Should I Rent or Sell My Property in California City?

Maximizing Security Deposit Returns: A Guide for California City Landlords

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:00:02 GMT

Security deposit law can be confusing in California City – for owners as well as tenants. There are often disputes when a tenant moves out. Typically, tenants will expect to get their full deposit back, no matter what the property looks like. And, sometimes, owners will be a little bit over-zealous in making deductions from that deposit.

It’s easy to see how things might escalate.

As a landlord in California City, understanding the nuances of security deposit management is vital—not only for compliance with local laws but also for maintaining positive tenant relationships . A well-handled security deposit can help mitigate disputes and ensure smoother transitions between tenants, ultimately benefiting your bottom line.

When we talk about maximizing your security deposit, we’re talking about staying compliant with the laws. We’re talking about understanding best practices for handling deposits and conducting inspections .

Check out the tips we’re providing as California City property managers around maximizing the return of security deposits. Here’s what you need to know.

Understanding California's Security Deposit Laws

California law (Civ. Code § 1950.5) outlines specific regulations regarding security deposits . Familiarizing yourself with the law will help you manage deposits effectively and avoid potential legal issues. Recently, the law changed around how much you’re allowed to collect. Previously, landlords could ask for the equivalent of two months’ rent for an unfurnished rental property. Laws that went into effect in July of 2024 restrict that amount to one month. There are plenty of exceptions, of course, but in general, you should prepare to collect no more than the equivalent of one month’s rent.

Security deposits must be returned within 21 days of a tenant vacating the property. If you withhold any portion of the deposit, you must provide an itemized list of deductions that includes receipts and/or estimates. Many owners ask about interest. Depending on local regulations, you may also be required to pay interest on the security deposit. If you have the option to keep the security deposit in a non-interest-bearing account, we recommend that you do it.

Best Practices for Handling Security Deposits

The way you collect, manage, and return security deposits can greatly affect your rental property earnings. Here are some best practices to follow.

Clearly Outline Terms in Lease Agreements

Your lease should explicitly state the amount of the security deposit, its purpose, and the conditions under which deductions will be made. This transparency sets clear expectations and reduces disputes later on. Always acknowledge the receipt of that deposit.

Use a Dedicated Security Deposit Account

Consider keeping security deposits in a separate bank account. This not only helps track funds but also adds another layer of protection for tenants. There’s less for you to worry about during the accounting and the return of the deposit.

Conduct a Thorough Move-In Inspection

Document the property's condition before your tenants move into your property and take possession. This serves as a baseline for any discussions about damage or wear and tear when they move out. Take photographs and make sure that both you and your tenant sign off on a move-in checklist.

Keep Detailed Records Throughout the Tenancy

Maintain records of maintenance, repairs, and tenant communications. Should disputes arise, having these records will help you defend your decisions regarding deposit deductions. The more detailed you can be, the stronger your case will look. This is why we are always encouraging photos and videos.

Provide a Clear Move-Out Process

Communicate the steps tenants need to take before vacating your property. This might include cleaning guidelines, a final inspection if they opt to have one, and the return of keys and access devices. You always want to get a forwarding address, too, so you can return the security deposit promptly and within the 21-day requirement.

Conducting Effective Move-Out Inspections

Move-out inspections are critical in determining whether deductions from a security deposit are justified. In California, your tenants have the right to a pre-move-out inspection. You’ll need to offer that about two weeks before they’re scheduled to depart. Here’s how to conduct these inspections effectively:

Schedule the Inspection Ahead of Time. Give your tenants at least a couple of days’ notice. This not only helps them prepare but also shows that you respect their time.
Use the Move-In Checklist as a Guide. Refer back to the move-in inspection checklist. This will help both you and the tenant understand what was agreed upon at the beginning of the tenancy, making the inspection more straightforward.
Communicate. If there are discrepancies, discuss them with your tenant on the spot.

Document the current condition of the property with photos or videos. This serves as proof for any deductions made later on. While you must conduct the inspection personally, ensure you maintain a respectful distance. This is still your tenant’s home, and they may feel uncomfortable with too much scrutiny.

Tips for Maximizing Security Deposit Returns

If deductions are necessary, ensure they are justified and documented. Being fair and transparent will build trust , making tenants more likely to accept what you’re deducting.

Navigating the complexities of security deposits as a California landlord might seem challenging, and it can be. This is an excellent reason to work with a California City property manager. We handle the security deposit collection and return, leaving you with less stress and often fewer repairs to make.

Contact us at JBL & Associates. We’re a leading property management company in California City with an outstanding reputation locally and within the industry. We’d love to talk with you further about how security deposits can impact how you protect your rental property.

The Future of Property Management in California: Technology Trends to Watch

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Which technology trends are you watching these days?

For us, as California City property managers , we’re all about the tech that impacts how we lease, manage, and maintain your investment property . We’re taking a look at artificial intelligence (AI) and building management through the Internet of Things (IoT), and we’re of course updating the way we utilize owner and tenant portals. We’re making showings easier to manage and we’re installing things like digital keypads to let tenants, prospects, and even vendors in and out of properties with ease.

The future of property management in California very much swirls around technology. Whether you’re managing your own property or partnering with a management team, these are the trends we suggest you pay attention to.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning

There’s been a lot of chatter about AI, and while it’s all interesting when you funnel it down to how it can help property managers specifically, it’s a pretty valuable technology . AI and machine learning are transforming multiple industries, and while we don’t necessarily want it writing papers for students or making important political decisions for governments, we can tell you that it’s very valuable for property managers and the owners who use our services. These technologies can analyze large volumes of data to identify patterns, predict tenant behavior, and optimize property performance.

For example, AI-driven chatbots can provide 24/7 support to tenants, answering common questions and resolving minor issues without human intervention. This not only improves tenant satisfaction but also frees up property managers to focus on more complex tasks.

AI can also gather an overwhelming amount of data. We’d never have the time to analyze it ourselves. AI does it for us; providing insights that help with pricing , marketing, and other property management functions.

The Future of California City Property Management Software

You should always investigate what a management company uses for software before you decide to sign a management agreement with them. We love the systems we use, and they’re always improving and evolving.

Property management software is having a large impact on how we help you rent out a single property or grow a portfolio of them. It’s the foundation of our reliable and forward-thinking real estate operations. No one in our industry is using paper ledgers or Excel spreadsheets anymore. Our technology continues to evolve, making our systems more automated and our jobs more efficient.

With a management partner that invests in robust property management platforms, rental property owners can streamline operations, from tenant screening and lease management to maintenance requests and financial reporting. You should be receiving rent payments faster. Lease renewals should be automatic.

Let’s take a look at some of the key features we look for when using property management technology, so you understand the impact it has.

Automated Rent Collection . This is essential as many tenants today are expecting some kind of online or digital payment platform. With our system, your residents can set up recurring payments and save their payment information, reducing the hassle of manual invoicing or the need for paper checks. Online rent collection is not only more secure and convenient, it also leads to fewer late payments.

Tenant Screening Tools . We want to be consistent, thorough, and objective when it comes to screening tenants. It’s the best way to ensure we’re compliant with all fair housing laws . The technology we use allows us to quickly check credit scores, rental history, and income to find the best tenants for your California City rental property.

