Okoniq Journal
Property tips, taxes & HOA guides
Plain-language guides for homeowners, landlords, and HOA boards — written to help you stay organized and keep more of your money at tax time.
Browse by topic
Getting Started
New to managing property? Start here.
Taxes & Accounting
Deductions, basis, Schedule E, and staying audit-ready.
Renting & Tenants
Leases, rent, screening, and tenant relationships.
Maintenance & Repairs
Upkeep, vendors, and keeping a home in shape.
Mortgage & Money
Financing, refinancing, insurance, and cash flow.
Buying & Selling
Valuation, prepping to sell, and the closing process.
HOA & Community
Boards, reserves, meetings, and living in an HOA.
Latest articles
Supplemental Property Tax Bills Explained: What Owners Pay
A supplemental property tax bill arrives after a sale or new construction, often within 6-12 months, and it's separate from your regular annual bill.
Supplemental Property Tax Bills After Buying: What to Know
Supplemental tax bills arrive 3-12 months after closing and cover the gap between the seller's old assessed value and your new purchase price.
Sump Pump Battery Backup: Why Finished Basements Need One
A sump pump battery backup keeps water moving out of your basement during the exact moment you're most likely to need it — a power outage in a storm.
Summer Home Maintenance Checklist: Beat the Heat, Save $$
A 90°F attic can push your AC to run 40% longer, so a mid-June checklist catches the five summer problems that cost the most later.
Subletting vs Assignment: What's the Difference for Landlords?
Subletting keeps the original tenant on the hook to you, while assignment hands the entire lease to a new person and releases the old one.
State HOA Complaint & Ombudsman Programs: Where to Turn
At least 15 states run an HOA ombudsman or complaint office, and Florida's regulator alone logged over 3,000 HOA complaints in 2023.
Standard Deduction vs Itemizing After You Buy a Home: 2026
Buying a home adds two new itemized deductions to your return, but they only help if their total beats the current standard deduction amount.
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist for Homeowners (2025)
A spring home maintenance checklist covering roof, foundation, HVAC filters, and safety devices, with the 10 tasks that catch $500+ problems before summer.
Spring Cleaning for Home Systems, Not Just Closets (2025)
A 30-minute spring check of your furnace filter, gutters, and outlets can catch $500+ repairs before summer heat and storms make them worse.
Special Assessments & Mello-Roos Taxes — Are They Deductible?
Most Mello-Roos and HOA special assessments aren't deductible because the IRS treats them as payment for a specific improvement, not a general tax.
Source-of-Income Laws 2026: Can You Say No to Section 8?
As of 2026, at least 22 states plus Washington D.C. legally ban landlords from rejecting tenants solely for using a Section 8 voucher.
Solar Panels on a Rental: Can Landlords Claim the Tax Credit?
Landlords generally cannot claim the 30% residential solar tax credit on a rental unless they also live there, but a separate business credit may apply.
Get free property tips by email
New guides on taxes, rent, and maintenance — sent as we write them, not on a schedule. No schedule, no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer to dive in? Get started free →