Resources for Landlords & Rental Property Investors

For years, the 1% rule was the simple formula that rental investors leaned on to quickly evaluate deals, but nowadays this once-effective filter doesn’t work like it used to. In 2026, if you rely on the 1% rule, you’re pretty much guaranteed to miss out on strong deals and/or buy high risk properties because of how they look on paper. In this article we’ll unpack why the 1% rule is no longer enough, and explore why the math of a deal is only as useful as your ability to understand the context around it. Read on to learn how the numbers operate in different types of neighborhoods, and how to use this knowledge as your new filter instead.

We talk frequently at Evernest about how to build wealth through real estate, and regular readers will know that we tend to be big fans of holding investments as rentals. As much as we advocate for playing the long game, however, we know that buy & hold is not the right strategy for every deal. 

If there’s one truth about real estate investment that always bears repeating, it’s this: nothing destroys margins faster than big ticket repairs you didn’t budget for. Other things like market cool downs and vacancies will kill deals gradually, but if there’s a roof replacement or full re-wiring you didn’t see coming? It only takes a split second for your numbers to fly out the window. It may seem obvious, but major systems catch investors (especially new ones) off guard all the time, and turn seemingly great investments into bottomless money pits. That’s why we’re breaking down the big ticket items that should always be on a real estate investor’s radar. Here are the five things investors miss most often, and how to spot them before they cost you thousands.

The hoarder house is one of those phenomena in real estate with tons of misconceptions surrounding it. Some people think they’re automatic gold mines. Some people think they’re inevitable money pits. Some think that investors who buy them are taking advantage of vulnerable people. Some people see potential upside in buying hoarder houses, but are too worried about unknowns and risks to take the plunge.