Across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, with a population just under 185,000 as of 2019, is Vancouver, Washington, part of Clark County. While it shares a name with the prominent Canadian city, Vancouver, Washington is squarely perched on the Washington-Oregon Border, far from the Canadian border. Vancouver is Washington’s fourth largest city. With such a short drive separating them, Vancouver has usually been …

One of the benefits of renting property is not having to worry about hiring maintenance services. Your landlord or property manager provides complimentary routine maintenance and responds to maintenance calls. They should also offer a 24-hour call line in case of emergencies. While this service is essential and designed to benefit you, it is important to not abuse an emergency service line. Sometimes it …

If you own rental properties, then you will already know how challenging dealing with the day-to-day operations can become. Buying the property is just the start; renting it out and managing the rental process is a time-consuming, often confusing ordeal. If you know other people who own rental properties, they have likely already suggested that you look into hiring a property manager. The natural …

Whether you are a single property landlord or a professional property management company, one of the most critical steps in the screening process is the background check. Running thorough background checks on prospective tenants is the frontline defense against any rental drama down the line. Knowing what is covered, and sometimes uncovered, in a tenant background check can help you make informed decisions and …

Real estate is not what could be called a “hands off” investment. Unlike stocks, bonds, cryptocurrency, or baseball cards, successful real estate investment requires know-how, organizational skills, and commitment to an action plan; you won’t always get away with putting down your money and playing the waiting game. There’s no college degree or certification program that prepares you for all the ups, downs, and …

As a landlord, your entire business operation relies on a healthy influx of rental income. All operating expenses are covered by it, and anything left over is profit, so it makes sense to ensure that your rental income is tracked and organized.  No matter the size of your portfolio, life can get busy, and it is all too easy to miss a late rent …

With a population of approximately four million residents, Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States. When considering the entire Los Angeles county, including its smaller cities, the urban area has a population of over 10 million. Despite its diversity, one thing is certain: the cost of living in Los Angeles is quite high. In addition to its iconic palm trees …

Utopia Management’s business development manager, Pete Evering, was recently featured in a new article published by GOBankingRates that tackles some of the most costly remodel mistakes that new homeowners make. New homeowners are faced with many challenges that they may not have expected. When first buying a home, it is always smart to do as much research as possible. Expect the unexpected, and try …

If you’re considering buying a home, opting for a duplex or a multifamily house and renting one side out may seem like a simple way to cut down on mortgage costs. While it can make a property more affordable by covering a portion of the mortgage each month, there are a number of factors to consider before making such a decision. Multifamily properties are …