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Oklahoma Laws to Know Before Investing In Rental Real Estate

Landlord-Tenant Law Book on a Desk with a GavelWhen most beginning OKC investors consider buying a single-family rental property, what definitely always comes to mind are the operational aspects of the investment: finding tenants, managing property maintenance, and collecting rent. What you may not consider, though, is that there are also an unthinkably large number of laws and legal matters that relate to buying and leasing rental homes.

Though it’s true that countless federal laws will be pertinent to rental properties nationwide, most of the laws that you will have to be aware of are those on the books of your state, county, or even city. This is the reason why it is pivotal to do your research and obtain a clear understanding of these laws before you get an investment property.

Real Estate Agency and Licensing Law

One of the most important people on your investing team is your real estate agent. The laws that govern the relationship between an agent and their clients differ from state to state. As an investor, it’s significant to clearly know what your real estate agent can and cannot legally do, from disclosures to acting in a dual agency capacity.

Furthermore, consider also that real estate agents may or may not be well-informed and updated on property management laws. You should specifically get a keen understanding of the procedures required by Oklahoma for getting and keeping a real estate license and pay attention to see to it that your agent’s license is current and in good standing.

Transfers of Ownership

Another state-specific set of laws you should consider is those involving voluntary and involuntary ownership transfers. Voluntary transfers of ownership are those that happen when a rental property is bought out. In addition, there are a few clear differences among state laws concerning who will handle the transfer (your real estate agent or an attorney, for example), whether title insurance is required, who pays which closing costs, and who owns the property on the day of closing.

But still, you should certainly learn your state laws about involuntary ownership transfers. These transfers usually come about when the heirs of a deceased property owner inherit the property. Distinguishing these laws can help you prepare a plan and make the process easy, whether you inherit property or leave your property to someone else.

Limitations on Use

In numerous states, local regulations will take control and have power over how a property owner may use their property. Zoning ordinances, deed restrictions, historic preservation programs, and environmental review laws can all limit how a property owner may work with their land or structures.

As an investor, it’s very important to know any local ordinances that may come against your plan to renovate or lease the property you choose to buy. You should specifically look to know if any occupancy laws impact your strategy to make use of the property as a rental.

Fair Housing and Others

There are federal, state, and even quite a lot of local laws intended to protect tenants’ rights and prevent discrimination. So while ascertaining your federal tenants’ rights laws is significantly important, you ought to know also whether your state has supplemented those laws with stricter versions of their own. You should specifically check, in the same vein, for any rent control policies that may apply, both current and those likely to be enacted soonest.

Knowing your local Landlord/Tenant laws and habitability standards will help effectively make sure you manage your investment property rightly. Tenants’ rights laws can cover a really large stack of things, from security requirements to frequency and notification about rent increases.

 

As indicated, being aware of all of the fundamental laws in Oklahoma can be a lot of work, so it is only logical for most rental property investors to decide to hire Oklahoma City property management experts instead. At Real Property Management Elevate, we master all the ins and outs of state and federal laws and can safeguard that your investment properties are leased and managed well under those laws. Call today at 405-876-7611.

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