Maintenance and Repairs . We use technology that can easily manage and track maintenance requests to ensure timely responses and happy tenants. Our technology integrates with how our vendors work, streamlining the work we assign and the invoices we pay.

Utilizing property management software saves us valuable time and helps make your investment properties more attractive to prospective tenants . We can spend more time and resources on strategic marketing, responsive showings, and tenant communication and relationships, which leads to higher retention rates.

Communication Tools and Technology

Effective communication between property managers and tenants is crucial for maintaining a positive living environment. In California, property managers are increasingly turning to communication tools to facilitate positive and professional relationships .

Communication tools that are used by property managers are beneficial because they provide real-time updates. Instant messaging platforms provide tenants with timely updates regarding maintenance, emergencies, or community news. Many platforms even offer social features, creating a sense of community among residents.

Keep watching the social messaging and group aspect of property management technology. The goal is to bring people together, whether we’re talking about tenants in a single building or community or investors who share similar goals and are looking for local opportunities. Communication is about connection, and the technology coming into our industry is focused on that.

Offering Smart Home Technology in California City Rentals

Leveraging technology is essential for streamlining operations and enhancing communication. By adopting smart property management systems, mobile apps, virtual tours, predictive analytics, and smart home technology, you can optimize your property management efforts and provide an exceptional experience for your tenants.

You don’t have to worry about selecting, implementing, and learning your management technology when you’re working with a California City property manager who has already invested in the best possible property management tech.

Contact us at JBL & Associates. We’re a unique property management company in California City with an outstanding reputation locally and within the industry. We’d love to talk with you further about how technology trends can make management more efficient.

Building a Strong Landlord-Tenant Relationship: Tips and Tricks for California City

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 21:00:01 GMT

As California City property managers , we can tell you with a lot of expertise and certainty that the relationships you build with your tenants that can make or break your success as a rental property owner .

Healthy and professional boundaries are impotent, of course. You need not be best friends with your residents. In fact, you shouldn’t be.

However, you do want a solid and respectful working relationship in place. This will allow you to stick to the lease agreement, collect rent consistently, and enjoy a stress-free rental experience.

Let’s explore the various ways you can invest in and maintain a positive and productive relationship with your tenants. You should be able to easily see how such a relationship can ultimately lead to increased tenant retention and higher tenant satisfaction.

These are our best tips and tricks.

Setting Clear Expectations with Tenants

A good relationship with your tenants begins before they move in. You want to establish some expectations and standards before the lease begins. We recommend that you use the time before move in to go over the lease in detail. Set clear rules and expectations from the start. This can reduce misunderstandings and create a better relationship right from the start. It’s better to build on a strong relationship than to repair one that got off to a rocky start.

Create a Comprehensive Lease Agreement

Ensure your lease agreement includes clear policies on:

Rent collection policies
Processes for submitting maintenance requests
Rules regarding property use

This will serve as a reference point for both parties and prevent disputes. Your lease should be the first thing you turn to when there’s a question or a disagreement.

Discuss House Rules and Community Regulations

You need to be clear about pet policies, whether smoking is allowed, and how long guests can stay. If you’re renting out units in a multi-family property , make sure you’re discussing, in your lease agreement and in your communication with tenants, rules around noise, shared spaces, and guest policies. If your property is in an HOA, you’ll want to make sure your tenant can access all rules, regulations, and requirements put forth by the association. All of this information must be clearly communicated to ensure everyone’s on the same page.

Be Responsive and Available to Residents in California City

A key aspect of a good landlord-tenant relationship is effective communication. Ensure your tenants can reach you easily and that you respond promptly to their inquiries or concerns. You need to be available to them, otherwise they’ll grow resentful (and with good reason).

Leverage technology to make communication easier for both you and your tenants. Consider using property management software that allows tenants to submit maintenance requests and communicate with you through a dedicated platform.

Addressing Property Maintenance and Repairs

Timely property maintenance and addressing repairs are crucial components of maintaining a positive landlord-tenant relationship . Ensuring that the property is well-maintained not only protects your investment but also reinforces trust and satisfaction among tenants.

Establish a Clear Maintenance Request Process

Implement a transparent and straightforward procedure for tenants to report maintenance issues. This could be through a dedicated email address, an online portal, or a phone line specifically for maintenance requests. Make sure tenants are aware of this process upon moving in, so they feel empowered to communicate their needs quickly and efficiently.

Respond Promptly to All Maintenance Requests

When a maintenance request is received, respond promptly. A swift acknowledgment demonstrates your commitment to their comfort and well-being. Ideally, aim to resolve issues within a reasonable timeframe, as this responsiveness can greatly enhance tenant satisfaction and loyalty. While emergencies always have to be managed right away, by responding to simple problems with the same sense of urgency, you’re telling your tenants that their needs are important to you. You’re also demonstrating that you take the care of your property seriously. It sets a good example.

Schedule Regular Maintenance Inspections

Conducting regular inspections can help you identify potential maintenance problems before they escalate. Schedule these inspections in advance and communicate with your tenants about the purpose and process. This proactive approach shows your diligence and commitment to maintaining a safe and comfortable living environment.

Handle Tenant Complaints Effectively

Whenever an issue arises, address it promptly. Not only does this demonstrate respect for your tenant’s needs, but addressing concerns quickly can prevent them from escalating.

Start by establishing a clear process for tenants to voice their concerns. Make sure they know how to contact you and what information to provide to ensure quick resolution. When a complaint arises, respond as swiftly as possible to acknowledge receipt and assure them that their issue is being addressed. It’s important to actively listen to their concerns without interruption, demonstrating empathy and understanding.

Once you have a grasp on the issue, outline the steps you will take to resolve it and set realistic timelines. Following up after the resolution is equally important; this shows your commitment to their satisfaction and helps build trust.

Investing in your relationship with your tenants doesn’t just lead to higher satisfaction levels; it can also result in lower turnover rates, better property care, and ultimately, a more successful rental endeavor. You want to preserve your profitability and your reputation. A good relationship with tenants can accomplish that.

By taking the time to understand your tenant’s needs, set clear expectations, remain accessible, handle issues fairly, and express appreciation, you’ll create and sustain a positive landlord-tenant relationship that benefits everyone involved.

Let’s talk about this. Sometimes, it’s better to work with a California City property management partner so you don’t have to worry about the tenant relationship at all. Contact us at JBL & Associates. We’re a unique property management company in California City with an outstanding reputation locally and within the industry. We’d love to talk with you further about this topic.

The Impact of Local Zoning Laws on California Property Investments

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:47:06 GMT

Zoning considerations are perhaps not the sexiest part of investing in real estate.

Do you really even think about them much, until you have to?

Probably not. And that has landed more than one real estate investor into some surprising trouble. You don’t want to find yourself investing in an area that doesn’t allow rental homes like yours. That would significantly reduce your profitability.

In California City, CA, these zoning regulations can significantly impact property values, investment opportunities, and the overall return on investment. So, we decided to do our current investors and potential new real estate investors a favor by taking a deep dive into what the zoning laws are and how you can best work around them. We'll explore the specific zoning laws in California City and how they affect property investments

Zoning 101: What are These Laws and Their Purpose?

