> Negative values of m represent the time m months before January 1,2010
Let m be -10.
Then m is negative.
Therefore -10 represent the time -10 months before January 1,2010
-10 months before January 1,2010 is 10 month after January 1,2010, i.e. October 1, 2010.
> and positive values of m represent the time m months after January 1,2010.
Now let m be 10.
Then m is positive.
Therefore 10 represent the time 10 months after January 1,2010.
10 months after January 1,2010 is (as I mentioned before) October 1, 2010.
> The landlord had a income of 0 when thw home was bought
Now let's see for which value of m is I = 0:
0=0.5(18+m) ⇔ 0 = 18+m ⇔ -18 = m.
Because m is negative it represents 18 month after January 1,2010, i.e. July 1, 2011.