Leasing & Onboarding New Renters
Everything you need to know about signing new lease agreements and onboarding new tenants.
Preparing to sign a lease agreement?
Don’t sign it lightly.
Have you collected rental applications from a large pool of candidates? Have you run credit, criminal and eviction reports on all applicants? Collected application fees or charged the screening reports to the renter, to verify they’re committed?
If you’ve done all that, and made all the phone calls to verify income, employment, housing history, etc., and you feel 100% rock solid about this tenant… now you need to make sure you have a defensive lease agreement.
Think of your lease agreement as your shield, your armor. Most state landlord-tenant laws are extremely tenant-friendly, and designed to protect the renter, not the landlord. That means you’re responsible for protecting yourself.
How do you do that? With a comprehensive, protective lease package. Read on for more details, and happy leasing!
“Required Reading” – Start Here First!
Want more? We have you covered! Here’s some further reading on lease agreements, security deposits, move-in and everything else you need to know about onboarding new renters.
Full Library of Leasing & New Tenancy Articles:
72% of Americans Think the Economy Is Bad (March 2026)
The Short Version: A Pew survey found 72% of Americans have a negative view of the economy, with nearly 40% expecting things to get worse. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 is near all-time highs. Pessimism at extremes is usually wrong. March 2009 felt apocalyptic... and was...
The Best Time to Invest in Real Estate Is When Everyone Stops Building
The Short Version: Multifamily construction starts just hit their lowest level in over a decade. Only 234,900 units broke ground in the 12 months ending Q3 2025... the weakest pipeline since 2013. Developers have pulled back because the math doesn't work. Construction...
The $500 Billion Debt Bomb That’s Creating Opportunities for Patient Investors
The Short Version: Over $500 billion in commercial real estate loans come due between 2025 and 2027. Operators who borrowed at 3% now face refinancing at 6-7%. The math doesn't work anymore. When operators can't refinance profitably, they sell. And when they need to...
Why 2026 Will Test Your Stock Portfolio
The Short Version: Morningstar, Schwab, and Morgan Stanley are all forecasting higher volatility in 2026. Three straight years of double-digit S&P gains have stretched valuations, and a 12-15% correction is widely expected. Most people think they're diversified....
How the Ultra-Wealthy Spend Differently Than Everyone Else
The Short Version: The ultra-wealthy aren't just a richer version of the upper-middle class. Their budgets are structurally different. Housing often makes up just 10-20% of their spending... even when the home costs $10 million. Their income is so high that a $65,000...
5 Home “Upgrades” That Can Actually Hurt Your Resale Value
The Short Version: Not every home improvement is actually an improvement. Some upgrades shrink your buyer pool and drag down your resale value. Over-personalization, high-maintenance features, and garage conversions are common culprits. Buyers see the cost of undoing...
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