Zoning laws are regulations set by local governments that determine how land can be used in specific areas. These laws can dictate everything from the type of buildings that can be constructed (commercial, residential, industrial) to the specific activities that can take place on a property (such as operating a business).

For real estate investors, understanding zoning laws is an important part of making investment decisions. They can directly impact property values, potential uses for the property, and the likelihood of future development in the area. You will want to know what the zoning laws permit and restrict before you make an investment. New laws around short-term rental properties are also going to be relevant when we’re talking about zoning. If you’re investing with the idea that you’ll rent out vacation properties or short-term leases, make sure they’re allowed. If you’re buying in an HOA neighborhood, you’ll want to make sure rentals are allowed and that certain limits have not been met yet.

There’s a lot to think about, and a California City property manager can help protect your investment and monitor any changes in zoning regulations and laws.

Current Zoning Laws in California City

California City has a variety of zoning classifications, each with its own set of regulations. We are going to take a close look at some of the main classifications, which include:

Residential Zones (R1, R2, R)

These zones are designated for different types of housing. The R1 zone, for example, typically allows for single-family homes, while R2 and R3 may allow for duplexes or multi-family units. Understanding the specifics of these classifications is important for investors looking to develop residential properties.

Commercial Zones (C1, C2)

Commercial zones are designated for businesses. C1 zones typically allow for retail shops, while C2 zones may allow for more diverse commercial activities. Investors interested in commercial real estate should familiarize themselves with these classifications and their associated regulations.

Industrial Zones (M1, M2)

These zones are designated for industrial activities. M1 zones might allow for light industrial operations, while M2 zones may permit heavier industrial uses. For investors considering industrial properties, understanding these classifications and their regulations is essential.

Mixed-Use Zones (MU1)

Mixed-use zones allow for a combination of residential and commercial properties. These zones are becoming increasingly popular in urban areas, as they promote a live-work-play environment. Investors should pay particular attention to the regulations surrounding these zones, as they can offer unique opportunities for development.

Agricultural Zones (A1)

Agricultural zones are designated for farming and related activities. While these zones may not be the primary focus for many real estate investors, understanding their regulations can be important for those interested in agricultural properties or rural development.

Open Space and Recreation Zones (OS)

These zones are set aside for parks, recreational facilities, and conservation areas. While they may not directly impact property investment, they play a crucial role in determining the overall character and livability of the community.

Specific Plan Zones (SP)

How Zoning Laws Affect Property Investments

Zoning laws can impact property investments in several ways:

Property Value

Changes in zoning laws can lead to changes in property values.

For example, if a previously residential-only area is re-zoned for commercial use, property values may increase significantly. Conversely, if a commercial area is re-zoned for residential use, property values might decrease.

Investment Opportunities

Zoning laws can create or limit investment opportunities.

For instance, if a local government decides to promote mixed-use developments, investors may find new opportunities to invest in properties that cater to both residential and commercial needs.

Development Potential

Zoning laws outline what can be built on a property and how it can be used. If the zoning laws are restrictive, they can limit the potential for property development, which can impact the overall return on investment for real estate investors.

Compliance Costs

Investors must also consider the costs associated with compliance with zoning laws. If a property requires modifications to meet zoning requirements, these costs can add up quickly and impact the overall profitability of the investment.

Future Trends in Zoning Laws

Or work with a property management team like ours. We’re always watching the developments in the city’s government, and we make sure the investors and owners we work with are prepared and compliant.

Local zoning laws play a significant role in shaping the real estate investment landscape in California City, CA. By understanding these laws and staying informed about potential changes, investors can make more informed decisions and maximize their return on investment.

Contact us at JBL & Associates. We’re a unique property management company in California City with an outstanding reputation locally and within the industry. We’d love to talk with you and help you understand zoning laws and how they impact your investments.

Sustainable Property Management: Green Practices for California City Rentals

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 20:00:00 GMT

California City is a growing rental market that offers a lot of opportunities for real estate investors , especially those who are forward-thinking and curious. There’s been a lot of attention given to climate change, natural disasters (which are seriously impacting California and its properties), and how to create sustainable living spaces in a way that continues to drive profit and support owners.

The attention to sustainable property management in California City and the surrounding areas is also due to an increasing demand for sustainable living. Property owners who adopt eco-friendly practices not only contribute to a healthier planet but also enhance the appeal of their rentals.

Sustainable property management, we can tell you, is not only good for your tenants and the physical environment; it’s good business. Let’s take a look at some of the green practices that are especially useful for California City rental properties.

Energy Efficiency and Smart Rental Property Upgrades

Investing in energy-efficient appliances and systems is one of the most impactful steps landlords can take to make investments a bit more sustainable. These upgrades not only reduce the property’s carbon footprint but also lower utility bills—a benefit that your cost-conscious tenants will appreciate.

LED Lighting . This is perhaps the easiest and most basic change you can make. Replace traditional bulbs with LED lights, which use 75% less energy and last significantly longer. You won’t be replacing them as frequently.

Smart Thermostats . You’ll find these devices learn a tenant's habits and adjust heating and cooling accordingly, ensuring comfort without wasting energy. It’s great for them, and it allows you to keep your property safe and comfortable when it’s vacant.

Energy Star Appliances . You will need to replace those aging appliances eventually. When it’s time, make sure you buy something that’s Energy Star certified. While they may have a higher upfront cost, these appliances consume significantly less energy than standard models.

California City Rentals and Water Conservation Measures

California has faced severe droughts over the last decade, making water conservation essential. Implementing water-saving measures not only helps the environment but can also lower water bills for property owners . Try these upgrades and updates. Tenants will be impressed.

Low-Flow Fixtures .

Installing low-flow shower heads and faucets can drastically reduce water usage without sacrificing performance.

Rainwater Harvesting Systems

Collecting rainwater for irrigation can significantly decrease water consumption, particularly in drought-prone areas.

Xeriscaping

Lawns don’t always have to be green and lush to be attractive. This landscaping method uses drought-resistant plants and requires minimal irrigation, making it ideal for California's climate.

Waste Reduction Initiatives

Encouraging tenants to recycle and reduce waste is another way property owners can contribute to sustainability. Providing clearly marked recycling bins for paper, plastics, and metals can make recycling easier for tenants. If you rent out a multifamily building , you’ll be required to offer organic recycling, too.

Implementing a composting program for organic waste not only reduces landfill contributions but also provides nutrient-rich soil for landscaping.

Consider Sustainable Transportation Options

With California's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting sustainable transportation options within and around California City rental properties is a smart move. Provide secure bicycle storage, for example. This encourages tenants to choose biking as a primary mode of transport, which is something more and more tenants are leaning towards. There’s also been an increase in electric vehicles and hybrids. Installing EV chargers caters to the growing number of electric vehicle owners and aligns with California's green transportation goals.

If it’s relevant to your California City rental, highlight the property's proximity to public transit options in rental listings.

Pursue Green Certifications and Incentives

Many property owners may not be aware of the various green certifications available, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or GreenPoint Ratings. These certifications provide a number of benefits. They can enhance the property's marketability and potentially qualify owners for tax credits or rebates. The certification process typically involves auditing existing practices and making necessary improvements, which can lead to long-term savings.

