50 Ways to Make Money at Home and Online

In this economy, making money online or part-time is an attractive proposition. It may seem intimidating at first, but don't worry -- you needn't be a design maven, crochet whiz or computer savant to earn a little extra on the side. Here are a few ways to turn what you currently have (stuff, skills, un-skills) into a little extra cash.

Plug your money leaks

emember that while cutting back on expenses definitely helps your budget, the easiest way to save money is to make more. Still, we'll start off with some easy tips to stop bleeding money where it doesn't actually help much.
1. Refinance your mortgage

 Interest rates are at an all time low, and many families are considering refinancing their home to save on monthly mortgage payments. Determine whether or not refinancing will save you money in the long term by following this guide.
2. Switch providers

 Don't assume that your cable, phone and Internet bills are locked into a slow but inexorable climb. Taking the first provider that comes along is a great way to waste money that can be saved elsewhere. Once you reach the terms of your contract, get on the phone or in an office and negotiate your bill down - or at least get a few perks thrown in for free.

3. Get rid of cable

Cable can rack up a hefty bill over a year, especially when you keep pay-per-view, premium channel, and miscellaneous costs in mind. Opt for online providers like  or Hulu Plus that let you stream shows directly onto your computer, mobile device, or TV.
Pro tip: Switch between 30-day trial periods of Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime to get a full season of free watching.

4. Use credit cards with the best rewards

The best parts about credit cards are the perks and rewards that come with them. By using a card with shoddy rewards or cash back, you are doing yourself and your budget a disservice. Find a credit card that rewards wherever you spend the most, whether that's travel, gas, groceries, or (ohmigod) shoes -- the NerdWallet credit card tool makes personalized recommendations based on your own spending habits.
Pro tip: Use the calculator button to further customize your recommendation.

5. Invest wisely

You're never too young to start investing -- in fact, the time to have an aggressive (high risk, high reward) profile is when you're younger, and you don't plan to use the money for a couple decades. But there's no reason to pay top dollar for actively managed mutual funds. Despite the prestige and high fees, active funds outperform the market only 24% of the time. You're much better with an index fund, which has much lower fees and will probably get you a better return for your money. Stop paying to lose money!
6. Pay off your debt

You know how I just told you to invest? Paying off high-interest debt is the best investment you can make. It's virtually impossible to get a guaranteed 12% return on your investments -- unless you're getting rid of credit card debt. Get in the black first before you start looking for babies that talk about stocks. Check out our in-depth article on getting rid of debt for guidelines and ways to lower the interest on your debts.
7. Improve your credit score

 This one is a no-brainer. There are multiple sites that let you check your credit score for free. After finding out where you stand, work on improving your score and contact your credit card, personal loan or other issuer to negotiate a lower interest rate.
8. Maximize your tax returns

A great way to boost your income part time happens during a particular part of the year. Take advantage of tax loopholes and exceptions to maximize your long-anticipated tax refund check.
9. Use rewards malls and cashback websites

 Little-known fact: You can earn cash back for the money you spend online anyway, just by clicking through another website first. Your credit card probably has a rewards mall that offers 5% back or more on everything from Expedia to Macy's to Zales, and even if it doesn't, you can use straight-up cash-back sites like eBates or Upromise to get an automatic discount on online purchases.

10. Take advantage of rebates and coupons

 Often, stores will advertise that they'll beat the lowest price offered by any other competitor. Many credit cards also give price match guarantees, paying the difference if the price drops below a certain amount after you've made the purchase. Check your card's fine print for details. Also, use coupon comparison tools to score quick deals without scouring the Internet or pawing through your neighbors' mail.

11. Consider a flexible savings account (FSA)

Your employer may offer an FSA, which allows you to cover medical expenses not paid by insurance tax-free. This can be anything from out-of-pocket costs to prescriptions to dependent coverage. Because it's tax-advantaged, you'll save up to 30% on medical expenses. Keep in mind, though, that you lose any funds you don't spend at the end of the year, so you need to know your budget well. If you have a high-deductible insurance plan, you can also contribute to a health savings account (HSA), which doesn't lose money at year-end.

Turn money into more money

 You can set policies in place to grow your existing money further. Someone pretty smart once said that compounding is the greatest force in the universe. Keep in mind that both of the following techniques compound, meaning that taking action now will yield even larger benefits in the future.

