Hello everyone.

I have been a landlord for more than 12 years. I only have 3 units but have tried to keep my debt very low in relation to my equity.

I'm very thankful for this forum. I have been coming here, reading and contributing for about 9 years. Thank you all.

My question is;

What do you do to stay posative when things are tough? How do you deal with the stress that sometimes rears it's ugly head?

you have to have a aupport team, someone you want whine to and then they kick your butt. A network of people, who understand, RE Networking groups live and in person,,, on line is the next best thing. We are sooo blesses that you come here to read and share... I"m thankful you do.

Hi MARTIN,

Several things help:

1) Keeping a sufficient cash cushion to weather thru the bad times.

2) Hiring out the grunt labor like cleaning, trash outs, and mowing.

3) Focusing on increasing rents. Researching the market to see what I can reasonably expect to charge.

4) On the flip side, cutting costs. How to keep the dollars in my account from leaving.

5) I have spreadsheets where I track debt payoff. I know to the month when properties will be paid off, assuming all continues as projected. I know...irony there.

To me, it depends on what is driving me nuts.

If it's doing a certain task - I'll hire it out. This has worked out quite well.

Talking with other like minded landlords is always a plus.

When it's something ridiculous that costs money, I often, in my head think about how much rent will be paid in 12 months - that's a big enough number to resolve almost any problem in this business.

For me, I go to work and it usually cures the problem.

If money fixes it, it's just an expense.

Like Ed, talk to other LL.

When things get tuff, hang in there it all passes.

The forum keeps me up. Brad, O, Micki, Vee, Gevens, Sid Terri, WCH, LTD, J, NE, Roy, Patty, BillS, Taylor, Ryan, Jeffery, and all of the the other fine folks here are God sent.

Plus a happy wife also helps. Seeing the money come in day after day REALLY helps.

A fellow LL likes to say to me, "Isn't is great to think of all your tenants going to work everyday to pay YOU?" He also gives Ts pink addressed envelopes to send the rent in to him. He calls them "love letters".

Watching the rents go up and the debt go down (yes they're mortgaged: sin, I know) and checking with the accountant on when they'll be paid off. It's getting really close on a couple!!

A dream bigger than the problems.

I recently faced a huge business disappointment. I drove home in my PAID Porsche while the "winner" drove home in a clunker.

I went HOME and he went back to his JOB.

Also, systems in the form of a great lease and stick to it. Many LLs waver or slack off the lease. So much stress is CREATED by reinventing the wheel each time a problem appears.,

Working from home: gotta be able to say "the office is closed" and enjoy dinner with the family.

If a LL works from the kitchen table (we did for years!) ya gotta be able to put it all in a box and carry it out of the room. Separate it.

I vent to my husband, and sometimes my teens and best friend.

I remind myself, "It's only money." It's not my child's life, or my spouse's life, or anything that is eternally important.

Thank you all for your thoughts.

I agree with all that talk about what a great forum this is. Thank you Jeffrey.

I have gotten much more than just great advice and information from this forum, it inspires me also.

I have my first problem tenant and sometimes it can drag you down. I will be doing much better when this one moves.

It's nothing I can't handle but I guess I have been very fortunate to find mostly great tenants. I am thinking about expanding my number of rentals also. I really just need to keep my focus.

I have a goal of 10 paid-for SFRs. Sometimes it is hard to stay motivated.

B2k - more details please,was it a contractor, seller or something else?

RR - Stupid City Council stupid meetings.

Elected officials who make decisions on emotion, not facts or laws.

I know most of them from high school or around town. If you are old enough, it's The Peter Principle on display!

I come here if I get frustrated. The great advice leavened nicely with humor is the best. People share ideas and answer questions. There are several people here that I find inspiring (Brad20K, Lee, Vee, SID, Roy, WMH, LTD, and many more) and I'm drawn to naturally.

The other thing I do is when I get frustrated and wonder if I'm looking at 5 yrs or 10 yrs to reach my goal of deep sixing the day job because I feel like I'm learning too slowly. Then I stop and try to pinpoint all the pit falls and mistakes I've been able to avoid by hanging out here and taking advantage of the books, conferences and training opportunities provided by folks like Jeffrey and his family.