Brian Davis

Brian Davis

Brian Davis is a seasoned landlord and marketing professional. As Vice President of online company EZLandlordForms, Brian Davis works to empower landlords and property managers across the United States with valuable information and documents to support their work. Brian, with over a dozen rental properties of his own, understands what it takes to be an effective landlord through first-hand experience. Mr. Brian Davis graduated cum laude from University of Delaware's Honors Program, with a degree in Psychology and a degree in Criminal Justice. From 2003-2006 he managed the Real Estate Department for Bay Capital Corporation, a national mortgage lender. From 2006-2008 he served as an account executive and property inspector, overseeing the renovation of dozens of properties for a private lending company. He joined EZLandlordForms in 2008.

    Brian Davis's Articles

    • What Is A Quitclaim Deed & When Should It Be Used?

      A quitclaim deed is the simplest type of real estate transfer deed, in which the owner of a piece of real estate (the grantor) merely releases (“quits”) all claims of ownership and transfers their ownership to a grantee.The quitclaim deed does not make any guarantees whatsoever about the property – the grantor simply washes their hands of it and passes their ownership interest (if any even exists) to the grantee.What Is Included?There are surprisingly few details listed in a quitclaim deed. The details of the two parties, the grantor and the grantee, are of course included, along with the consideration.…

    • Top Tips for New Landlords

      Building a strong relationship with a new tenant and protecting your real estate investment is of paramount importance when crafting a lease agreement. There are a multitude of considerations at this juncture that are essential to understand. As a seasoned landlord and top expert on landlord-tenant relationships here are my top tips for new landlords as a helpful tool for navigating lease creation and the ongoing considerations of managing a rental property.How to Build a Strong Lease & Relationship with Your TenantBuild an airtight lease agreement by knowing the laws that apply in your state through a state-specific lease. Each…

    • Top 5 Rookie Landlord Mistakes To Avoid

      What could be better than earning money each month while someone else pays your mortgage? Being a Landlord can be a dream come true for new real estate investors and with some work and expertise your dream can easily become a reality. We can help with the expertise, but the work you’ll have to put in yourself! Check out our top five rookie landlord mistakes, and by avoiding these you will be on your way towards a successful career in real estate.Top 5 Rookie Landlord Mistakes to AvoidNew Landlord Mistake 1: Over-Leveraging your Rental PropertiesBorrowing as much money as you…

    • Pay Down Mortgages Faster or Buy New Rental Properties?

      If you are a landlord and real estate investor with, say, 4-5 rental properties with mortgages, and you have an extra $1,000/month you want to put to good use, should you pay down your mortgages faster or invest in another rental property? Like most questions worth asking, the answer is “It depends.”Examine Rental Investments Existing MortgagesHow high are your interest rates, both for your existing mortgages and potential new ones? At 12%, the cost in interest will likely outweigh the return on investment (ROI) from another rental property, so in most cases it would make more sense to pay off…

    • Learn How To Accept Electronic Rent Payments

      A commonly asked question by both new and seasoned landlords is “How should I accept rental payments?” The days of writing a check have become outdated when there are many new options to take into account. Please see the pros and cons highlighted below by my team attorney Ronald L. Dunn, Esq.Many landlords are arranging direct rent deposits by their tenants. This is accomplished either by arranging:Automatic withdrawals from tenant’s bank accountsDirect deposit by tenants into landlord’s accounts.This can be an invaluable strategy, especially for out-of-town landlords who have no local property management. They are not without risks, however. Let’s…

    • Landlords- Quick Ways to Reduce Rental Vacancy

      Vacant rental properties can certainly be compared to a migraine headache. A pounding headache that will only be cured by one remedy- a paying tenant. Hazard insurance, mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities, break-ins, vandalism, maintenance, and landscaping are many of the costs associated with vacant rental properties. Reducing your vacancy rates to a bare minimum is extremely important, if you intend to have a successful real estate investing career.Here are Eight Essential Steps for Landlords and Property Mangers to utilize to avoid or reduce their rental property vacancies:Step 1: Before You Invest – ResearchObviously certain areas are better for investing…

    • Landlords Can Mess Up Cash Flow Calculations

      Ask a novice Landlord about Cash Flow and they’ll just subtract the mortgage payment from the rent (hopefully they’ll at least include taxes and insurance). If they’re a little sharper, they’ll build in the cost of vacancies and marketing. With more experience, they’ll start factoring in basic maintenance and accounting costs.But that’s still a recipe for failure…..When the roof starts springing leaks in a half dozen places, most landlords are shocked at the sudden $5,000 bill for a new roof. They reassure themselves (and their spouses) with lines like “This was a one-time setback, I won’t have another bill like…

    • Landlord Tips On How To Raise Rents

      Landlording and Property Management are just like any business. Real estate costs rise over time, from property tax bills, to insurance premiums, to mortgage rate increases – so landlords sometimes need to raise tenants’ rental payments or leasing fees to maintain profitability. Raising a tenants’ rent can prove a challenging situation for many landlords, so here are a few suggestions to help make this navigate this necessary task successfully.5 Landlord Tips For How To Raise RentsTip 1: Research Market RentsIt’s far easier to raise the rent if you’re raising it to a reasonable level and comparable to other local rents.…

    • Landlord Liability – Pest Control & Bed Bugs

      Most of us heard the nursery rhyme warning “don’t let the bed bugs bite,” but grew up without even knowing what this mythical bed bug was. Unfortunately, bed bugs have made a rampant return, and are proving to be a major nuisance in many urban areas for Landlords and Property Managers.Bed bugs are reddish brown in color, have an oval shape, and are about a quarter inch long. They like to live within five feet of their host, which means mattresses and clutter around the bed are the most likely place for them to gather and breed. While they don’t…

    • How To Collect Rent Early and Improve ROI

      Can you imagine tenants consistently paying on time or possibly even early? Amazing concept, isn’t it. While many tenants initially perform well, over time many become lackadaisical with their rental payments, and their adherence to the rental agreement. Try out these five great tips that will help ensure your tenants (and your rental investments)stay in great condition.5 Landlord Tips For Collecting RentTip 1: Bonus Offer for Early Rental PaymentsWho doesn’t love a bargain, or a great sale? Offering an incentive for advance rental payments will encourage your tenants to pay their rent early. It could be a $50 break on…

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