12. Max out your IRA and 401(k)

Max out your 401(k) and IRA contributions every year -- not only will you receive a tax benefit, but given the low interest-rate environment, you're much better putting your money in the markets than sticking it into a savings account that doesn't beat inflation. A 22-year-old who invests $5,000 in an IRA and never invests again will enjoy $137,000 at retirement, compared to just $101,000 if she invested in a regular savings account. It doesn't matter how old you are -- unless you're paying off debt, the time to start saving for retirement is now.

13. Ask for a raise

 Like we said, saving money is all well and good, but making more money is even better. Try negotiating for a raise -- even in a tough job economy, sitting down at the bargaining table with politeness, confidence and respect for yourself and the organization can have its benefits. Here's a great flow chart scripting a possible conversation -- preparation is key.
Pro tip: Catch your boss when she's in a good mood, but don't let her know you know she's in a good mood.

Mo' money, less clutter
Okay, let's be honest. Chances are, you have too much stuff. If you can identify high-value items and present them well, you can have a cleaner, more simple living space as well as money to spend on what you really want.

14. Have a garage sale

 Wipe off the dust, clear out the storage closet, and set up a garage sale. Put some effort into presentation: Items lovingly arrayed on a plastic tablecloth will sell better than those chucked into a cardboard box. If you don't have enough clutter to warrant a garage sale on your own, rope a few other neighbors into a neighborhood-wide sale.

15. Value your antiques and collectibles

Dig into storage, sell off what is valuable and throw away the rest. Before you sell indiscriminately, get your collectibles, antiques, and heirlooms appraised. You may be selling rare valuable items at underpriced rates otherwise. After you've consulted with an expert, do a gut check by looking at eBay and similar websites to see if the price is reasonable.

16. Free and flea market flipping

Browse the "free" section on Craigslist or your local flea market for interesting items. Add your own special touches, restore the items, and resell for a profit. Buy interesting items both online and at your local flea market and restore them and resell for a profit. Flea Market Flips offers some great ideas for trash-to-treasure projects.

17. Sell your old mobile phone

Given the rate at which we churn through cell phones these days, you probably have an old cell phone lying around. Amazon offers gift cards for fully functional iPhones, while specialty sites like Gazelle and Swappa specialize in cash for cell phones.

18. Turn in printer cartridges

Many office supply stores, from Staples to Office Depot, will offer credits for empty printer cartridges. Not only is it good for your wallet, but it's good for the environment.

Take part in the share economy

 If you have an extra anything, chances are there's someone who'd like to borrow it from you. As the so-called "share economy" grows, you have an increasing opportunity to get cash for your idling machines and empty space.
19. Rent out an underused parking spot

 Parking spots can be a hot commodity, particularly in crowded cities. If you happen to be holding on to a coveted spot that you do not use all the time, put it up for rent on Craigslist. If your landlord or building offers you parking at a discount rate, consider seeing whether you can rent it out for a higher price -- assuming you're allowed to do so, of course.

20. Rent out a spare bedroom

 If that extra guest bedroom in your midtown Manhattan walk-up is left unused, consider renting it out on Airbnb.com or other vacation rental sites. Make sure that everything is kosher with your rental agreement beforehand.
Pro tip: Even if you don't have a spare bedroom, chances are there's a college kid willing to pay for four walls, a door, an air mattress, a shower and more privacy than a hostel affords.

21. Rent out your car

 Don't need your car on the weekend or during the day? Going on a trip? Services like Getaround and RelayRides let you rent out your car by the hour, while FlightCar arranges for an incoming traveler to rent your car rather than you having to pay for airport parking and letting it sit idle.
Turn talent into a paycheck

22. Crafty? Crochet away!

 Have a penchant for crocheting, jewelry-making or embroidery? Sell your goods on Etsy.com. Etsy is the go-to site for artisans and simply impassioned folk selling home goods, paintings, and knickknacks.
Pro tip: Offer to make personalized products -- not only does it establish an emotional connection with the customer, but it often brings in more income.

23. Become a freelance writer

Sites like eHow and Livestrong will pay by the article for content on anything from business to tech to how to fart. While they say you'll need "professional experience" or a degree or certification, honestly, there's not much you'll be asked to write that a quick tour of Google can't make you an expert on.

