The Clark Howard Podcast 01.23.26 Clark Answers His Critics on Clark Stinks / Owning Rental Property
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Jan 23, 2026 Listener critiques take center stage as Clark responds to feedback, adding humor to common misconceptions. He shares insights on becoming a landlord in today's challenging housing market, introducing his practical 1% rule for assessing investment properties. The discussion covers the difficulties of single-family rentals and highlights opportunities in distressed properties. Additionally, Clark navigates the complexities of self-employed retirement options and offers tips on managing credit and home insurance challenges.
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Positive Disney Timeshare Buyback
- Wayne in Florida shared buying 200 Disney Vacation Club points in 2000 and selling them back in 2025 for nearly the same price.
- He paid $13,000 and Disney repurchased for $11,500 after 25 years of use, a rare positive timeshare story.
Apply The 1% Rule First
- Use the 1% rule as a quick screening tool: aim to charge monthly rent equal to at least 1% of purchase price.
- If a property fails this test, avoid buying unless you can materially lower acquisition or rehab costs.
Prices Outran Rents, Squeezing Returns
- Home prices have outpaced rents, making single-family rental purchases less profitable for individual buyers.
- Large private-equity buyers can still play due to scale, but individual investors struggle to compete.