Everyone fears being a landlord until they realize the part nobody tells you: your tenant is the single biggest protector and builder of your wealth… so give them the attention they deserve. Tenants only become a headache when your focus is the spreadsheet and not the human on the other side. Pick a good tenant, take good care of them, and you’ll be just fine. A strong start to your wealth foundation is built right here… kinda like your wood and brick in Catan.
It’s not the lender.
Not the insurance.
Not the “we negotiated 10% off.”
Not hopeful appreciation.
Not the cash-flow calculator.
The tenant - the person paying down your principal every month, strengthening your equity position while you sleep. Everything else hangs from that. Appreciation, tax perks… those are cherries on top. So give a human the attention humans deserve and they won’t nip you in the butt.
• Happy tenants stay longer → far fewer $2,000–$5,000 turnovers
• Cared-for tenants care for the home → less damage, less drama
• Fast, human-to-human communication builds loyalty you can’t buy
Most first-time house hackers think they need to be “tough” to manage tenants. Wrong. You just need to be a good human being. Increase their experience and you increase your returns. Flowers cost $20. A vacancy costs $2,000 (if you’re lucky). Do the math.