For the small scale real estate investor, landlording is a big thing. The ability to own income properties, and willingness to rent them out, can be a significant contributor to personal wealth. But not everyone is willing to handle the hassles. “Trash, tenants, and toilets” is a catch phrase often cited as reason to resist …
In a mean world, it is often difficult to come up with something—anything—that is uplifting and positive, to fill the space of this modest monthly blog. But this edition is that. It’s a tribute to my high school cross country and track coach from the 1970’s, Gene Laulunen, who recently died near Chicago at …
At a local pub near my house, someone keeps playing “Cattle Call” on the jukebox. Cattle Call is a yodeling sort of cowboy song made famous by Eddy Arnold in 1944. A group of songwriters once named it one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. It has been playing at the pub …
My Uncle Walter owned a few rental properties in Milwaukee. Single-family homes, mostly, which he bought in the 1970’s. He managed the properties himself, often crawling under kitchen sinks to fix the plumbing or replace the garbage disposal—invariably with little or no skill. Aunt Catherine would say, “Why don’t you hire somebody for that?” He …