24. Take up a skilled freelance gig

Websites like TaskRabbit, Odesk, and Craigslist offer opportunities to avid freelancers to pick up programming, design, and marketing jobs on the side. Working on a per-project basis lets your balance your side job with your current one. Sites like Freelancer.com can also offer a leg up.

25. Small-scale catering

 Fancy yourself to be the next Iron Chef? Take those skills to the marketplace by setting up your own catering business that you can run out of your own kitchen on the weekend. Cook for dinners, birthday parties and friends' events; or just bake a bunch of cookies and stand outside the nearest bar at 2 a.m.
Heads up: Be careful to comply with food safety laws.

26. Become an online travel agent

Have a knack for finding the best deals on Expedia? Hawk your services as a low-cost alternative to full service travel agencies. You can earn a pretty commission by doing what you love.

27. Bartend

 The great thing about nightlife is that it doesn't conflict with day life. Pick up late-night or weekend shifts to earn some extra income without sacrificing hours at your current job or studies.

28. Tutor

If you were an SAT whiz, there is a huge market for competitive parents and children looking for private tutors. Join a large company like Kaplan or Princeton Review, or tutor at your own schedule by going private.

29. Affiliate marketing

Do you write emails to your friends and family that actually get read? Are you blessed with a silver tongue, razor wit or keen eye for society? Write it up. Join an affiliate network (Amazon has a good one) to earn money whenever someone buys the product by going through your website or blog.
Turn lack of talent into a paycheck

You don't need to be a master craftsman, mixologist or Iron Chef to earn supplementary income. Here are some income boosters that don't require specialized skills.

30. Get paid to be a reviewer

Although you may fancy your Yelp Elite status, all those reviews really did not pay for much but a fancy badge and a few exclusive invites. Take your review skills to the marketplace and earn $1-$50 per review, depending on quality and technical knowledge required.

31. Sell your photos

Stock photo websites like iStockPhoto purchase images from everyday people. Even if you aren't Ansel Adams, the most commonly requested (and often overlooked) photos often include everyday images like stop signs, coffee cups and other everyday objects.

32. Resell food

True story: In college, Zappos founder Tony Hseih bought pizza from a parlor down the road and resold it at a profit in his college dorm room. His friend Alfred Lin would always buy two pizzas a night -- Hseih assumed he was just hungry. Turns out Lin was actually taking the pizzas upstairs and selling them at a slice for an even tidier profit. He later went on to become the Zappos COO.
Anyway, long story short, you can probably find lazy, hungry college kids and young adults outside of bars and in parks. They will happily buy pizza, beer and water by the unit and pay handsomely for the convenience.
Heads up: This is not exactly FDA-approved.

33. Referrals

Services as diverse as your cable company to your orthodontist will pay a nice little gift for both referrer and referred. Small businesses and companies just getting off the ground are often the most likely to give referral bonuses.
Pro tip: Your employer might well give referral bonuses, too, so scour your personal networks to see if you know a good fit for open positions.

34. Survey websites

Although those posters on the side of the road may overshoot how much you can potentially make by simply answering surveys online, generating a side income from online surveys is still possible and profitable.

35. You must be good at babysitting

 Get yourself registered on a reliable sitter search website and get to work. Babysitters can make great pay and get some benefits like free Wi-Fi thrown in as well.

36. You aren't? Are you good at petsitting?

 Most pet owners actually cannot afford a luxury weekend for their pet at the kennel. Price your rates competitively during your stint as a pet sitter and make sure your place allows for multiple pets. Many sites, such as Care.com, offer job boards for pet sitters and those looking for animal care.

37. Really? Still? Okay, how about house-sitting?

Even if you hate kids and animals, you can look for house-sitting gigs through personal referrals, Craigslist, or websites like Mind My House.
Pro tip: Double up the income by renting our your own domicile while house-sitting.

38. Participate in clinical research

Hospitals and academic medical centers live, breathe, and thrive on clinical trials. Most participants are paid a good amount of money for their dedication to research and the trial. Do not overload on this option, as being enrolled in too many trials with conflicting pharmaceutical regiments may lead to skewed results and a medically unhappy you.

39. Engage in market research
 
Market research is the bread and butter of advertisement agencies. Many large ad agencies will conduct large focus groups to better tailor their strategies. Contact a local or large market research firm and secure your spot in a future group.

