The 5 Most Overlooked Due Diligence Items When Buying a Rental Property

BiggerPockets Blog
Published: December 30, 2025
Hosting Operations

Summary

This article details five crucial due diligence items that real estate investors often overlook when purchasing rental properties. Hosts should pay close attention to micro-market analysis, property systems, operational complexity, financial stress testing, and insurance underwriting to make informed investment decisions and protect their cash flow.

Key Insights

  • A property's history of claims, particularly for water damage or fire, can negatively impact insurance premiums and carrier options.
  • Within the same ZIP code, one street can outperform the next. Sub-neighborhood pockets often have very different renter demographics, turnover rates, and levels of demand.

Action Items

  • Validate demand with actual operators on the ground by contacting local property managers.
    Effort: low
    Impact: medium
  • Before closing, budget for the expected remaining lifespan of major systems like the roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical panels.
    Effort: medium
    Impact: high
  • Conduct financial stress testing by adjusting rent projections, modeling vacancy impacts, and incorporating potential expense increases.
    Effort: medium
    Impact: high

Tools & Resources

  • Steadily: Partnering with an investor-focused insurance provider like Steadily can be a strategic advantage.

Common Mistakes

  • Ignoring insurance underwriting can lead to underperforming properties.

Related Videos

More from Hosting Operations

MakeMyTrip and Ixigo partner with OpenAI to expand AI-powered travel tools

MakeMyTrip and Ixigo are partnering with OpenAI to integrate AI across their platforms. This collaboration aims to revolutionize the travel experience, supporting features like trip planning and booking. The integration is designed to personalize and convert inspiration into confirmed bookings, offering personalized outcomes at scale.

1 day agoIndia75
Airbnb Host Gets Odd Request From Guest—Then She Realizes: ‘Big Problem’ - Newsweek

An Airbnb host faced an unusual guest request, uncovering a potential 'big problem' impacting their operations. Details of the odd request and the subsequent realization about its negative consequences for the host's business model are presented. Further investigation revealed a significant issue that hosts should be aware of.

2 days ago75
Spring break plans? Spot these red flags so you don't get scammed on your stay - WDSU

This article from WDSU focuses on identifying potential scams related to spring break travel. It highlights red flags travelers should be aware of when booking accommodations, such as unrealistic prices or demands for unconventional payment methods. Knowing these potential pitfalls will help hosts and guests alike prevent fraud and ensure a safe and positive booking experience.

2 days ago75

Curated by Learn STR by GoStudioM