Free resources

Free, practical downloads for people who run the numbers before they sign. No fluff, no upsell — the same checklists and rules of thumb we use behind the calculators.

Last updated: 2026-09-19

Free download

Property Investment Checklist (PDF)

A field-tested checklist from a licensed broker and commercial appraiser: what to verify before you tour, how to check income and expenses, and the ratios lenders actually test.

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What's inside the Property Investment Checklist

Before you tour: buy box, financing proof, comparable sales and rents, market vacancy, and a stress-tested payment.
Income verification: rent roll, two to three years of operating statements, lease terms, arrears, and other income.
Expense verification: taxes and reassessment risk, a live insurance quote, utilities, repairs, management, turnover, and reserves.
Physical due diligence: full inspection plus roof, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and sewer scope, remaining useful life, code and ADA items.
Title, legal, and zoning: title commitment, survey, zoning for your intended use, legal non-conforming status, HOA documents, special assessments.
Run the numbers: NOI, cap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCR, break-even occupancy, exit assumptions, and downside stress tests.
Closing and the first 90 days: insurance binding, estoppels, prorations, tenant notices, budgeted capital items, and your review calendar.
A one-page ratio reference with the formula and a realistic rule of thumb for each metric.

The checklist PDF is currently available in English. PDF

Who it's for

First-time rental buyers who want a repeatable process instead of a gut feeling.
Small commercial investors evaluating retail, office, industrial, or multifamily deals.
Agents and brokers who want to hand clients something genuinely useful.
Anyone who has ever discovered a problem after closing that a checklist would have caught.

How to use it

Print one copy per property and keep it with that deal's file.
Work top to bottom — the order matches how a deal actually unfolds.
Anything you can't verify in writing stays unchecked, and unchecked items become price negotiations.
Run the math with the free calculators below instead of a spreadsheet you built at midnight.

Who wrote it

Larius Woodson is a licensed real estate broker and a commercial property appraiser for a county property appraiser's office. The checklist reflects what actually goes wrong in real transactions — under-reported expenses, optimistic rent rolls, deferred maintenance, and zoning surprises.

Free calculators that do this math for you

Every number the checklist asks for has a free calculator on this site. Nothing to install, nothing to sign up for.

Frequently asked questions

Is the checklist really free?

Yes. Enter an email address and the download link appears immediately. There is no payment step and no trial.

What do you do with my email address?

We use it to send you the guide and occasional notes about new calculators and resources. We do not sell it, and every email includes an unsubscribe link.

Can I share or print the checklist?

Yes. Print it, hand it to a client, or share the file — as long as it stays unchanged, with its attribution intact.

Is this financial or legal advice?

No. It is general educational information. Every property is different, so verify the numbers and the legal items with your own lender, attorney, accountant, and inspector.

These resources are general educational information, not financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.