40. Become a tour guide

If you happen to know a bit more history concerning the old town square than the average citizen (or if you can just Wikipedia it), consider running your own personal tour guide business. Walking tours are en vogue, and you can advertise your services on TripAdvisor for tourists looking for an insider's perspective.

41. Find seasonal work

Snow shoveling, amusement park work, holiday staffing and lifeguarding are all seasonal work options that are low commitment and can be done sparingly according to your schedule. You want flexibility, employers want flexibility -- it works.

42. Become a part-time care taker

With the baby boomer generation retiring, many older folk in your community will require the services of a caretaker to help them around the house and with chores. Make a side income at a job that helps you contribute to your local community.

43. Host a foreign exchange student

Hosting an exchange student can be a source of cultural, as well as material, enrichment. Check out the number of hosting sites online, or contact your local high school or college for international student programs.

44. Data entry

 Pick up administrative and data entry jobs that can be done by telecommuting, on Craigslist, or at your college campus's career center.

45. Become an on-site manager or landlord

Earn a spot to live rent-free while making a side income as an on-site manager for apartment building owners that live outside of town.

46. Garden

 Turn your passion for all things green into a side business by offering landscaping and gardening tutorials to fellow flower aficionados.

47. Donate plasma, sperm or blood

These three precious bodily liquids are always in demand, and you can often get paid for the service. Be careful, though: Only go with reputable organizations that won't leave you in an ice-filled bathtub minus a kidney.
Heads up: The Red Cross recommends waiting 28 days between plasma donations and 56 between blood donations, and not exceeding 13 plasma donations a year.

48. Become a mystery shopper

Yes, they really do exist. Market research firms and companies doing internal audits often want to see how their stores perform from a customer's perspective, so sign up to become their eyes and ears.

49. Micro-task

Services such as Amazon Mechanical Turk connect businesses with a cohort of individuals looking to make a little cash on the side (i.e., you), in order to crowdsource small tasks. You can walk away with a nice check or gift card for a few hours of work.

50. Join a car service

The taxicab industry used to be limited to a handful of licensed professionals. Now, companies like Sidecar, Lyft and Flightcar allow anyone with a license to perform the same functions as a taxi driver, but with greater flexibility, and sometimes better pay.

Rent prices in Orlando outpace national rates: report

Orlando’s monthly rental rates have increased twice as much from a year ago than the national rental rates, according to a new report by Zillow, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
The median rent in June for the four-county Orlando area was $1,238 per month for apartments and single-family homes, up 3.3 percent from last year.
Nationally, rents only increased by 1.6 percent from the previous year.
Neighborhoods that have seen rents rise the most since last year include north of the Orlando International Airport, Baldwin Park, College Park and the area from Mall at Millenia to Edgewood, the Sentinel reports.

Selling Zillow to Candidates

I spend most of my time at Zillow recruiting and retaining great people. I feel strongly that this is the best use of my time because we will be very successful if I can just recruit extraordinary people, help set their strategic direction, and then stay out their way. I do several “sell calls” each week and even more in-person sell calls. I am typically involved in every “sell” for a software developer regardless of the office where the candidate is being recruited, and I also sell every senior hire (Directors and VPs). What do I tell them to try to convince them to join Zillow?

• Zillow is in high-growth mode. Growth is fun. When you're growing, people are optimistic, and there is ample opportunity for career growth. Great people achieve great things and have extraordinary careers when they join companies in hyper-growth mode. It’s much harder to carve out an interesting and successful career – regardless of your personal attributes – if your company is in slow-growth mode or worse still, if it is shrinking.

• We are just getting started. The mobile explosion has been a phenomenal catalyst for our business and is driving huge usage and market share gains for Zillow. And although our revenue is growing quickly, we are still in the very early stages of capturing our “fair share” of ad budgets in our four marketplaces (real estate, mortgages, rentals and home improvement). Advertisers follow audience. We have the audience, and advertisers are flocking.

• Don’t be a cog in the wheel! Zillow is still small enough where an individual can make a significant difference. This is a particularly effective line of reasoning for software developers choosing between Zillow and Amazon/Microsoft (with whom we often compete for developers in Seattle). Zillow is the right balance: We're big enough that you A) don’t have to worry about job security (as compared to a smaller startup), B) can have a big impact because we run very lean product development teams, and C) can have your software enjoyed by tens of millions of people because of our huge audience.

