What happens when stability vanishes overnight and you are forced to start over?

In Memoirs of a Landlord, Frank J. Taussig shares the true story of his unexpected journey. In 1986, he is working a steady desk job with the State of Oregon, having previously earned a promotion to Executive Service, which is subject to the Governor’s continual approval. But after a new Governor is elected, everything changes. Just three months later, he is out of a job.

What comes next is a bold decision. With little cash but plenty of determination, Taussig becomes a full-time landlord.

He enters a world of tenant interviews, late-night repairs, courtroom battles, and constant uncertainty. Specializing in distressed properties, he takes on houses in serious disrepair, an apartment building overrun with cockroaches, and even a fourplex where one apartment's only "bedroom" is a widened section of hallway.  His tenants, like him, are often short on cash, but long on plain old stubbornness.

Inside is a collection of true stories filled with unforgettable characters from the tough side of town, including the Queen of 25th Street, a professional shoplifter named David, the mysterious Madame X, and Rodeo, a blind and diabetic former bull rider.

Honest, compelling, and often surprising, Memoirs of a Landlord offers a candid look at the risks, realities, and human stories behind life as a landlord.