DIY home renovation projects are all the rage. Thanks to good ol' Chip and Joanna Gaines, anyone and everyone who has a property, drill, runaway imagination, and HGTV on demand is renovating in fresh, inspiring ways.

Like with any investment, real estate has inherent risks—and rental vacancies are one of the biggest and baddest.

As a landlord, you face a tricky balance: you want to protect your property, but you also want to avoid lengthy vacancies.

Considering renting out your home for the first time can be both thrilling and nerve-racking. Is it worth it in the long run? Should you sell instead? How much work is it going to take?

Owning a rental property is a great way to earn extra cash each month and even make a living:

Prices matter, especially when it comes to real estate. Just think about how much time you spend at the grocery store debating between name brand and off-brand products—and that's just to save you a couple of cents.

Owning a rental property isn't cheap, but you probably knew that already. Mortgage payments, taxes, insurance—it takes a lot of cash.