11 Actionable Tips for New Landlords

Stepping into property management for the first time offers exciting opportunities for financial growth, but it’s important to navigate your responsibilities as a landlord wisely. Apartment Resource Group specializes in helping property owners maximize rental income, improve tenant retention, and streamline property management services across the nation. Here’s a practical beginner’s guide packed with actionable tips, legal knowledge, and proven strategies for a smooth landlord experience.

Apartment Rent Pricing

  • Analyze local listings with a competitive rent analysis before setting your price.
  • Highlight popular amenities—like smart home features or pet-friendly policies—to help with apartment rent pricing.
  • Factor mortgage, insurance, and operational costs into your rental property cash flow estimates.
  • Review city rent control requirements to stay compliant.

Rental Property Cash Flow

  • Use property management software to track rental income and expenses.
  • Subtract costs such as repairs, taxes, and landlord insurance to gauge monthly profitability.
  • Plan a realistic vacancy budget for periods without tenants.

Renters Insurance Requirements

  • Make renters insurance a standard lease condition for new tenants.
  • Explain the benefits: theft, damage, and accident coverage for the resident, and liability protection for the landlord.
  • Give tenants a list of recommended insurers for tenant protection advice. Or use Apartment Resource Groups FolioGuard Smart Ensure

Lease Agreement Essentials

  • Customize each legal lease agreement to include rules on deposits, guests, and maintenance.
  • Consult a lawyer or property manager to ensure compliance with rental property rules in your state.
  • Update your lease regularly as landlord-tenant laws change.

Tenant Screening Practices

  • Require credit, employment, and reference checks for every applicant.
  • Maintain fair housing compliance at every step of background checks for renters.
  • Choose reliable tenants to minimize future disputes and maximize rental property cash flow.
  • Apartment Resource Group also offer property management consulting if you just need a bit of help.

Understanding Landlord-Tenant Laws

  • Stay current on eviction procedures, deposit rules, and repair requirements for your state.
  • Apartment Resource Group provides updates on all relevant landlord-tenant laws.
  • Prioritize legal compliance to protect investments and avoid fines.

Property Management Services

  • Consider hiring Apartment Resource Group for expert property management services.
  • Save time with professional help for marketing, maintenance, and lease renewals.
  • Many owners discover first-hand the benefits of property managers for stress reduction.

Tenant Turnover Strategies

  • Prepare apartments for showings to lower your average vacancy rate.
  • Budget at least one month’s rent annually for expected rental vacancy strategies.
  • Market proactively before leases expire to attract new quality tenants.

Organizational Tools for Landlords

  • Store leases, payment records, and communication in digital folders for easy access.
  • Create calendar reminders for inspections, rent due dates, and lease renewals.
  • Use rental record keeping tools and property management software for efficiency.

Fostering Tenant Retention

  • Respond quickly to maintenance requests and offer regular apartment renewal incentives.
  • Keep your property clean and functional for higher tenant retention.
  • Communicate respectfully and professionally to build strong relationships.

Upgrading for Rent Growth

  • Invest in energy-efficient appliances or smart locks to justify competitive rent analysis.
  • Regular property updates improve both rental income and resident satisfaction.
  • Consult Apartment Resource Group for upgrade tips that fit your budget.

Apartment Resource Group supports every step of your journey—from first lease to ongoing management. Use these proven tips to maximize profitability, mitigate risk, and keep your rentals fully occupied with happy tenants.

A Win-Win for Renters and Property Owners: How the One Big Beautiful Bill Helps Twin City Rentals Thrive

A Win-Win for Renters and Property Owners: How the One Big Beautiful Bill Helps Twin City Rentals Thrive

As we settle into summer in the Twin Cities, we’re excited to share how recent federal tax reforms are creating opportunities across Minnesota’s rental market. Signed on July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill creates new incentives that help renters gain access to more affordable housing and empower property owners to invest in their communities.

Benefits for Renters — More Affordable Options & Growing Inventory

1. New Affordable Rental Housing Coming Online

  • The bill expands the Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit, projected to produce or preserve over one million affordable rental homes nationwide between 2026 and 2035 (Investopedia).
  • That means more incentives for developers—and more affordable homes available for St. Paul renters in coming years.

2. Mortgage Insurance Deduction Restored

  • Homeownership becomes more accessible thanks to the restored mortgage insurance deduction, which previously helped first-time buyers save an average of $2,364 per tax return (Investopedia).
  • More affordable ownership options can reduce demand pressure on rentals and encourage long-term housing stability.

3. Higher SALT Deduction Caps Benefit High-Taxes States

  • The bracket for the state and local tax (SALT) deduction is increased from $10,000 to $40,000—effective through 2029 (Investopedia).
  • While most impactful in places like New York or California, higher SALT caps help Minnesota households with local property tax burdens—and can generally ease housing cost inflation indirectly.

Benefits for Property Owners — Tax Savings, Cash Flow & Growth

4. Bonus Depreciation & Expensing Revived

  • The legislation restores 100% bonus depreciation through 2029, allowing landlords to fully deduct improvements—like appliances or renovations—immediately, reducing taxable income in early years (Beyond Pricing).
  • Strategic upgrades now can lead to lower taxes and higher property values.

