Retirement & Life Planning
Does My Rental Property Belong in My Retirement Plan?
A property can look profitable and still weaken a retirement plan. Here is what to measure before you decide.
Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM
7 min read
Insights
Financial Advice That Speaks Real Estate.™
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Explore insights from Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM on investment real estate, retirement, taxes, investments, cash flow, risk and the financial decisions that connect them.
You'll also find observations from The Real Estate Income Lab®, where property-level analysis meets comprehensive financial planning. It's where we look beyond surface numbers to seek to understand how real estate is actually performing, what the analysis means, and how different real estate decisions could affect the rest of a family's financial life.
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Real Estate
The Real Estate Income Lab®
Property-level analysis that shows how a rental is actually performing, what the numbers mean, and how the property affects the rest of a family's financial plan. The full explanation is being written and will publish here.
Real Estate
The 5% Real Estate Performance Gap®
The Real Estate Performance Gap refers to the potential difference between a property owner's perceived investment return and the return calculated through a more detailed review of income, expenses, financing costs, capital improvements, and other relevant factors. The size and direction of any difference will vary depending on the property and the assumptions used.
Latest Insights
Retirement & Life Planning
Rental Property: The Forgotten Asset Class in Financial Advice
Rich Arzaga explores why rental property is often overlooked in financial advice and introduces six continuing education programs for professional advisors.
Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM
4 min read
Economic Forces
Is Real Estate a Good Hedge Against Inflation? Here's What the Data Actually Shows
Real estate is widely cited as an inflation hedge, but the data tells a more nuanced story. Here's what actually happens to real estate values and rental income during inflationary periods.
Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM
6 min read
Risk & Protection
Why Homeowners Insurance Is No Longer Guaranteed, and How to Navigate the New Reality
Major insurers are leaving high-risk states, and coverage that was routine five years ago is increasingly hard to find. Here's what property owners need to understand and what to do about it.
Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM
6 min read
Market Data & Analysis
Get More (Better) Information on Housing Prices, Beyond What Zillow Shows You
Zillow and Redfin are useful starting points, but serious real estate investors use a broader set of data sources. Here's where to find better information on housing prices and how to interpret what you find.
Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM
6 min read
Property Decisions
What Rental Property Owners Need to Know About Recent Legal and Legislative Changes
Recent changes to eviction law, short-term rental regulations, and federal tax provisions have meaningfully shifted the landscape for rental property owners. Here's what to know and what to review.
Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM
6 min read
Risk & Protection
Your Rental Property and the Maui Fires: Lessons Every Property Owner Should Know
The Maui wildfires exposed critical gaps in how property owners, including landlords, prepare for catastrophic loss. Here are the financial and insurance lessons every rental property owner should take from what happened.
Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM
4 min read
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I'll also share observations from The Real Estate Income Lab®, including what deeper property analysis can reveal about cash flow and performance, alternatives worth considering, and how real estate decisions can affect the rest of a family's financial plan.