-landlord laws to taxes and insurance rates, landlords in every state are expected to abide by countless rules and regulations. However, it is worth noting that many of the regulations put in place to maintain order are extremely localized. Outside of a few nationally recognized exceptions, many of the laws governing landlord and tenant relations change from state to state. As a result, several existing factors make some states more conducive to the prospect of owning rental properties than others.

While the factors investors find most attractive are essentially subjective, there are approximately six that are universally found in today’s most landlord-friendly states:

• Eviction Process: Evictions are perhaps the most feared aspect of rental property investing, which is why many landlords covet states which ease the process. Subsequently, some states make it a lot easier to evict bad tenants than others. While some tenant-friendly states make it nearly impossible, others tend to side with landlords by making the eviction process as quick and painless as possible, exercising a low tolerance for tenants who breach their leases.
• Landlord & Tenant Rights: Both tenants and landlords are awarded rights in each state, but the degree to which those rights are carried out will vary significantly across state lines. Sometimes, tenant rights are so extreme that they may actually jeopardize the landlord’s financial standing. On the other hand, several states have developed a more balanced reputation that favors each party. As a landlord, it may be in your best interest to invest in states whose laws don’t work against your right to earn a living.
• Rent Control: As its name suggests, rent control is often implemented to control the cost of rent in certain areas. Some states don’t allow landlords to increase rents despite inflation and yearly increases in taxes and utilities. The idea is to prevent ill-intentioned landlords from price gouging tenants, but the laws may hurt well-intentioned landlords trying to earn a living. Therefore, investors looking to become landlords should pay special considerations to any areas under the rent control umbrella.
• Registration & Licenses: There are a number of states that require landlords to acquire both registrations and licenses to actively rent their real estate assets to tenants. The licenses and regulations are, not surprisingly, to prepare homeowners for the prospects of becoming a landlord. That said, many of these credentials cost money, and can be more of a burden to some landlords, so it may be in an investor’s best interest to lease in a landlord-friendly state that doesn’t require them.
• Tax & Insurance Rates: Property taxes, and sometimes even insurance rates, are established by local municipalities. As a result, prospective landlords will want to consider the property taxes imposed on their own assets in the event they rent them out. Consequently, some states have much higher taxes than others, so it may literally pay to look at local taxes before investing in a rental property.
• Competition: The golden rule of real estate investing still reigns true: location, location, location. The location in which an investor chooses to buy a rental property is more important than ever, in fact. Due largely to the amount of competition in each market, investors will want to choose their location wisely. That said, some states inherently have more competition than others.
• Regulations After COVID-19: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about many changes to the real estate industry, including federal and state laws regulating rental properties. These policies mandated eviction moratoriums and rent freezes in certain localities. Many states have begun relaxing the laws set during 2020, and allowing landlords to resume regular operations.

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The Best States For Landlords In 2022 & 2023

There are a great deal of states that have developed a reputation for helping landlords in their investment endeavors, but some states boast inherent advantages over others. Three states, in particular, seem to award landlords with more benefits than just about everywhere else. To that end, some of the most landlord-friendly states in the upcoming year are as follows:

• Texas
• Indiana
• Colorado
• Alabama
• Arizona
• Florida
• Illinois
• Pennsylvania
• Ohio
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• North Carolina

Texas

Out of all the states landlords have found to be the most conducive to investing efforts, none may be more apparent than Texas. As it turns out, Texas offers a wide variety of landlord advantages. Still, the single most important reason has to do with the state’s inclination to take lease violations very seriously. Due largely to Texas’ propensity to favor landlords in lease violations, it’s fairly easy to see why rental property owners are enamored with the prospect of buying assets in the Lone Star State.

In fact, Texas tends to emphasize the preservation of landlords’ rights in the event lease conditions are broken. For that matter, few places facilitate easier relief, compensation, or repossession of the rental unit if the lease terms are violated. That means landlords with well-crafted lease agreements can enjoy more “peace of mind” than their counterparts in just about every other state. If that wasn’t enough, Texas boasts several affordable markets where demand is increasing, and rental asking prices are still desirable.

