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.
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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
Loan Estimate vs Closing Disclosure: What Changed in 3 Days?
Federal law gives you a Closing Disclosure at least 3 business days before closing so you can compare it line by line against your Loan Estimate.
Listing Photos That Sell: A Room-by-Room Shot List (2024)
Homes with professional-quality listing photos sell up to 32% faster, and the difference usually comes down to 12 specific shots, not a fancy camera.
Life Estates and the Step-Up in Basis, Explained (2024)
A life estate can pass your home to heirs at death with a full step-up in basis, wiping out capital gains tax that a lifetime gift would trigger.
Lender-Paid vs Borrower-Paid PMI: Which Costs Less?
Borrower-paid PMI cancels automatically at 78% loan-to-value, while lender-paid PMI is baked into your rate for the life of the loan.
Lease-Writing Mistakes That Come Back to Bite Owner-Operators
A vague late-fee clause or a missing pet policy can cost owner-operators thousands in unpaid rent, lost eviction cases, and fair housing complaints.
Lease-Option vs Lease-Purchase: Rent-to-Own Differences 2026
A lease-option gives a tenant the choice to buy later, while a lease-purchase legally obligates them to buy, and that one word changes everything.
Lease-Break Payments From a Tenant — Taxable or Not? (2026)
A lease-break payment from a tenant is taxable rental income in the year you receive it, reported on Schedule E like any other rent.
Landlord-Tenant Law by State: How Rules Really Differ (2026)
There is no single "landlord-tenant law" — each state sets its own deposit caps, notice periods, and eviction timelines, and mixing them up can cost you a case.
Kick-Out Clauses Explained: Keeping Your Home Sale on Track
A kick-out clause lets sellers keep marketing their home and gives a buyer 48 to 72 hours to remove a contingency or lose the deal.
Is There a Cap on How Much an HOA Can Raise Dues? (2024)
Most states set no dollar cap on HOA dues, but California limits board-only increases to 20% a year without a membership vote.
Is PMI Tax-Deductible? The 2024-2025 Answer
PMI hasn't been tax-deductible on federal returns since the write-off expired after tax year 2021, though Congress could still revive it retroactively.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy a House? How to Decide (2025)
Mortgage rates near 6.8% and rising insurance costs mean the right time to buy depends on your finances, not the headlines you're reading.
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