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
Repair or Replace a Home System? The 50% Rule Explained
The 50% rule says replace a home system when repair costs exceed half its replacement price, but age and safety often matter more than the math.
Renting vs. Owning: The Hidden Costs People Forget (2024)
Owning a home typically costs 1-4% of its value in upkeep every year, a figure most first-time buyers never budget for at all.
Renting Out an ADU or In-Law Suite: A Tax Guide for Beginners
Renting an ADU or in-law suite means splitting your home's expenses by square footage and reporting the rent as income the IRS expects to see on Schedule E.
Renting Out a Spare Room: How It Changes Your Home Taxes
The IRS treats a rented spare room as a business asset the moment you collect rent, which can shrink your home-sale tax exclusion later.
Renting a Room to a Roommate: Leases, Taxes & Rules (2026)
Renting out a spare room means reporting the income on Schedule E or C, screening the roommate like any tenant, and putting house rules in writing.
Rent Increase Notice Requirements by State: 2026 Chart
California requires 90 days' notice for rent increases over 10%, while most states only require 30 days — here's the state-by-state breakdown for 2026.
Oregon Rent Increase Laws 2026: The Statewide Cap Explained
Oregon caps most rent increases at 7% plus the West Region CPI, capped at 10% a year, and landlords must give 90 days' notice.
California Rent Increase Laws 2026: Caps, Notice, Exemptions
California caps most rent increases at 5% plus local inflation, up to a 10% ceiling, under the statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482).
Rent Control 2026: States and Cities Capping Rent Increases
California caps most rent increases at 10% in 2026, but Oregon, Washington, and dozens of cities set their own limits — here's what applies where.
Rent-Back Agreements: Stay in Your Home After Closing
A rent-back agreement lets you sell your home and pay the new owner rent to stay 1-60 days past closing, but it needs a written contract, not a handshake.
Removing an HOA Board Member for Missing Meetings: 4 Steps
Most HOA bylaws allow removal of a board member after 3 consecutive unexcused absences, but the process almost always requires a formal vote, not a memo.
Refinancing in Retirement on a Fixed Income: What Changes
Lenders can count Social Security, pensions, and even IRA balances as income when a retiree applies to refinance a mortgage on a fixed budget.
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 →