Indiana

One of the most landlord-friendly attributes of Indiana is the state’s price-to-rent ratio. With a median home value of $145,300, which is well below the national average, the median rent in Indiana is about $1,100. However, it is worth noting that the profit potential isn’t the only reason landlords find Indiana to be such a great place to own a rental property. In addition to attractive rental rates, the rules that govern security deposits lean heavily in favor of landlords. Laws in the state of Indiana allow landlords to retain security deposits for 45 days. As a result, landlords may take an appropriate amount of time to determine whether they need to use the deposit on any damages caused by tenants. Other states don’t give the landlord enough time to evaluate the property, potentially leading to them giving back the deposit when some of it should have been kept.

Colorado

Colorado is unique in that it is one of the few states where local law enforcement takes the landlord’s side. Whereas many states protect the tenants’ rights at the expense of the landlord, Colorado does the opposite. As a result, the process of evicting a tenant for unpaid rent is made simpler. Any demand for compliance notices initiated by the landlord is limited to 72 hours. Tenants are given two options at that time: pay their landlords or leave the property. After the demand for compliance expires, tenants are given a mere 48 hours to get out of the home. Other states, however, may allow the eviction process to drag on for far too long, effectively ruining any profit potential for the owner.

Alabama

Many of the state laws in Alabama make it an attractive state for landlords. Property tax rates are the second-lowest in the country at just 0.42%, making real estate investing options attractive. Landlords can raise the rent as long as they provide a 30-day notice. Rental laws prevent tenants from withholding rent if a landlord does not make repairs to the property. Also, landlords are favored in the eviction process in Alabama. If a tenant breaches the rental agreement, landlords can give a 14-day notice to end the lease. If tenants do not pay the rent, the landlord can give a 7-day notice of eviction. Alabama state laws do not cover late rent fees, meaning that landlords have the freedom to set their own prices for late rent fees. 

Arizona

Similar to Alabama, landlords can raise the rent on their property with a 30-day notice. Landlords in Arizona are favored in the eviction process. If a tenant fails to pay rent or fails to maintain the property, the landlord can give a 5-day notice to rectify the situation. If a tenant breaches the rental agreement, the landlord can give a 10-day notice. If the issue is not rectified, the landlord can then file an eviction lawsuit. In more cases of more serious violations, such as vomiting a crime on the property, a landlord can give an unconditional quit notice to vacate the property within 10 days.

Florida

Although Florida has one of the highest population of renters in the US, the laws in this state lack detail, creating favorable circumstances for landlords and the freedom to set many of their own rental guidelines. For instance, as long as it is returned within 60 days after a tenant vacates the property, there is no limit to the amount a landlord can charge for a security deposit. Rent control is prohibited in Florida, and landlords can set their own price for late rent fees. If a tenant is destroying the property, landlords can give a 7-day notice to vacate before proceeding with eviction lawsuits. 

Illinois

Landlords in Illinois can also set their own prices for a security deposit for their rental properties. The security must be returned within 45 days unless the tenant owes money in rent or has caused damage to the property. Late fees are limited to $20 or 20% of the rent. If a tenant breaks the lease terms, landlords can give a 10-day notice to vacate the property before proceeding with the eviction process. 

Pennsylvania

The eviction laws in Pennsylvania are also attractive to landlords in Pennsylvania. If the tenant fails to pay rent or violates the lease terms, the landlord can issue a 10-day notice to pay or move out. After 10 days, the landlord can begin the legal eviction process. The average rental income in this state is around $1,300, which is an attractive cash flow for rental owners. Cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have different landlord-tenant laws than the state, so be sure to research these regulations when investing in Pennsylvania. 

Ohio

Becoming a landlord in Ohio comes with the potential for tax write-offs such as mortgage appreciation and improvements made to the property. Also, the eviction process favors the landlord in this state. If a tenant fails to pay rent, the tenant must move out of the property within three days after receiving notice from the landlord.

Georgia

Georgia is another state with informal eviction laws, allowing landlords to quickly resolve issues with unpaid rent. After landlords issue an eviction notice, tenants have seven days (unless otherwise specified) to pay rent. If they do not, landlords can begin court proceedings to remove tenants if necessary. There are also no limits on late rental fees or security deposits in Georgia, thus providing landlords with more flexibility to establish these numbers based on the property. 

Kentucky

Rental laws in Kentucky fail to specify limits on late fees or security deposits. Landlords can use the security deposit funds for any damage done to the unit, unpaid rent, or other costs incurred by the tenants. Kentucky also has extremely lenient eviction laws. Landlords can begin the eviction process with a seven-day notice to tenants. For any other lease violations, landlords only need to provide a 15-day notice to begin the eviction process (if the tenant does not fix the issue). 

