The first thing you should do is determine how much you need to rent the property for to have a good cashflow (add up all of the costs associated, taxes, insurance, association dues, maintenance, property management fees, mortgage).  You want to know where you stand compared to the current market rental rate.  You want your property to generate income for you and be an asset, not a liability.

Next, go to craigslist or do a Google search for the street name + “for rent”.  This should direct you to several comparable properties.  You should look for properties with the same amount of bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage.  Some may have pools, be on the water or several acres of land, these rates should be adjusted up or down compared to your property.  Find four or five comparables and then take the average of them.  This gives you a ballpark range for what is reasonable in the area. 

Then compare the average rent with the amount you need in order to get a cashflow on the property. Set your rate at what is going to give you the maximum amount of return on investment possible, while still being competitive with the nearby properties. 

In today’s market, you definitely need to be in the same range as the comparables.  There is too much supply on the market and your property will not get any attention unless it is priced reasonably.

Once you have your rental rate set, add $25.  This will give you some room to negotiate a solid lease.

Related posts:

1. As Home Prices Decline, it is a Great Time to Invest in a Rental Property
2. The Effect of Record Foreclosures
3. If Mortgage Rates went up….