Financial Benefits of Sustainable Property Management

One of the most immediate advantages is the reduction in operating costs. Energy-efficient upgrades lead to lower utility bills, and these savings can be substantial over time, particularly with a continual rise in energy prices. Additionally, properties that implement water conservation measures often see a marked decrease in water bills, allowing owners to allocate resources more efficiently.

More importantly, sustainability can enhance property value and attract quality tenants willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly features. Listings that highlight green certifications and energy-efficient amenities tend to resonate with environmentally conscious renters, potentially reducing vacancy rates .

Owners can also benefit from various financial incentives, such as tax deductions or rebates available for implementing sustainable upgrades. These incentives can further offset installation costs and positively impact the overall return on investment. Additionally, a commitment to sustainability can strengthen tenant retention, as satisfied tenants are more likely to renew their leases, reducing the costs associated with turnover and vacancy.

Adopting sustainable property management practices in California City and the surrounding areas will contribute to a healthier environment. They’ll also enhance the appeal and value of rental properties . By investing in energy efficiency, promoting water conservation, encouraging waste reduction, and supporting sustainable transportation, property owners can make a significant impact.

We encourage you to engage your current and potential residents as well. That will not only establish a great tenant relationship , but it will also lead to a valuable sense of shared responsibility. As we move towards a greener future, California landlords have an opportunity to lead the way in creating eco-friendly homes that benefit everyone.

Contact us at JBL & Associates. We’re a unique property management company in California City, focused on providing outstanding rentals to well-qualified tenants. Sustainable properties are the future, and we can help position you for success.

California Rental Market Trends: What Landlords Need to Know in 2024

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 00:52:17 GMT

The California rental market has always been pricey, competitive, and fast-moving. Whether you’re in one of the major cities up and down the coast of this state or even more inland, the rental market we navigate tends to reflect the broader economic trends and local industry nuances.

For landlords and real estate investors currently renting out homes here or thinking about investing in property to rent out, understanding these market and demand shifts is crucial for making informed decisions about their properties.

We’re local property managers in California, and we’ve been studying the rental market trends in California for years. Let’s take a close look at some of the key rental market trends that landlords need to be prepared for as we cruise toward the end of 2024.

Rising Rents and Growing Demand for Rental Homes

Over the last few years, California has seen a steady increase in rental prices, which is not unlike what has been experienced throughout the rest of the country. These higher rental values are largely driven by demand and a shortage of inventory. More people are renting than buying, remote workers are spreading out from cities and moving into locations of their own choosing, and all of that demand has created higher prices. Throughout the rest of 2024, this trend is expected to continue, especially in areas of California that are outside of major cities.

What does this mean for landlords? It means more rental income . You can anticipate higher rents and higher earnings. This is a great time to review your rental rates and adjust them if necessary. If you have lease renewals coming up, you’ll want to prepare to offer a new lease that incorporates a rental increase, as long as it’s within the confines of any fair housing laws to which your property is bound.

This means there are great investment opportunities for new and experienced investors, too. Areas that are currently affordable but projected to grow could present some of your best potential investment opportunities.

Trending: A Shift Towards Smaller Units

The demand for smaller living spaces, such as studios and one-bedroom apartments, has surged. This shift is influenced by lifestyle changes, with many individuals prioritizing location over size, especially among demographics like retirees who prefer to downsize into a low-maintenance living environment, and cost-conscious younger renters who are focused on finding affordable, and thus usually smaller, places to live.

Increased Importance of Sustainability

California's focus on sustainability is influencing rental preferences. This is not so much a political trend as a lifestyle one. Many renters are now willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly features, such as energy-efficient appliances and solar panels. This presents opportunities for you to make your property a little bit greener and thus, more attractive to renters who are looking for sustainable living situations. Incorporate value-added investments such as LED lights, energy-efficient appliances, and low-flow plumbing fixtures. Highlighting these features in property listings and advertising can help properties stand out in a competitive market.

Technological Advancements in Property Management

The rise of technology in property management is transforming how rental property owners in California operate. It’s changing our work as property managers, too. From virtual tours to automated rent collection, these advancements enhance tenant experience and streamline management processes.

If you’re managing your own investments, investing in property management software can improve efficiency and tenant satisfaction. Leveraging social media and online property listing platforms becomes essential for reaching potential tenants .

If you’re looking for a property management partner in California, make sure you’re choosing a company that invests in technology.

California’s Legal Landscape and Tenant Protections

We’ve been watching California’s regulatory and legal landscape continue to evolve. In 2024, you need to be well-versed in rent control , fair housing, just cause eviction, Section 8 requirements, and habitability standards. There are new laws to know, too. Specifically, the security deposit limits have changed for a lot of rental property owners. You need to know about service animals and emotional support animals and why they cannot be treated like pets.

It’s risky out there, and the rental market is full of potential liability. Don’t put yourself in a position where it’s too easy to make a legal mistake. That mistake will be an expensive one, and it could also damage your reputation.

Potential Challenges for Landlords

While the California rental market presents numerous opportunities, landlords also face several challenges that require careful navigation. One significant hurdle is the ongoing issue of rent control laws and regulations, which can limit the ability to increase rental prices in line with market trends. This can lead to decreased profitability for landlords, especially in heavily regulated areas.

As you may have noticed, maintenance costs are also rising. As properties age, the costs associated with maintenance and repairs can escalate . You’ll have to budget for these expenses while balancing the need to keep rental prices competitive.

Property management companies like ours can help ease stress and solve problems. We play a crucial role in the California rental market, particularly for landlords seeking to optimize their investment strategies and increase tenant satisfaction. We provide a wide range of services that can alleviate the burdens associated with managing rental properties, particularly in a dynamic market.

How can we help?

Professional Expertise. Property management companies can offer industry knowledge that helps landlords navigate the complexities of local regulations and market trends, ensuring compliance and proactive management. This can help you in 2024 and as the market continues to change and evolve as we move towards a new year.
Efficient Tenant Management. Creating good tenant experiences will always be an important market trend. It’s only growing in urgency, in fact, so when you have a trusted manager handling the tenant screening, leasing, and communication, you’ll have an easier time finding and retaining high-quality renters who are easy to work with.
Maintenance and Repairs. By coordinating maintenance and supervising repairs, your management team ensures that properties are in excellent condition, protecting your investment and increasing tenant satisfaction and retention.

California City's Rent Control: A Guide for Landlords

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Thu, 09 May 2024 20:00:00 GMT

If you’ve been renting out a property in California City or anywhere in California over the least two or three years, you’re probably comfortable thinking about rent control. It’s been a statewide mandate since 2020, following the passage of The Tenant Protection Act of 2019.

A lot of questions still remain, however, especially about whether rent control even applies to your property. With inflation and a competitive market driving rents higher, it’s been interesting to see how owners, tenants, and the overall rental market responds to the limits on how much rent can be raised.

Here’s what landlords and rental property owners need to know about rent control in California City.