• Zillow is winning. Winning is fun.

There are lots of other great reasons to work at Zillow – competitive pay, good benefits, extraordinary colleagues and much more. My success rate on these “sells” is very high. And it’s not because I’m a particularly persuasive salesperson. It’s because Zillow is really a great place to work.

Jacksonville looks at allowing short-term vacation rentals

JACKSONVILLE — Provisions to allow short-term vacation rentals will be considered for inclusion in planning-code revisions that will be unveiled next month in a town that some say lacks accommodations.

"A lot of people may want to have vacation rentals. We'll address that in the revised code," said city Planning Director Amy Stevenson.

Ashland's City Council is wrestling with how to handle such rentals as various factions weigh in on the debate. Those rentals, often found on the Internet, may not be approved or pay lodging tax.

"It's not a hot issue here," said Stevenson. "We have had some residents express a desire to do that."

An initial hearing on the proposed revisions, which will look at all aspects of planning including regulations in the historic district, tentatively will be held in late August.

The revisions will be subject to public review and consideration by the Historic and Architectural Review Commission and the Planning Commission. The City Council would need to approve any changes.

Legally approved accommodations collect and pay a lodging tax. Stevenson said city officials strive for equity, something that's missing with nonapproved units that are not subject to paying the lodging tax when they are rented.

"We are aware that it is happening," said Stevenson. "We survey Craigslist and VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) every once in a while. If we see someone and they don't have approval they usually hear from us. Usually they have to shut down because they can't comply."

Home owners and others can rent rooms and accessory dwellings for a minimum of 30 days. Bed and breakfast lodgings must be located within the town's historic district and be owner-occupied. Commercial lodging can operate in approved zones.

Jacksonville collects lodging taxes on 80 approved units, said city Treasurer Stacey McNichols. Of those, the Wine County Inn with 32-rooms adjacent to 5th Street entering town is the largest.

A review of three websites Wednesday showed about 20 listings, some being duplicates.

AirBnB had eight listings; three for approved in-town historic cottage rentals, four listed as near town and one on a 90-acre ranch. VRBO had nine listings with some of those approved. The status of the rest could not be determined. Craigslist showed eight short-term rentals.

Opinions varied on the need for more accommodations.

"I think it's a great idea," said Arlis Duncan, chamber of commerce president. "We don't have enough lodging in town. We can't have a conference here with 200 people in town. We'd like to have people come and visit."

Duncan rents out her approved vacation cottage, which she said is occupied most of the year.

"Most of the people that I personally know (renting accommodations) and those coming through the chamber are doing it on the legal basis," said Duncan.

Graham Farran of Expert Properties Inc. manages more than 20 furnished accommodations that he rents for a month or longer. He says he gets a lot of calls for shorter term stays that he cannot fulfill. But he's concerned about allowing such rentals in single family residential areas.

"I don't want to live next to a vacation rental," said Farran. "I don't think that would ever pass in Jacksonville."

During Britt Music Festival events, the city could use more accommodations, but at other times additional rooms might lack customers, said Farran.

Maryl Cipperly at the Chamber of Commerce's Visitors Center expressed similar concerns.

"We've got some great accommodations but they fill up so fast, especially when it's a Britt week," said Cipperly. "Last week I don't think you could buy a room here. In the winter, things slow down,"

'Accidental landlords' face sizeable tax bill for rental income

Many of the 'accidental landlords' thrown up by the economic squeeze have no idea of the financial minefield that comes with renting out their home.

One of the biggest financial headaches is the tax bill, which could easily run into several thousand euro a year. Some landlords are already running into difficulties paying these tax bills.
Accidental landlords include those who rent out their homes because they can no longer afford their mortgage repayments. It also includes those in negative equity who have moved house – yet put off selling their home until prices pick up enough to ensure a house sale pays off their mortgage.
The Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) last week reported a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking legal advice on landlord and tenant issues – a phenomenon it attributed to the rise in the number of accidental landlords.
Financial problems have forced many people to rent out their homes in a hurry – and this is one of the reasons that accidental landlords often don't understand their rights and responsibilities, according to FLAC, which offers free legal advice on debt and other issues.
The financial headaches that accidental landlords seek to escape by renting our their home are often quickly replaced by others.

