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Tax season doesn’t have to be a guessing game for landlords. From depreciation to mileage, there are common deductions that can significantly impact your bottom line—if you know where to look. In this post, we break down 10 landlord tax deductions every rental property owner should be familiar with and why staying organized all year matters.
Top 10 Landlord Tax Deductions
THE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY
Where Americans Moved In 2025: Carolinas And Idaho See Most Growth From Out-Of-State Moves
Many Americans voted with their feet last year on the best places to live, creating winners and losers among the states when it comes to growth from out-of-state moves. Relative to their population sizes, South Carolina, Idaho, and North Carolina saw the most growth in 2025 from net domestic migration, or the number of people moving in from another state minus those moving out, according to newly released U.S. Census data. Meanwhile, the states that shrank the most from net domestic migration outflows (meaning more people moved out than in) included New York, Hawaii, Alaska, and California.
MORE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY NEWS
Most Buyers Waiting For Rates To Drop Below 6% - Nearly everyone who hopes to buy a home this year says they won’t act if rates don’t dip below 6%, according to new research. So the general consensus that rates will range between 6% and 6.5% in 2026 won’t be welcome news — to buyers or housing professionals. The survey of 1,000 potential buyers by Clever Real Estate and Best Interest Financial found that 64% have already delayed their plans to buy a home, and a substantial 58% say current rates make homeownership unattainable for them.
Mortgage Rates Declined Despite Higher Treasury Yields - Long-term mortgage rates continued to decline in January. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.10% last month, 9 basis points (bps) lower than December. Meanwhile, the 15-year rate declined 4 bps to 5.44%. Compared to a year ago, the 30-year rate is lower by 86 bps. The 15-year rate is also lower by 72 bps. The 10-year Treasury yield, a key benchmark for long-term borrowing, averaged 4.20% in January – an increase of 8 bps from the previous month, but remained considerably lower than last year by 43 bps.
THE HOUSING MARKET
Congress Ends Partial Shutdown, Extends NFIP Through 2026
Congress has ended a three-day partial shutdown by approving funding for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other agencies through Sept. 30, 2026. Congress cleared the fiscal year 2026 spending package that was subsequently signed into law by President Trump, ending a brief partial government shutdown that began early Jan. 31. The House approved the measure Tuesday afternoon, following Senate passage late last week. Key to the package was legislation that reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through Sept. 30, 2026. The NFIP provides federally-backed flood insurance to millions of homeowners in high-risk areas, and is a cornerstone of property transactions in flood-prone regions.
MORE HOUSING MARKET NEWS
Homeownership Rate Inches Up to 65.7% - The latest homeownership rate rose to 65.7% in the last quarter of 2025, according to the Census’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS). While this was a modest quarterly increase, the broader picture continues to reflect significant affordability challenges. With mortgage interest rates remaining elevated, and housing supply still tight, housing affordability is at a multi-decade low. Compared to the peak of 69.2% in 2004, the homeownership rate is currently 3.5 percentage points lower and remains below the 25-year average rate of 66.3%.
Affordable Paths To Homeownership Narrow, But Persist In Key Markets - Realtor.com has released its annual ranking of the Best Markets for First-Time Homebuyers in 2026, highlighting U.S. cities where affordability, inventory, and local quality-of-life factors create relatively attainable paths to homeownership for younger buyers. The analysis evaluates more than 10,000 places across the nation, emphasizing markets that pair comparatively low home prices with essential amenities and positive local economic outlooks. Topping the 2026 list is Rochester, New York, where forecasted affordability and livability metrics rank highest among peers, followed by Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Granite City, Illinois.
THE CONSTRUCTION WORLD
Builders’ Top Challenges for 2026
The most significant challenge builders faced in 2025 was high interest rates, as reported by 84% of builders in the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index survey. A smaller, albeit still significant share of 65% expect interest rates to remain a problem in 2026. The next four most serious issues builders faced in 2025 were buyers expecting prices/interest rates to decline (81%), concern about…
Job Openings Fall As Labor Market Weakens
Running counter to the data for the full economy, the count of open, unfilled positions in the construction industry increased in December, per the delayed Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down measurably from two years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing. The number of open jobs for the overall economy declined as the labor market weakened at the end of 2025, falling from 6.982 million in November to 6.542 million in December. The December reading was down from a year ago (7.508 million).
THE FINANCE CORNER
Job Openings Sink In December To Lowest Level Since 2020
Job openings dropped in December, widely missing economists' expectations and tumbling to the lowest level since 2020, according to government data released Thursday. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics — originally scheduled to be published on Tuesday but delayed by the partial government shutdown — showed there were 6.5 million jobs open at the end of December. Economists polled by Bloomberg had projected 7.25 million openings for the month.
Rocket Companies Shares Jump 6% After CEO Says Mortgage Loan Volume Is Surging
Rocket Companies shares jumped on Tuesday after CEO Varun Krishna told CNBC the company was writing a larger amount of mortgage loans. “We’re getting ready for our earnings call here in just a couple of weeks, and I will share with this group that we’re on track to produce the highest mortgage loan production in terms of volume that we’ve had in four years, and the highest gain on sale that we’ve had in four years as well,” Krishna said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” Rocket shares were last up about 6.3%, jumping as Krishna shared the news.
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One Nation Weekly
Good luck to you on your real estate investing journey!