Let’s Review the Law: Tenant Protection Act of 2019

As California City property managers , we’ve been paying close attention to how this law affects owners and landlords across the state. We also know that there are a lot of details involved. Hopefully, you have familiarized yourself with it enough that you know whether your rental property is included or exempt from its rent control stipulations.

Here’s what you generally need to know when it comes to the statewide rent control law:

The law requires that landlords limit their rental increases to once per year or two increments in a 12-month period. Those increases cannot be more than five percent plus the annual cost of living increase that’s set by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Some rental properties are exempt from this law. Your property may be exempt if you’re an individual landlord who owns and rents out one single-family home, a townhouse, or a condo. The age of your property will also come into play. If your property received a Certificate of Occupancy in the last 15 years, you will also be exempt.

There’s more to this law than rent control. Just-cause evictions are required if you want to remove a tenant. Before this law was passed, you had the option of not renewing your lease with your tenants. You could simply provide the appropriate notice and they would move out and you’d get your property back. The big change in the eviction process is that in order to remove your tenants without penalty, you have to have just cause. This means they are not paying their rent, they’re engaging in criminal activity, or they’re not following the terms of your lease agreement. If you want to remove your tenants for another reason but you don’t have just cause, you can still serve them notice, but you’ll have to pay a relocation fee which is the equivalent of one month’s rent.

Another point that needs to be made about statewide rent control is that it does not replace any local rent control measures that predated The Tenant Protection Act of 2019. So, in a city like Los Angeles or San Francisco, the local rent control measures still take precedence over the statewide law. However, the state law may include properties that were not already covered by local laws.

Understanding How to Raise the Rent

With rent control in place across the state, how do you increase what you charge your residents while still complying with the law? That depends on the CPI

Consumer Price Index and Rent Controlled Properties

The CPI is a measure of inflation that is established and measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While rates are measured and reported by the BLS throughout the year, the only statistic that matters is the annualized CPI rate reported for April. There are certain metro areas in California that measure for their specific metro area:

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
San Diego-Carlsbad

If your property does not fall into a specific metro area that has its own CPI, you will be measured by the general western part of the U.S. Rent can be increased in no more than two increments during any 12-month period, and the cumulative total is not to exceed the allowable annual cap.

Raising Rent When You’re Exempt from Rent Control

When you find yourself renting out a single-family home or a multi-family unit that’s new and not bound by rent control restrictions, we recommend still staying in line with rent control caps.

Raising the rent more than 10 percent even if the rent control laws do not cover you is going to leave you vulnerable. Tenants are not going to pay more than they feel they should, even in a market like this one, where rents are high.

Rent Control and Your California City Lease Agreement

You need to communicate the parameters of this law with your tenants, who will not necessarily understand whether rent control applies to them when they rent your property.

If you’re included in the rent control law, you’ll want to put something in your lease agreement to reflect that. It’s even more important to adjust your lease agreement if you’re exempt from the law. You want to notify your residents that the property they’re living in does not fall under this new law. This will eliminate confusion and disputes.

What Does this Mean for Your California Investment Property?

You’re renting out a property in California City because you want to make money. In order to make money, you need to raise the rent on your property pretty consistently from year to year.

So, if you’re operating under rent control laws, how can you continue to make money?

Here are some things to think about.

Generally, these rent control laws mean you won’t be able to raise your rent more than seven or eight percent every year. This law is in effect for 10 years.

The CPI changes annually, so landlords will be required to understand what it’s been set at before they add their own five percent if they’re planning to raise the rent by the maximum amount the law allows.

When you have an investment property that’s subject to rent control laws, you have to be strategic about how you price the property, attract tenants , and negotiate lease renewals.

To maximize the return you earn on your rent-controlled investment, we recommend:

Strategically pricing your vacant property. The rent control laws do not limit what you can set your rent at when the property is vacant. You’ll want to study the market and remember that you’ll need to compete with those properties that are subject to rent control. Their prices will be lower. But, you will want to avoid underpricing your rental property at the point that you list and market it. Otherwise, you’ll have a difficult time increasing the rent year after year because you’re bound by those rent control limits.

Screen tenants carefully. You will likely have them in place for longer than a one-year lease. In a market without rent control, tenants feel free to look around at lease renewal time. They may find something cheaper and it’s worth it to them to move. With rent control in place, tenants know their rent is capped. They’re more likely to stay in place longer. Plus, the just cause eviction laws make it difficult to evict a tenant without cause. You’ll want to know you’re placing great residents.

Always partner with local California property managers before you invest in a property, set a rental value, or raise your rent at renewal time. The tenant protections make the management of your property more challenging. It’s an excellent reason to work with property managers.

Rent control impacts each market and even each property a little differently. How you respond to it depends on where you are and what you need from your property.

California City Property Management

Here’s something else to know about rent control: it is actually not all bad news. Rent control does not have to impair what you earn and it should not dissuade you from investing in a California City rental property . Our market in this region of California is a lot different from the rental markets in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

We understand rent control and we know how to manage it. Please contact us at JBL & Associates for any help with rent control questions or any matter pertaining to property management in California City.

The Benefits of Implementing a Preventive Maintenance Program in California City

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 21:00:00 GMT

The best way for California rental property owners to avoid a large and unexpected maintenance bill is through preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance is a money saver, and more importantly, it preserves the condition and value of your asset.

Implementing a preventative maintenance program at your California City rental property will attract and retain tenants . It will give you the opportunity to make upgrades and updates when it’s time. You’ll reduce the deterioration that can happen with general wear and tear.

The best part of preventative maintenance is that it reduces the number of emergencies you need to respond to as a landlord. Avoiding major and unexpected repair costs is essential to your ROI and the health of your investment.

Preventative maintenance allows you to catch problems while they’re still small.

As professional California City property managers , we always recommend that owners make preventative maintenance a priority when renting out a home. This is where we focus on the homes we manage and maintain. Good property managers will understand the importance of preserving the value of your property. They’ll also help you avoid those major repairs that can seriously damage your ROI.

Here’s how preventative maintenance can help, and how it should be implemented at your own rental property.

What Does Preventative Maintenance Include?

Preventive maintenance is defined as a set of inspections, services, or actions that bring about regularly scheduled maintenance at your property in the pursuit of preventing unexpected failures in the future. To state it more clearly, you perform preventative maintenance in order to fix things before they break.

Preventative maintenance can cover minor issues that are quick and easy as well as complicated projects that involve entire systems. Changing an air filter takes about five minutes and costs less than $10. That’s an example of preventative maintenance.

Pest control is another example of preventative maintenance. You want to have your property treated on a regular basis so you don’t attract termites, mice, and other pests.

Look at landscaping: also an important part of preventative maintenance. You need to think about how you’ll handle lawn care and landscaping. The entire exterior of your rental property will need some attention. When will you trim back the bushes and the trees and power wash the siding?

These should go onto your preventative maintenance checklist.

The most important things you’ll want to focus on when putting together a preventative maintenance plan, however, are your major systems. Most repair calls concern air conditioning in the summer, appliance breakdowns, and occasionally leaks, drips, or plumbing issues that occur when we least expect it.