TAX ON RENT

Many of the people who rent out their home to cover their mortgage repayments are not aware that they have to pay tax on a good chunk of the rent they receive, according to Margaret McCormick, information officer with the Irish Property Owners' Association, which represents landlords.
You could have to pay tax equivalent to almost half of the rental income received in a year – even if all of that rent is being used to repay a mortgage.
You can write certain expenses off your rental income tax bill – but you cannot write off the full cost of your mortgage repayments. Only three-quarters of the mortgage interest you pay a year can be written off against the tax bill that arises from renting out a residential property.
The tax bill you face from renting out your home could run into a few thousand euro a year, depending on the amount of rent you earn. You pay tax at your higher rate of income tax and you must also pay the universal service charge on your rental income.
So, if you're a higher rate taxpayer and a PAYE worker, you could pay 48 per cent tax on rental income. If you're self-employed, you also have to pay 4 per cent PRSI which brings up the amount of tax paid to 52 per cent – or 55 per cent if you're earning more than €100,000.

From next year, everyone must pay PRSI on rental income so all landlords on the higher rate of income tax will pay at least 52 per cent tax.

A hefty tax rate like that eats into your pocket. If you're receiving rent of €1,200 a month, and you have to pay 52 per cent tax on that rental income, your tax bill would add up to about €7,500 – before any expenses are written off.

If the interest on your mortgage is not that high, and your expenses from renting out the property are about €1,000 a year, your tax bill after expenses might only be reduced to about €5,000.

Some of the rental expenses you can write off against tax include the cost of repairs to the rented property, any fees paid to a letting agent and the cost of home insurance. You can also write off the cost of any furniture or electrical appliances you bought to kit out the property over eight years (at a rate of 12.5 per cent a year).

PROPERTY TAXES

Unless you own a property that is worth more than €1m, you will pay between €90 and €1,755 in local property tax next year – depending on the value of your property. This property tax must usually be paid on any residential properties you own.

You must also pay the annual €200 Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) charge. The NPPR will be abolished next year, but if you haven't paid it since it kicked in in 2009 you face hefty penalties. If, for example, you have never paid the NPPR, by the end of this month the late payment fees for one property will have clocked up to €3,420.

You cannot write off the cost of the local property tax or the NPPR charge against your rental income tax bill.

TAX REBATE BILL

When renting out your home, you are no longer entitled to any mortgage interest relief you received on your mortgage when that property was your home – and you will have to pay this back to Revenue if you continue to claim it.

"People forget to get on to the Revenue to cancel their mortgage interest relief when they rent out their home," said Cathal Maxwell, founder and managing director of the tax saving website paylesstax.ie. "Once you let out your home, cancel your mortgage interest relief. Otherwise, you could easily owe Revenue a few grand after a couple of years."

GETTING OFF THE HOOK FOR TAX BILLS

If you have run into problems with debt and are signing up to one of the new personal insolvency deals as a result, Revenue may write off your tax bill.

"Tax liabilities in certain circumstances may be written off under the new personal insolvency legislation," said a spokeswoman for the Revenue Commissioners. "The landlord will have to satisfy a number of conditions – they must be insolvent and 75 per cent or more of the landlord's debts must be greater than six months old."

Even if you're not seriously in debt, if you're running into difficulties paying the tax bill on a rented property, get in touch with the Revenue Commissioners as you may be able to come to an alternative arrangement to repay your tax.

"Revenue is aware that in the current economic situation, some businesses and taxpayers, including landlords, are experiencing difficulties meeting their tax payment obligations," said the Revenue spokeswoman. "It is best to approach us directly as soon as problems arise rather than later when the problems have become more serious.

"Nothwithstanding the prevailing difficult economic and financial environment, Revenue expects businesses and individuals to maintain and organise their financial affairs in such a fashion as to ensure their tax debts are paid as they fall due."

REGISTRATION FEE

When you rent out a residential property, you must register the tenancy with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). It costs €90 to register a tenancy – or €180 if you don't register the tenancy within a month of renting out your home.

If you don't register your tenancy with the PRTB, you won't be able to write off three-quarters of your mortgage interest against the tax bill on your rental property. You can write off your PRTB registration fee against tax.