5. Permanent & Enhanced QBI Deduction

  • The Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction for pass-through entities becomes permanent—and is even expanded from 20% to ~23%, depending on income thresholds (Landlord Studio).
  • More landlords using LLCs or S-Corps can benefit from this long-term deduction, boosting profitability.

6. Generational Wealth & Estate Tools for Investors

  • The bill also increases estate and gift tax exemptions, easing generational property transfer and tax-planning (Landlord Studio).
  • That stability helps local landlords invest in improvements and long-term rental strategy.

What It Means for Our Twin City Rentals

  • For Renters: More affordable housing stock is on the way—great news for families navigating St. Paul’s rising rents.
  • For Owners: The expanded tax benefits unlock new reinvestment capital. Whether you’re upgrading units, expanding your portfolio, or refinancing, now’s a prime time to take advantage before key provisions phase out at the end of the decade.

⚠️ A Note on Broader Economic Context

While the bill brings tax savings and investment incentives, some critics note cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP that could affect lower-income households (The Guardian). That’s why while tax benefits flow through, it’s essential to stay mindful of economic pressures that may affect tenants’ ability to pay rent.

✅ Our Advice: Act Strategically and Invest Wisely

  • Property owners: Work with your CPA or tax advisor to align upgrades, bonus depreciation, and entity structure before restrictions begin to sunset in 2029––2030, depending on the provision.
  • Renters seeking affordability: Watch for new affordable rental units funded by expanded housing tax credits, likely becoming available in the coming years.

At Apartment Resource Group, we’re committed to helping St. Paul and surround area landlords and renters make the most of these changes—whether it’s identifying homes eligible for investment incentives or vetting affordable units when they become available. Reach out anytime to learn how these federal policies can benefit your next rental decision.

Bottom line: The One Big Beautiful Bill is reshaping rental-market economics—from stimulating affordable housing supply to turbocharging landlord tax benefits. Whether you rent or invest, the next few years offer exciting opportunities—and we’re here to guide you through them.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only. Please consult a tax professional regarding your specific situation.

2025 Housing Market Outlook: How New Policies Could Boost Property Acquisition

As we look ahead to 2025, potential changes in political administration policies could impact property acquisition processes. While specific outcomes remain uncertain, several trends and proposed changes may affect the real estate landscape:

Potential Easing of Regulations

Some proposed policy changes aim to streamline property acquisition processes:

  • The Uniform Act (URA) Final Rule changes for 2024 have increased waiver valuation thresholds for property acquisitions, potentially reducing administrative burdens for lower-value acquisitions.
  • There are discussions about revising loan limit determinations and providing more flexibility for shorter-term mortgage products, which could make property acquisition more accessible for some buyers.

Possible Economic Shifts

Economic factors play a crucial role in property acquisition:

  • Central banks are considering loosening monetary policies, which could lead to lower interest rates. This may make financing property acquisitions more affordable2.
  • According to Deloitte and their research centers, Over 68% of commercial real estate professionals expect improved conditions in 2025 for factors like cost of capital, capital availability, and transaction activity.

Potential Changes in Housing Policies

Some proposed policy changes could affect housing accessibility:

  • There are discussions about restricting eligibility for first-time homebuyers in certain programs, which could impact who can acquire properties through these channel (DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT).
  • Proposals to enhance local autonomy in federal rental assistance subsidies may affect how some individuals access housing

In addition to potential national changes, Minnesota has some proposed local policies for 2025 that could impact property acquisition:

Affordable Housing Initiatives

The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency has outlined plans in their 2024-2025 Affordable Housing Plan to invest $4.5 billion in housing programs over the two-year period. This includes:

  • $215 million for downpayment assistance, primarily for first-generation homebuyers
  • $35 million for manufactured housing communities, including funds for community ownership, infrastructure, home purchase, renovation, and repair

These initiatives aim to make housing more accessible and affordable for Minnesotans, potentially creating new opportunities for property acquisition.

Property Tax Changes

Minnesota has enacted legislation that will affect property taxes starting in 2025:

  • A new tax classification (4d(2)) has been established for owner-occupied housing on land owned by municipal or non-profit community land trusts, with a tax capacity rate of 0.75%
  • The tax capacity rate for certain affordable housing properties (4d(1)) has been reduced to 0.25% for all market value, which will result in lower property taxes for these properties

These changes could make certain types of property ownership more financially attractive, particularly for affordable housing initiatives.

Rental Property Regulations

New landlord-tenant laws passed in the 2024 legislative session will take effect on January 1, 2025. While specific details are limited, these changes are expected to impact various aspects of rental property management, potentially affecting the attractiveness of rental property acquisition.These local policy changes, combined with potential national shifts, underscore the importance of staying informed and seeking expert guidance when considering property acquisition in Minnesota in 2025 and beyond.

Risk Mitigation

As a licensed brokerage in the state of MN with over 20 years experience we have helped many property owners acquire their dream properties and manage them too!. We can help better positioned you to identify and address potential issues before they become costly problems. While it’s certainly possible to navigate property acquisition on your own, the complexities involved often make professional assistance a wise investment. It’s about more than just finding a property; it’s about making informed decisions that align with your long-term objectives. Let us help you acquire your dream property today. CLICK HERE to to start the conversation.