Heating and Cooling Systems: Maintain your HVAC System

One of the most expensive systems in your rental home is your HVAC system, which covers the heating, cooling, and ventilation in your property. You don’t want to replace a furnace or a cooling system until you absolutely have to; those items cost thousands of dollars.

This is how preventative maintenance really provides value. It helps you reduce the risk of surprise repairs and it also extends the lifespan of your heating and cooling unit.

The best thing you can do to protect your HVAC and prolong its life is to contract with a local HVAC technician who can conduct annual inspections and provide ongoing service to keep your system running efficiently and correctly. This will cut down on repair requests and help you optimize the functionality of your most costly units.

A preventative maintenance program like this will save you money and headaches in the long term. You greatly reduce the risk of a tenant calling in the middle of January to report that there’s no heat. You’ll also have peace of mind because well-maintained HVAC systems operate more efficiently. They keep energy bills down and tenants comfortable. That’s good for your retention plans, and good for your bottom line.

Having a relationship in place already with a good HVAC company is also worth the annual visits. This will make a huge difference in response time and cost if an unexpected repair is eventually needed.

Preventative Plumbing Maintenance

Plumbing is rarely an inexpensive repair.

Unless you catch the problem early and respond right away.

Again - preventative maintenance makes that possible. If you’re always looking for water intrusion and potential leaks, you’re not going to miss the one that actually occurs. Water is always a threat to your California City rental property, and you need the plan to detect problems early and address them cost-effectively. Even a minor leak or a drip in a bathroom faucet that’s left alone can quickly become a plumbing disaster. That drip will slowly eat away at floors and walls, leaving you with extra damage to repair and higher costs to cover.

Any time you have the opportunity to inspect your property , make sure you’re checking under sinks and behind toilets for signs of leaks or standing water.

Caulk toilets and tubs whenever you have the chance. Preventative maintenance should include:

Cleaning out gutters

Making sure there aren’t branches and leaves gathered on the roof

Looking for evidence of water intrusion.

Checking your sprinklers and irrigation systems to ensure they’re not rusting, leaking, or malfunctioning.

The plumbing and maintenance experts we work with also advise us to drain water heaters annually. Water heaters can easily lead to emergency maintenance calls, and it’s easy not to think about them. However, the water heater is an appliance that needs routine inspections and service. Sediment can clog the heater, making them less efficient.

California City Rental Property Appliances

Your appliances are part of your property, and repair requests frequently come in about leaking refrigerators or stoves that stop working. Inspecting the appliances in your rental property is part of preventative maintenance, and it’s best to do this during tenant turnover periods unless a resident calls with a repair need because the dishwasher isn’t working or the washing machine won’t turn on.

Preventative maintenance includes taking safety precautions. For example, if you provide a washer and dryer in your property, you’ll want to be vigilant about preventing fires in the clothes dryer. Nearly 3,000 fires start each year because of dryer lint and poor maintenance. Make sure the lint is cleaned out.

Instead of continually repairing appliances, replace them with newer, more efficient models. You don’t need to keep an oven that’s 30 years old.

California City Tenants as Preventative Maintenance Partners

You need to have a good relationship with your tenants, and one of the reasons that tenant relationship is so important is preventative maintenance. Tenants are important partners when it comes to taking care of your rental property and paying attention.

Let your residents know you expect repair issues to be reported immediately. Deferred and unreported maintenance will only be more expensive and time-consuming.

In our experience, tenants are either super-quick to report every minor issue, or they put it off. They might worry about bothering you, or they may fear that they’ll be blamed (and charged) for maintenance requests they make.

Reinforce that you want to know about repairs right away. Otherwise, you’ll face extra work and higher expenses.

It’s also important that your residents understand what they’re responsible for. The lease should state what maintenance tasks the tenant is responsible for and the cost they will be charged for non-compliance. Maybe you’ll ask them to change the air filters every three or six months. You can provide the filter size in the lease or even provide the filters themselves and then roll the cost into the rent.

Insurance and Good Vendors are Part of Preventative Maintenance

Are you insured?

Are you adequately insured?

Evaluate your insurance policy annually. Preventative maintenance will help you avoid costly breakdowns of systems and appliances, but it can’t help you avoid the covered losses that insurance protects against. Unpredictable things can always occur, and you want to be covered. Your home value has likely shot up in the last year or two. Make sure you have enough insurance to cover the full value of your investment.

Think about requiring renter’s insurance as well. Instead of relying completely on your own insurance policy, require the tenant to provide evidence of either liability insurance or renter’s insurance which includes liability and insurance for the tenant’s personal possessions.

Vendors are equally as important. Create a list of licensed and insured vendors and contractors who are committed to caring for your investment property . If there’s an emergency in the middle of the night, you don’t want to be looking for a plumber. You want to have someone reliable and responsive who will answer your call.

Develop relationships with professionals before you need them, and listen to their advice and recommendations when it comes to caring for your property. Make sure all of the vendors you work with are licensed and insured to prevent risk and liability.

How to Build and Maintain Positive Relationships with California City's City Government and Community

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 21:00:00 GMT

As a California City property management company , we help people find housing. That’s an important part of life - housing.

Because of what we do and our passion for it, we find ourselves engaging with members of the community quite frequently. We also work closely with government entities, utility companies, and other professional service providers in and around California City. We have great relationships with vendors and contractors. We network with other property managers , real estate agents, and brokers.

Relationships like these are important. They help us do our job better, and they help us serve our clients and our community better.

We’re sharing what we’ve learned. Here’s how to build and maintain positive relationships with California City’s government and community.

Why Do Community Relationships Matter?

Whether you’re renting out a property in California City, providing plumbing services, selling homes, or even looking for a home, you need to build relationships in order to get things done. Our world is both more isolated and connected than ever before. You need to find the building blocks that bring us together and leverage what can be done when several different people, groups, organizations, and leaders are working towards the common good.

Community building occurs one-to-one. You need to build relationships with individual people and with collectives, whether we’re talking about groups or organizations, or other businesses.

Many people get involved in community outreach because they believe in where they live and work. They want to make it stronger and they want to be of service to their community. Sometimes, they get involved in the community because they want to win allies or build new businesses. That’s okay, too. You want to gather as much support as you can from within your own community. And, if you’re able to provide a service to those who agree to work with you…even better.

Provide Education and Information

The first, and possibly most important thing you can do to forge stronger community relationships, is to be a resource. Provide education and information. Offer to train people in your areas of expertise. When you provide education and you help people to learn something new, you become a valuable part of the community and you grow your network of people.

As property managers, we know that there’s sometimes confusion about what we do and how we help. When we can share our stories with people, we know that we’re not only selling our services, but we’re also demonstrating how our knowledge, skills, and talents might be useful to the people who need us. Someone who inherited a house, for example, might understand how to rent out that house. Someone dealing with a tenant who hasn’t paid rent could get some valuable information on the legal process for evictions in California. Tenants who suddenly find themselves needing to move out of their homes because it’s inhabitable will understand who we are and remember what we do when they need us.