Michigan

Michigan allows landlords to deduct damages from a tenants’ security deposit, and allows them to hold onto the deposit for up to a month after tenants vacate a unit. Michigan is also known for looser laws on rental rates and fees charged by landlords. Note that Michigan does have a slightly higher property tax rate than the national average. However, the protections built in for landlords can be beneficial for property owners. 

North Carolina

North Carolina is a rapidly growing market, largely due to the low cost of living and tax rates. For landlords, there are numerous policies that can help when managing properties. First, in cases of a lease violation landlords do not have notice requirements before initiating an eviction. However, in cases where rent is not paid, landlords must give a ten-day notice before starting the eviction process. Landlords are not obligated to renew the lease or rental agreement. 

Summary

While great rental markets exist in every state, there’s no doubt that some states reward investors who choose to set up shop in certain locations. Make no mistake, certain states are better to invest in than others. For example, landlord-friendly states tend to place the rights of homeowners ahead of their tenants, which bodes incredibly well for any rental property portfolio. These states tend to favor landlords in the eviction process and offer low property taxes. Combined with great cash flow, there’s no reason landlord friendly states can’t simultaneously put an asset over the top while mitigating risk. Therefore, pay special considerations to the rules in regulations in your particular state.

If you’re considering buying a rental property, familiarizing yourself with the best rental markets in the country could go a long way in preparing you to invest in your first buy-and-hold asset. Aside from being some of the best cities to invest in real estate, today’s best places to buy rental property can teach us a lot about how to invest in specific locations. The location you choose to invest in will ultimately determine the viability and success of any assets you acquire. After all, those who know how to read and interpret market indicators will know where the best rental markets reside. Keep reading to learn where the best places to invest in real estate long term are, and why investors should be excited.

Best Rental Markets In 2023

Rent growth in 2022 was attributed to supply and demand constraints in the housing sector. Historically low interest rates, pent-up demand, and years of government stimuli created a competitive market—the likes of which had never been seen before. At the same time, inventory was unable to keep up with the pace of buying activity; there simply weren’t enough homes to keep up with demand. As a result, even those who wanted to buy were relegated to the renter pool in 2022, causing rents to spike. In response to higher home prices and rental rates, many households used the work-from-home trends created by the pandemic to relocate to the Sunbelt.

As we get closer to turning the page on 2022, however, the best rental markets are starting to shift to the Midwest. Over the latter part of 2022, the Midwest has seen some of the fastest rental rate growth in the country, and 2023 doesn’t appear as if it will put an end to the momentum. The convergence of record rent increases and inflation is forcing more people to move back in with families or roommates, or even delay renting altogether.

The shift in sentiment has also changed the best places to buy a rental property in 2023. Instead of focusing on the Midwest, as investors have done throughout 2022, the best rental markets in 2023 are looking more and more like the following:

• Chicago, Illinois
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Columbus, Ohio
• Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Louisville, Kentucky
• New York, New York
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Spokane, Washington
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• San Diego, California

Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago real estate market looks well positioned to be one of the best rental markets in 2023. If for no other reason, Chicago represents the third-largest metropolitan area in the United States. With more than 50.0% of the city’s population already locked into a rental agreement, buying a rental property in Chicago is just as much of a volume play as it is a smart decision. The number of potential renters in a city with relatively high private sector employment bodes well for investors looking to fill units. Additionally, Chicago could see its number of renters grow over the course of 2023. With a mere 16.8 weeks of supply in the housing sector, there aren’t nearly enough homes to keep up with buyers. Those who can’t buy will be forced to rent and drive up demand in a city that already has peak competition. Rents have already risen about 7.3% over the last 12 months. If interest rates continue to spike and home affordability continues to crumble, there’s no reason to think rents won’t march even higher in 2023.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Owning a rental property in the Cincinnati real estate market is growing more attractive with each passing day. With local rents growing about 6.0% in the last six months alone, Cincinnati has one of the fastest metro-level rent growth rates in the country. The rise in rental rates appears to be attributed to the city’s relative affordability. With that in mind, more people are looking to Cincinnati in an attempt to escape today’s high prices. With a median sales price somewhere in the neighborhood of $230,000, Cincinnati real estate is more affordable than the national average and, therefore, one of the last bastions of affordable housing. The added action, however, is straining the city’s 11.4 weeks of supply. Not unlike just about everywhere else, there aren’t enough homes to satiate buyers. As a result, local rents are expected to increase significantly as buyers are turned away from purchasing and towards renting. 

