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
What Temperature Should You Set Your Water Heater? (120°F Rule)
120°F is the setting most safety agencies recommend for water heaters — hot enough to stop bacteria, cool enough to prevent scalds in under 3 seconds.
What Solar Salespeople Won't Tell You: 7 Facts Before You Sign
A 25-year solar lease often outlasts your roof by 15 years, and most contracts make you pay to remove and reinstall panels for repairs.
What Size Wire for 15, 20, and 30 Amp Circuits? (NEC Guide)
A 15 amp circuit needs 14 AWG copper wire, 20 amp needs 12 AWG, and 30 amp needs 10 AWG — mismatching these is a fire hazard, not a shortcut.
What Size Generator Does Your House Actually Need? (2024 Guide)
Most homes need a 7,000 to 10,000-watt generator to run essentials, but a whole-house unit for central AC often requires 20,000 watts or more.
What SEER2 Means and How High You Actually Need (2024)
SEER2 replaced SEER in January 2023 with a tougher lab test, so a 14 SEER2 unit cools about the same as an old 15 SEER unit.
What Repairs Landlords Are Responsible For — The Real Rules
A $2,500 per-invoice safe harbor lets landlords deduct many repairs immediately, but the line between a repair and an improvement decides everything else.
What "Repairability" Means When Buying Appliances (2024)
Repairability means a technician can open the appliance, get parts within days, and fix it for less than half the replacement cost.
What Renters Insurance Covers That Landlord Policy Doesn't (2024)
A landlord's dwelling policy covers the building's structure and appliances, but it won't pay a dime to replace a tenant's stolen laptop or ruined furniture.
What Professional Lawn Care Should Really Cost a Year (2024)
A quarter-acre lawn with weekly mowing, fertilization, and seasonal cleanup typically runs $1,800 to $3,600 a year in most US markets.
What New Seamless Gutters Should Really Cost Per Foot in 2024
Seamless aluminum gutters typically run $8 to $12 per linear foot installed, with copper and steel pushing that to $20-$40 per foot.
What New Fiber-Cement Siding Should Really Cost in 2024
Fiber-cement siding runs $8 to $14 per square foot installed in 2024, meaning a 2,000-square-foot home typically costs $16,000 to $28,000 total.
What Low-VOC and Zero-VOC Paint Really Mean (2024 Guide)
The EPA caps VOC content at 250 g/L for low-VOC interior paint, but "zero-VOC" can still legally contain up to 5 g/L.
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