There are several different ways for you to provide information about who you are and what you do that will educate and inform your community. You can:

Put together a website, if you don’t have one already.
Write and share a blog.
Create frequent social media posts that share a little bit of education around topics that you know people like to discuss.
Provide public speaking services. If your local real estate association is hosting an event, for example, you might be a good speaker to discuss fair housing laws or service animals or self-showing technology.
Network professionally and socially. Attend local business meetings. Join groups. Talk to people inside your industry and even in other industries. The more we know about how lenders provide home loans, for example, the more we can be resourceful for our investor clients who want to expand their portfolios. It’s important to talk to everyone who touches some part of what you do.

Prepare your 10-second elevator pitch for when you’re introducing yourself to government entities, community partners, and even new friends. Then, prepare to dive a little deeper into what you do in a way that provides value and education. If you’re the local resource for all things property management and rental homes, you’ll find yourself staying pretty busy and well-connected.

Learn How to Listen

You cannot work on relationships with anyone if you’re not willing to communicate.

Where does communicating start? With listening.

Active listening is a skill that will help you communicate with everyone, including your local government officials, the business partners you work with, your customers, and the members of your community who you’re consistently trying to reach.

As California City property managers, we’ve found that our communication strategies improve immensely when we listen to our tenants. So do our relationships. We have an easier time-solving problems. We get a consensus when we need it. We are less afraid to dig into difficult issues.

Listening isn’t always easy.

Sometimes, it may seem like you are doing all of the listening and none of the talking. That requires diplomacy and excellent communication skills, but a lot of the time, when you’re talking to someone new or even an old friend, people just want to be heard. Maybe they’ll start complaining. Maybe they’ll start gossiping. When you listen actively, you can quickly separate the communication that’s valuable from the communication that is filler and fluff.

Sharpen those active listening skills.

Listen with empathy and compassion. When you can manage that skill, your partners and fellow community members won’t be afraid to come to you when they need help or have bad news. Always lead with listening. It’s better for your relationships and for all of your communication strategies. People will be far more willing to engage with you when they know they are working with a good listener.

California Laws are Strict and Guidance Helps

One of the best reasons to get involved in your local government is to influence local laws. The rental laws in California are notoriously strict. We find ourselves working within the strict confines of fair housing laws, rent control laws, just cause eviction laws, Section 8 considerations, support and service animals, habitability issues, and security deposit laws.

It’s a lot to keep straight.

When we feel like we have a seat at the table, even locally, we feel more empowered to make valuable and lasting change. Instead of things happening to us, we can feel like things are happening for us.

Get involved in your local government activities. It’s good for your relationship building, it’s good for your community presence, and it also gives you a voice. You can be a real part of how decisions are made within your community.

Plenty of opportunities to donate your time and service exist around California City. If the local government isn’t your first choice, pick a charitable organization or a philanthropic group. Volunteer hours are always time well-spent, and they’ll help you build better relationships and better businesses.

When we need legal help, we call on our friends and colleagues in the legal field. Developing those community relationships have helped us save our rental property owners and real estate investors from expensive lawsuits and claims. When we have an emergency maintenance issue that could affect habitability, we call on our preferred list of vendors and contractors. We know that the time we’ve invested in forming good relationships will help us solve the repair problems that pop up from time to time.

Sustaining the Relationships You’ve Built

Pay attention to the people you’ve connected with. Check-in, even for a few minutes every few weeks.
Keep communication open and transparent. Talk on the phone and send emails. Pay attention to social media and always practice listening and conversations.
Demonstrate gratitude and appreciation. This keeps relationships going. When you say thank you for help or for advice or for a new connection, you work on establishing trust and meaning.
Offer to help when you can. Challenge yourself to go a little out of your way, at least once in a while. Volunteer to do some work for an organization you’ve recently learned about. When you’re willing to put in some sweat equity, you’re likely to get that back as your relationship progresses.

Be a good friend, business partner, and advocate. Loyalty is essential to keeping relationships healthy.

We love the relationships we create and sustain. We love working within the community that we support. If you’d like to talk about how you can have more of a community presence, we’d love to share more about what we know. We’re a property management company in California City, and we love what we do. Contact us at JBL & Associates with any questions or thoughts.

Maximizing Rental Income: Tips for Pricing and Marketing Your California City Properties

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 21:00:00 GMT

Your goal as a California City real estate investor is to increase the amount of income you earn on your rental property. To do this, you have to maximize the amount of rent you collect on a consistent and recurring basis.

When it comes to pricing your property, there are several factors that are outside of your control. No one can do too much about the market and the competition. And, the market largely dictates how much your property is worth to qualified tenants. You never know how strong the market is going to be during any given month, quarter, or year. You can’t control the amount of competition you have, and you’ll rarely be able to influence the local economic factors.

There’s plenty you can control when it comes to what you earn, however. Focus on those things that are within your control and take a few strategic steps to ensure you’re maximizing the amount you earn on your California City rental property.

We recommend you focus on two things: pricing and marketing. Here are some tips on how to earn more by pricing your property competitively and marketing that property strategically.

Pricing Your California City Rental Property

Vacancy costs are tremendous, and that’s why you want to price your California City rental home competitively for the market.

The right pricing attracts the right tenants , and good tenants increase your rental value and your ROI. Those well-qualified renters have a lot of options when it comes to choosing a home, and helping them decide to pick your property over all the others requires a well-informed pricing strategy.

While you want to be competitive, you don’t want to price your property too low. That will only leave you earning less than you should be, and it may be hard to catch up to market value without dramatic rental increases later. If your property is included in rent control laws, you’ll have an even more difficult time reaching market rents.

Pricing too high, however, will only extend your vacancy time. You lose money every week and every month that your property is unoccupied.

Price your property to maximize your rental income in these ways:

Use the Proper Data

Start with a thorough comparative market analysis. This is an important first step when you’re pricing your rental property. Take a close look at the California City rental market and get an idea of what other owners are charging for properties like yours. You could have a gorgeous, well-maintained, and updated home. But, it’s not going to rent for a lot more than what similar homes are also renting for. The best way to avoid mistakes in the pricing process is to have a clear understanding of what the rental market will bear.

Online rental sites such as Zillow or Zumper can be helpful when you’re researching what homes in your area are listed for. Most of this data is pulled from the MLS or from general listings. Just make sure you’re comparing properties that are similar to yours. And, make sure the rental rates are current. If you’re looking at a property that was listed three months ago and is still vacant, the price might have something to do with it.

Factor Location into Pricing

The market isn’t the only thing that impacts your rental price. Location plays a huge role, too. High quality tenants want to live in desirable neighborhoods close to shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and commuter routes. When your property is well-located, you can charge more than you can when it’s very remote or stuck in a place where there’s a ton of traffic and impossible parking. Good school districts raise your rental value.

Property Condition and Rental Values

Improving the appeal of your rental home will also help you set a profitable rental price. Tenants are willing to pay more for well-maintained, attractive homes. There’s more to think about than simply maintaining your home. Make sure it’s updated and upgraded between tenants. You should invest in fresh paint, new floors if the carpet is worn and stained, shiny fixtures and hardware, and better lighting.

Pet Friendly Properties and Pricing

Homes that allow pets earn more rent. If you want to maximize what you earn, think about allowing pets into your property. Your monthly rent increases when you charge pet rent. You can also charge a pet fee. You also have lower vacancy losses and higher tenant retention rates.