OTHER COSTS

It will usually be easier to rent out your property if it is furnished – however, you could spend a few grand kitting out a property.

The bill could be higher if renting out a bedsit. Under new regulations which kicked in earlier this year, each flat, apartment or house must have its own toilet, bath or shower.

"In some cases the bedsit might be too small for this, the landlord may not be able to get planning permission to put in a self-contained toilet, or the cost of doing so would simply be prohibitive," said McCormick.

You can also expect to see your home insurance bills soar when renting out your home. Insurers take the view that tenants won't care for a property as well as an owner would – and they will charge landlords more as a result.

If you decide on hiring a letting agent, you could end up paying them between 10 and 15 per cent of the rent to find a tenant for your home and then manage the tenancy for you. Some of the smaller letting agents charge €1,000 a year to find and manage tenants – so shop around.

If you run into problems with your tenants, you could end up in serious financial difficulty – particularly if you are relying on the rent to cover your mortgage repayments.

"If someone doesn't pay the rent, it could take you a-year-and-a-half to get them out of the property," said McCormick. "Even at the end of that time, there's no guarantee you will get back any of the rent owed at all."

 

Russell Brand hunts for rented house by Zee News

London: British comedian Russell Brand is looking for a rented house here and enquired about it on the microblogging site Twitter.

He is on a break from his Messiah Complex world tour and is looking for a temporary place to stay, reports thesun.co.uk.

He posted a message on Twitter, requesting his fans to inform him if someone is willing to rent a house.

“Seriously. Does anyone have a flat in east London to rent between July 30 and August 14? For me? Send links/pics/kinky advantages," Brand posted.

Brand received a huge response full of naughty messages.

Renting Vacation Spots from Craigslist

This summer you might be thinking to spend your time on a spot that is so filled with fresh air and the beauty of nature. This happens when you are living a hectic city life from day to day which is so dull and crazy. So when you get your vacations time you want to leave this hectic world and seek refuge in nature. This is normal for human beings to get back to nature. No matter how much advanced and technological we become we would always want to seek refuge in nature at the end of the day because that is where we come from and we are bound to get back to our root and our origin.

The places and spots that offer natural beauty and the best weather at this summer time become the attractions for us because we know we will have a good time over there. That is the reason that we decide to pack our bags and look for the places to live on the Craigslist so to find some place on rent where we can live for the entire time that we have to spend on that vacation spot.

When you decide that you have to do this then you think about opening and checking up the list to look for the rental property and get it on rent instantly. This is where you go wrong at times. Sometimes it happens that you find a good place on the Craigslist and you get it for rent only by a phone call and go with it very easily. When you reach your vacation point you get the place and you become happy-go-lucky sort of a person but this is not necessary to happen all the time.

There are times when things go wrong. Man has been sent to earth to choose between good and bad hence making his own destiny. It is now in man’s own hands that whether he chooses wisely or he acts like fools and gets himself into troubles. There are people who are the living and walking shadows of devils. These people like to trap the other people using many different ways in order to make money by using the wrong sources. This is what is happening on the world of internet as well. Craigslist can be a very good partner when it comes to renting places but you can never be sure that the place you are being offered is genuine and has no scam involved in it. If you get to face such a scam then there are chances that you can get your money snatched out of your hands and you end up destroying your’s and your family’s vacations right on that instant.

Now your question might be;

What is this?

And;

How can we save ourselves from this scam?

To answer these questions I would rather say that is very common of a thing on internet. On the internet the business dealing are done through messaging and there is no face to face contact of the owner and the customer. That is why people tend to open fake advertisements and promotions so that you can fall for their trap. Get their displayed property on rent and then send them the money. When you do all this and you reach your spot on the final day, you get to know that there was no such place as the one you bought on rent from someone on that particular location or else someone else is already living in that place because it was their property and did not belong to the one who rented it to you.

What to Do?

If you want to avoid all of these scams then you should be very careful and follow some tips that can save you from these scams.

-          Always meet the people who are renting you the place.

-          Better option is to hire a property agent who can find you a better place.

-          Complete the paper work carefully.

-          Check that the property is legally and legally belong to the owner who is lending you the property.

If you take care of these things then you will not face troubles regarding renting.

