Do you have what it takes to be a landlord?

[to be a landlord?]

Do you have what it takes to be a landlord?

It's not exactly life on easy street. Difficult tenants, costly repairs and falling rents can eat into your profit. Here's how to know if you're up to the job.

Owning rental property can be a nightmare -- or a good way to steadily build wealth.

The difference between a profitable investment and a disaster, experienced landlords say, is often the amount of work an investor is willing to put in. Not everyone is cut out to screen tenants, track down overdue rents and field middle-of-the-night repair calls.

We’ll discuss the details of finding good rental properties in a future column. For now, let’s talk about the temperament and skills needed to be a successful landlord.

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