Real estate guides
Plain-English guides to the decisions behind the calculators — selling, renting, flipping, and the tax rules that quietly drive the math.
What Is a 1031 Exchange?
A 1031 exchange lets you defer capital gains and depreciation recapture when you sell investment property — if you follow the rules exactly. Here's how it works.
Read guide →The 1% and 2% Rules for Rental Property
The 1% and 2% rules are quick rent-to-price screens for rental deals. What they mean, why they're so hard to hit now, and the better checks to run next.
Read guide →Should I Sell or Rent My Inherited House?
Inherited a house and unsure whether to sell or rent it out? Here's how the stepped-up basis, capital gains, and cash flow math actually work — with a framework for deciding.
Read guide →Renting Out Your House to Buy Another Home
Thinking of keeping your first home as a rental when you buy the next one? Here's how the second mortgage, the tax clock, and the cash flow really work.
Read guide →How to Estimate ARV (After Repair Value)
ARV drives every flip offer, and getting it wrong is how flippers lose money. Here's how to estimate after-repair value from comps the way investors actually do it.
Read guide →How to Analyze a Medium-Term Rental
Medium-term rentals earn 20–40% more than long-term leases — but furnishing and utilities change the math. Here's how to run the numbers before you buy.
Read guide →How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House?
Selling a house usually costs 8–12% of the sale price once everything is counted. Here's the full itemized breakdown — and why your net proceeds aren't your profit.
Read guide →How Much Does It Cost to Flip a House?
Flipping a house costs far more than purchase plus renovation. Here's the full budget — financing, holding, and the second set of closing costs — bucket by bucket.
Read guide →Capital Gains Tax When You Sell a Rental Property
Selling a rental? The tax bill is usually bigger than owners expect. Here's how the gain, the 25% depreciation recapture, and the extra taxes actually stack up.
Read guide →Cap Rate vs Cash-on-Cash Return
Cap rate and cash-on-cash return measure two different things and often disagree on the same property. Here's what each one tells you and when to trust it.
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