Columbus, Ohio

One of the best places to buy a rental property in 2023 is shaping up to be the Columbus real estate marketin Ohio. Similar to Cincinnati, Columbus has seen a lot of extra attention over the course of 2022. At $246,515, the median home value in Columbus is well below the national average. Due to the city’s relative affordability, more people are looking to call it home. However, Columbus only has about 13.1 weeks of inventory; not nearly enough to keep up with demand. The imbalance between competition and inventory has created more demand for rentals, increasing rents as much as 6.0% over the last six months. Looking into 2023, demand for real estate in Columbus will increase as more people look to escape less affordable markets. When supply fails to keep up with demand, more renters will enable landlords to increase rental rates, making Columbus one of the best rental markets in 2023.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

While rents in the Grand Rapids real estate market haven’t increased at quite the same pace as the previously mentioned cities, 2023 is starting to look like a great year for passive income investors. For starters, landlords will see plenty of demand thanks to the city’s distinct lack of inventory. With 7.0 weeks of supply, inventory is nowhere near capable of keeping up with demand. Subsequently, Grand Rapids is expected to see a steady influx of net migration due to the city’s relative affordability. More households will be forced to rent, regardless of whether they can afford to buy. Discrepancies in supply and demand have already resulted in a 5.4% increase in rents over the last year, and there’s nothing to suggest the trend won’t continue. As a result, investors will see plenty of demand for their rental units, giving them the ability to increase asking prices accordingly.

Louisville, Kentucky

While not technically part of the Midwest, the Louisville real estate market is benefiting from the same migration trends as the rest of the best rental markets on this list. Most notably, renters are choosing to call Louisville home because it represents a more affordable real estate market. The median home value in Kentucky is about $125,000 less than the national average, serving as an affordable alternative for anyone who was granted work-from-home privileges over the course of the pandemic. The added attention on the Louisville market will pose a significant challenge for local inventory levels. With a little more than two months of inventory, demand greatly outweighs supply. The lack of inventory has already increased rents by 8.1% over the last 12 months. Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that more people moving to Louisville in search of affordable living situations will ironically increase rental rates.

New York, New York

Few cities across the country have proven to be a better market to be a landlord in than New York. In the last six months, metro-level rent growth increased upwards of 5.0%, trailing behind only Columbus and Cincinnati. However, unlike its Ohio counterparts, New York hasn’t seen an influx of demand because of affordability. Instead, the New York real estate market is finally starting to get its legs underneath it. With what looks like the worst of the pandemic in the rearview mirror, New York is starting to fire on all cylinders. People are going back to the office, and landlords are seeing more demand for their units. New York landlords have already been able to increase rents at an attractive rate, and current trends suggest they will continue to be able to do so—at least for the foreseeable future. 

Phoenix, Arizona

Only a handful of metropolitan areas have seen their rents increase as much as the Phoenix real estate market over the last three years. Since the beginning of the pandemic, in fact, rents in Phoenix have increased by about 32.0%. Only seven other cities with a population greater than one million saw rents increase at a faster rate than Phoenix since the first quarter of 2020. The increase was directly correlated to the market’s relative affordability and households’ inclination towards warmer weather during the pandemic. Rent increases have cooled off in recent months, but Phoenix remains a destination for both older generations on the brink of retirement and up-and-coming tech industry employees. Demand from several generations of buyers and renters will make Phoenix one of the best rental markets in 2023.

Spokane, Washington

While separated by an entire state, the Spokane real estate market is benefiting from its more expensive neighbors to the West: Seattle and Portland. Both Portland and Seattle have seen exorbitantly expensive home values lead to a mass exodus. In search of more affordable living arrangements, many households have set their sights on Spokane. With a population that barely eclipses 200,000 people, Spokane is a relatively small city receiving a lot of attention. Demand for housing has already increased home values 12.6% over the last year. Additionally, Spokane’s 11.9 week of supply can’t keep up with the net migration. As a result, the rental market has become the beneficiary of an influx of demand. Spokane real estate investors with units for rent will most likely be able to avoid vacancies with ease and increase rental rates in 2023, making it one of the best rental markets to invest in.

