What is the easiest state to be a landlord in?

Asked by: Arlie Franecki  |  Last update: February 8, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (59 votes)

While "easiest" is subjective, Texas, Florida, Indiana, Georgia, and West Virginia consistently rank as top landlord-friendly states due to their lack of rent control, straightforward eviction processes, minimal tenant protections, and often low property taxes, making them attractive for property investors seeking control and profitability. Texas often leads due to its rapid evictions and booming market, while West Virginia offers immediate eviction filing for violations.

What is the best state to be a landlord in?

Top 10 Landlord-Friendly States in 2025

  • Texas. Texas often tops the list for investment. ...
  • Florida. Florida's business-friendly approach, no state income tax, and accessible rental market invite both new and experienced landlords. ...
  • Arizona. ...
  • Georgia. ...
  • North Carolina.

What states are landlord-friendly states?

  • Texas. Texas is considered one of the most landlord-friendly states due to its minimal rental regulations and efficient eviction laws. ...
  • Florida. Florida landlord tenant laws favor property owners, with strong eviction processes and no statewide rent control policies. ...
  • Indiana. ...
  • Georgia. ...
  • Arizona. ...
  • Alabama. ...
  • Missouri. ...
  • Colorado.

How many rental properties to make $5000 a month?

To make $5,000 a month from rentals, you generally need around 3 to 10 properties, but it heavily depends on your cash flow per unit, with some investors aiming for 5 cash-flowing properties with $1,000/month each (often requiring properties to be paid off or have strong returns), while others might need more units (like 10-20) generating less ($250-$500). Key factors are your market, property type (single-family vs. multi-family), financing, expenses (mortgage, taxes, maintenance), and cash flow per property, often estimated using rules like the 1% and 50% rules. 

What is the best state to own rental property in?

The best states for rental property investment often include Texas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and North Carolina, known for landlord-friendly laws, strong job growth, population influx, and affordable entry points with good rental demand. Other strong contenders are Arizona, Tennessee, and Alabama, offering a mix of high ROI potential, economic development, and lower costs. Key factors are landlord laws, economic stability, population growth, and affordability. 

When Is It Best to Own Rental Property Personally? (Instead Of Creating A Company) | Dr. T Explains

23 related questions found

What is the 3-3-3 rule in real estate?

The "3-3-3 Rule" in real estate typically refers to a financial guideline for home buyers, suggesting monthly housing costs stay under 30% of gross income, saving 30% for a down payment/buffer, and the home price shouldn't exceed 3 times annual income, preventing overspending and building financial security for unexpected costs, notes Chase Bank, CMG Financial, and MIDFLORIDA Credit Union. Another interpretation, Mountains West Ranches https://www.mwranches.com/blog/3-3-3-rule-a-smart-guide-for-real-estate-buyers, is for buyers to have three months of savings, three months of mortgage reserves, and compare three properties, while agents use a marketing version: call 3, write 3 notes, share 3 resources. 

What creates 90% of millionaires?

While the exact "90%" figure is often linked to real estate, most millionaires actually build wealth through a combination of ** consistent savings, smart investing (stocks, real estate), disciplined spending (avoiding debt, living below means), growing income via careers or business, and a mindset of control and financial literacy**, often starting early and focusing on long-term wealth building over flashy spending. Real estate is a significant contributor, but it's part of a broader financial discipline rather than the sole secret.
 

What is the 50% rule in rental property?

The 50% rule is a real estate investing guideline estimating that about half of a rental property's gross income covers operating expenses (taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancies, management), leaving the other half for the mortgage and profit, acting as a quick screening tool to avoid underestimating costs, though a detailed analysis is needed for actual investment decisions.
 

How to make $100,000 your first year in real estate?

To make $100,000 your first year in real estate, you need intense focus on lead generation, building relationships, and consistent action, often requiring 10-20 deals (depending on commission) through high-volume activities like open houses, cold calling, and networking, plus efficient systems (like a CRM) for follow-up, while potentially exploring quicker profit strategies like wholesaling or flipping if acting as an investor, not just an agent, alongside a strong business mindset and consistent discipline. 

What type of rental property is most profitable?

Multi-family properties (duplexes, triplexes, small apartments) are often cited as most profitable for consistent cash flow due to multiple tenants, while commercial properties (retail, office) offer higher rent per square foot and longer leases but require more expertise, and vacation rentals can yield high returns in tourist areas but involve more management, making the "best" choice dependent on your goals, capital, and risk tolerance. 

What is the easiest state to rent in?