Real Estate Law

Real Estate Law:

When you have to get a property on rent or you have to lend it to someone you should follow the real estate law. Real estate law is very important and holds greater measure for promoting the real estate property on rent. This is not the only benefit that you get from the real estate law services. It also gives you the right guideline to follow and protects you from getting into the scams and other problems related to the property issues.

If you are getting a property on rent or giving a property on rent then the guidelines that the Real estate Law provides you hold the given points that you should follow.

Work on Time:

Times change for everything gradually and off and on to make the best use of everything. For everything there is a season.  If you follow the right time to do the right job then you are bound to face prosperity and if you do not do your job on the right time then troubles are bound to knock at your door and you will have to face them. Same is the case with the business of real estate. There are times when the business of real estate is going down and there are times when it is on peak. In the areas which are tourism focused areas, the time when the tourists come is the peak time for the people who do their business in renting properties to the tourists. That is why, if you follow the real estate laws and the schemes then you can also make the idea that what ids the exact time in which you would get the maximum benefits from a property by giving it to someone. On the other hand, for those who are to face the matter of renting a property to live, they should follow the schemes of the time and area. They should look at the range they want to get the property in and according to that they should choose the location and the time of their property renting to save their money. Tricks are available on both sides all you have to be is efficient enough to trace them.

Get a Property Agent:

A property agent is the one who guides you for the right way related to your property. They are the ones who know in detail about all the property laws and can help you with ease. There are qualities in the real estate agent that no other person possesses. You cannot handle the property renting matters always on your own. This becomes the important reason for you to get a property agent. There are the specifics that must be there in the property agent who is good at his job and can help you with efficiency.

-          The property agent must be very well connected to the neighborhood.

-          He should know all about the area you have to get your property in.

-          He should have the knowledge of those who want to rent a property if you are the one who want to end your property to others.

-          The agent should know the rates.

-          He should know how he has to deal with the parties.

-          He should know what is in and what is going to be out from the market.

-          He should have the knowledge of the property to a greater extent.

If the property agent that you have hired has all these mentioned qualities in him then you can be sure that you will make a fine deal. This makes sure that you will not end up in any trouble.
 

Auction:

There is the chance for you to get the people who are to take your property on different rates of rent. Even if you have to sell the property then also you will not be able to make sure that about the maximum rate that you could get on your property so that you can enjoy the benefits of it. If you put your property on auction then you will easily be able to get the best of rates on your property without making any much effort.

The Phenomena of Renting

The system of renting is very popular these days. If the people cannot the place of their own then they get places on rent. There are many other reasons for why people take and give their property on rent.

You must have seen people around you who do the business for renting a property as the tenant’s ad people who take the property on rent. You must have seen many get into troubles because of giving their property on rent or otherwise taking the property on rent. The basic question behind all the renting that arises is that why do people give their property on rent and why does the other take it on rent?

The answers to both these questions can be sought by discussing the points separately. That is how only we can sort out the factors that are important in case of becoming the reasons for people who lend and who take the property on rent and for what purposes the property is actually taken on rent.

Why do People give their Property on Rent?

People in the entire world give their property for rent to others because of many different reasons.

Vacant Property:

The property that does not come in use of the people because they have extra constructed property of their own tend to give their property on the rent so that they do not have to keep their place vacated and make no use of them. They can get a source to keep them used and working. The building stays alive for as long as it is being used by the living things i.e. people, a deserted place starts to decay on its own.

As a Business:

People in the places where it is sure that people will come  to visit the place, which makes up all the vacation spots in the world, it is the natives business to make places for the people  to live or else give the  shopkeepers and business men to open their shops and offices. This is practices as a business over in those places.

Money Making:

Those who are needy and they have some property in their hands, they give their place on rent to earn some money and make a living for them.

-          Why People Take Property on Rent and for What Purpose?

People who take the property on rent have their own reasons, some of them are:

Job and Education:

People who find it unavoidable to move and shift places in order to look for a better education opportunity or in the case that they get a job outside hometown,they cannot afford to get their own personal place and so they look for places for rent.

Business:

Those who have to start their business in some place they get the stores and offices on rent to make the living approachable and affordable until they can get the place of their own.

Shelter:

The families which are poor enough in the third world countries that cannot afford their own place as a shelter for their kids get the places on rent.