Raleigh, North Carolina

The Raleigh real estate market was a beneficiary of the new migration patterns created by the pandemic. Local home values have increased about 56.3% since COVID-19 was officially declared a global emergency. In that time, rents have increased a slightly more modest (but nonetheless impressive) 32.9%. As more people chose to call Raleigh home, landlords and sellers were able to increase their prices at a historic pace. That said, residents haven’t chosen to flee Raleigh as prices rise. If anything, more people are looking to call Raleigh home in 2023, which suggests it may be one of the best rental markets in 2023.

San Diego, California

Many of the hottest real estate markets in 2022 were located in the Sun Belt. As more people were granted permission to work from home during the pandemic, many households chose to relocate to warmer locations. The San Diego real estate market, in particular, saw an incredible influx of demand when buyers and renters prioritized cities with warmer weather. The resulting demand increased rents and home values almost exponentially over the last three years. Landlords have been able to increase rents as much as 5.0% in the last six months alone. That said, higher home values and rents haven’t scared away potential buyers and renters; if anything, demand remains largely intact. As a result, local landlords will find that they can simultaneously lower the risk of vacancies and increase rents in 2023.

Top Factors That Affect A Rental Property Investment

There are countless factors that play into a location’s rental viability. The sheer number of variables that have even the slightest impact on an area’s rental property performance is staggering. That said, not all indicators are created equal; there are some factors that affect a rental property investment inherently more than others, not the least of which include:

• Location
• Economy
• Vacancies & Listings
• Future Development

Location

First and foremost, the golden rule of real estate investing is still alive and well: location, location, location. Investing in a rental property with at least some success is always contingent on the area in which it is located. The location of the respective property will determine everything else I’ll discuss henceforth.

Before considering a subject property, you need to pick a location that facilitates a healthy rental market. Specifically, pay special consideration to the economy’s health, demand, job opportunities, new home construction, unemployment rates, household income, affordability, and anything else that could potentially influence a renter’s decision to live in the area. Even the best rental property in a poor location doesn’t stand a chance when all is said and done. You need to invest in an area that people want to call home and where demand will persist for the foreseeable future.

Economy

The local economy will play an integral role in determining the best places to buy rental property. Here’s a list of some of the most important economic factors you’ll need to consider when looking at the location in which a rental property is situated:

• The number of sales of existing homes
• The prices of existing homes
• The volume of new construction
• The local economy
• Population trends
• Unemployment rates
• Job growth
• Median household incomes
• Affordability

While this list is not exhaustive, each of these indicators will play an essential part in determining whether or not an area is worth investing in. Positive trends in each would likely suggest the location is ready to be invested in, but economic indicators are not mutually exclusive. Darren Nix, Founder of Steadily Landlord Insurance, adds that “investors should watch for new home costs. When the costs start to decrease, there will be less demand for existing homes and rentals”. While it’s better to have everything working in an area’s favor, a rental market can thrive with just a few of these factors on its side.

Vacancies & Listings

Mind due diligence and pay close attention to the ratio of vacancies relative to the number of listings in a particular area. An unusually high number of listings, for example, could represent one of two scenarios: either the neighborhood is currently in the middle of a seasonal cycle, or it is trending downwards. It is in your best interest to discern what the listing ratio in a particular area means for an impending investment.

Take note of the area’s vacancy rate, too. At the very least, vacancy rates will give you an idea of what sort of demand to expect. Low vacancy rates could be a good sign, as demand appears intact and active. High vacancy rates, however, could suggest poor conditions. Additionally, lower demand could force landlords to lower rates to attract tenants, not unlike yourself.

Future Development

Areas with future development projects in the pipeline are typically representative of a healthy market. Most likely, projects have broken ground because the area has shown promise, which bodes well for rental property investors. Conversely, a distinct lack of development suggests there is reason to avoid the area. Therefore, you’ll want to contact the local municipal planning department to gather information on all the new projects currently underway or will be sometime soon.

Summary

Finding the best places to buy rental property, or at the very least the best market near you, is essential whether you are purchasing your first or your fourth buy and hold property. Luckily, several indicators can help you choose an optimal location. These factors range from local economic markers to average vacancy rates and population trends. A great place to start is always looking at the year’s best rental markets. Although, these cities are just the beginning. Pay attention to the factors defining these emerging real estate markets and allow them to guide your search for the best location for your investment.