For the second year in a row, North Dakota ranks as the best state for renters. Its affordability and high rental availability help make it an ideal place for lessees. Six of the 10 best states for renters are located in the Midwest. The South is the only region not represented among the top 10 states.

Which state is the best to buy an investment property?

NSW remains one of the more favoured markets, according to the survey. While the state similarly experienced high sales trends, PIPA observed that NSW is “the place to invest”. Nearly one in three respondents put NSW at the top of their list.

What states favor tenants?

States like California, New York, and Oregon are known for being tenant-centric. They aim to provide stable housing and reduce homelessness, but the result is often more red tape for landlords trying to evict non-paying tenants or adjust rent to reflect market conditions.

What are the cons of being a landlord?

The Cons of Being a Landlord

  • Annual Upkeep and Long-Term Maintenance. Rental properties require thorough budgeting. ...
  • Time-Consuming Investment. ...
  • Running Your Properties Like a Business. ...
  • Liability and Staying Compliant with the Law. ...
  • Tenant Screening and Bad Tenant Risks. ...
  • Evicting the Occasional Bad Apple.

What is the cheapest most affordable state to live in?

In West Virginia, the least expensive state to live, the West Virginia Economic Development Department claims the “cost of living is 12% lower than the national average.”

How much commission does a realtor make on a $300,000 house?

For a $300,000 home sale, the total real estate commission is typically $15,000 to $18,000, calculated at the common 5% to 6% rate, with this total then split between the seller's agent and the buyer's agent and their respective brokerages, meaning each agent might net around $6,000 to $9,000 before their brokerage's cut. 

How much money do I need to invest to make $3,000 a month?

To make $3,000 a month ($36,000/year) from investments, you need a significant principal, with estimates ranging from around $300,000 to over $700,000, depending on the investment's yield: roughly $300k-$400k for higher-yielding assets (like REITs or dividend ETFs with 4-8% yields) or closer to $720,000 for very stable Dividend Aristocrats with lower yields (around 5%), while real estate might require a large down payment on a property. 

What is the 7% rule in real estate?

The "7% rule" in real estate typically refers to a quick screening guideline for rental properties, suggesting the gross annual rent should be at least 7% of the property's purchase price to indicate a potentially good investment. It's a simplified metric for cash flow, where a $100,000 property would aim for $7,000 in annual rent, but it doesn't replace detailed financial analysis, ignoring expenses like taxes, insurance, and vacancies. 

What is the biggest risk of owning a rental property?

Tenant Issues and Vacancies

Tenants can sometimes fail to pay rent on time, damage property, or violate lease agreements. Even reliable tenants eventually move out, leading to vacancies. Each empty month means lost income, and finding new tenants often requires marketing, screening, and additional costs.

What is the maximum rental income without tax?

You can earn tax-free rental income if you rent your personal residence (home, vacation home) for 14 days or less in a year, thanks to the IRS "Augusta Rule," where you report zero income and can't deduct expenses; otherwise, most rental income is taxable, though you can deduct expenses to lower your taxable amount. If you rent for more than 14 days, the income becomes taxable, and the amount you pay depends on your tax bracket and if the property is classified as a personal residence or a rental property. 

How much should I make to afford $2500 rent?

To afford $2,500 in rent, you generally need a gross annual income of about $100,000, based on the standard guideline of spending no more than 30% of your gross monthly income on rent; however, this can vary, with some sources suggesting incomes from $80,000 to $110,000 might be suitable depending on your other expenses and location. 

What jobs make $1,000,000 a year?

Jobs paying over $1 million annually are typically in C-suite executive leadership, high-level finance (hedge funds, investment banking), specialized medicine (surgeons, radiologists), top-tier tech (senior engineers with equity), high-stakes sales (luxury real estate, large deals), and successful entrepreneurship, often involving performance-based compensation like massive bonuses or equity, long hours, and extreme responsibility for organizational success. 

How long will it take to become a millionaire if I invest $1000 a month?

Investing $1,000 a month can make you a millionaire in roughly 22 to 30 years, depending heavily on your average annual return, with around 22 years at a strong 10% return and closer to 30 years at a more conservative 6% return, thanks to the power of compound interest. The faster you reach your goal depends on higher returns (like 10%+ from stocks) or starting with a lump sum, while a lower return (like 4-6%) or starting later requires more time. 

What are the 4 assets that make people rich?

Four key assets that build wealth are businesses, real estate, paper assets (stocks, bonds, funds), and commodities (gold, oil), which generate income and appreciate, making money work for you rather than just earning a salary. Owning these assets, whether a scalable online venture, rental properties, diverse stocks/bonds, or tangible resources like precious metals, creates streams of passive income and financial security.