Allowing pets into your property can seem like a risk - they tend to be messy and sometimes there’s extra damage, especially with large dogs. However, the damage a pet can potentially cause rarely exceeds the pet fee you’ll collect.

When you want to maximize income, you have to maximize your pricing. Get help from a California City property management company if you’re unsure about where your rental rate should land. We analyze data every day, and we know exactly what residents are willing to pay and not pay when it comes to choosing a home.

Maximize Income with Better Marketing

A good marketing strategy will help you advertise your California City rental property effectively, which is the best way to get it leased quickly to well-qualified tenants. If you’re not marketing correctly, you’re going to have to deal with a longer vacancy period. That’s never good, and it works against your goal of maximizing what you earn.

There are a lot of ways to market a rental property.

Some owners are satisfied putting up a For Rent yard sign and others will saturate their social media platforms with rental listings. The goal of marketing is to reach the largest possible pool of qualified tenants. To do that, you need to use several different strategies that involve technology and responsive customer service.

Here are some of the best ways you can market and advertise your California City rental home with the goal of earning more rental income on good tenants and fast leasing periods.

Effective Marketing Starts with Exceptional Photos

Anyone looking for a new rental home will scroll through the photos in your listing before they read your carefully written description. Make sure you keep them interested in your home by providing high-quality, detailed photos. Don’t post one or two shots; include as many as you can. A good listing will include pictures that reflect the front of the property as well as any outdoor space. There should be a picture of the kitchen, the living area, and the bedrooms and bathrooms. Include any special details such as a backsplash behind the sinks or a walk-in closet.

Some owners and property managers will hire a professional photographer. That is a great investment to make, but it’s not always necessary. As long as you’re taking good, clear shots with plenty of light and all the best angles, you’re doing fine. Camera phones are doing wonders these days, and they can capture a variety of angles and provide some great shading.

Clean the property up before you start taking marketing photos. No one wants to see debris on the countertops or clutter on the floors..

Make the Description Match the Photos

A great property description is the next step in your marketing plan, and you want to make sure it matches your vibrant photos. Every word counts because the narrative needs to be informative but not too long. Prospective tenants won’t be interested in reading long paragraphs and personal stories. They want to know the basics. Include important information such as the rental amount and the security deposit amount.

Always be mindful of fair housing language. Don’t say things in your listing that could seem discriminatory. It’s no longer acceptable, for example, to advertise that your home is not suitable for Section 8 tenants. It violates state fair housing laws .

Advertise Your Rental Property Online

Online advertising is going to generate the most interest in your California City rental property. You want your listing to appear on sites like Zillow, Zumper, Rentals.com, HotPads, Trulia, and Rent Café. When you don’t have property management software that can quickly syndicate your listing, you might find it time-consuming to place your ad on every single rental site. Try to access some technology that will allow you to post the ad in one place and then have it syndicated across a broad network of listing sites. A California City property manager can help with this and keep your marketing costs down.

When you want to maximize what you’re earning by using smart marketing strategies, don’t forget to be responsive when calls and messages start rolling in. You have to pick up the phone and answer emails. Do a bit of pre-screening, answer the questions of prospective applicants, and schedule showings. Don’t give tenants a reason to cross you off the list and move on to the next property. Be responsive and accessible. The best marketing plan in the world won’t help much if you refuse to engage with the people who want to see your home.

Understanding California City's Fair Housing Laws and How to Comply

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 20:00:00 GMT

Property owners renting out homes in California City need to pay close attention to fair housing laws. As you probably know, the laws protecting tenants in California are strict. There’s rent control and just cause eviction to deal with, and a lot of regulations and requirements around security deposits and habitability.

Some of the most important laws, however, pertain to fair housing.

In fact, the state fair housing laws are stricter than the federal laws.

The investors and landlords we work with would not intentionally discriminate against people when renting out a home. Fair housing claims are also expensive, and you’d rather not lose money on penalties and punishments.

When it comes to fair housing laws and landlords, our advice is this: be over-cautious. Don’t leave yourself open to any potential complaints or claims. Inexperienced owners and landlords are sometimes unsure about what they can do and not do when it comes to screening and advertising.

We’ve put together some guidelines and some information based on our California City property management experience and expertise.

Let’s take a look at what you really need to know.

History Lesson: The Federal Fair Housing Act

The federal Fair Housing Act became law in 1968. It protects a list of seven named classes of people against discrimination in rental housing as well as home buying, home lending, and anything pertaining to housing. The Fair Housing Act applies to you as a landlord as well as real estate agents, property managers, lenders, insurance agents, and anyone who has an impact on providing housing to people.

These are the seven protected classes covered by federal law. You cannot discriminate against anyone based on:

Race.
Skin color.
Religion or creed.
National origin or ancestry.
Sex.
Physical or mental disability.
Familial status.

Mistakes can be easily made, and that’s why your approach to fair housing has to be informed, consistent and well-documented.

State Laws: Fair Housing in California

California has additional protections in place when it comes to fair housing, taking the state even further into protecting renters against potential discrimination.

The state has a longer list of protected classes than those on the federal law list. In California, we cover all the federal classes plus:

Sexual orientation
Age
Gender identification
Gender expression
Veteran or military status
Citizenship
Primary language
Marital status
Source of income
Genetic information

This is a list that’s constantly evolving. Make sure you have a plan in place for staying up to date on all the critical laws that are proposed and passed in California, especially when we’re talking about fair housing. Even federal laws get changed and expanded frequently. If you’re not able to stay up to date, working with a California City property management company is important. You need to remain compliant.

Fair Housing and Advertising Your California City Rental Home

When it comes to marketing and fair housing, you need to know what you can say and what you can’t say.

Maybe it never occurred to you that fair housing violations could be found while advertising your California City home for rent. It’s possible, and more common than you realize.

Every rental property owner and management company understands the importance of an aggressive, strategic marketing plan. This is what helps you attract residents to your property. When you’re crafting the description to go with your pictures or writing out a social media post that you hope will be widely shared, you want to be highly descriptive. The idea is to attract a large pool of prospective tenants.

Just remember that any of your listings, marketing materials, and For Rent signs need to comply with fair housing laws.

When you’re marketing your rental home, you can include details in your listing that discuss:

The home’s size
The rental amount
When the home will be ready for occupancy
Whether pets are allowed
How much of a security deposit is expected

Your description can talk about the property’s benefits; whether those happen to be natural light, updated appliances in the kitchen, or an attached garage.

Be aware of what you cannot say, however. These might seem natural to you, but they’re actually potential fair housing problems. Don’t say a home is “Great for single professionals.” Don’t say it’s “Close to churches.” You cannot advertise that kids or college students are prohibited.

You also cannot disallow Section 8 tenants, but we’ll explore more of that a little bit later.

This type of language can be seen as discriminatory against several of the law’s protected classes.

Keep your rental property marketing accessible to everyone who is qualified. Including or excluding certain groups like families or religious minorities can be seen as discriminatory. The best advice we can give you is to keep your advertising focused on what the property is and what it has to offer.

Don’t make assumptions about who would want to live there, and never talk about the types of tenants you would prefer.

Protect Yourself with Consistent Rental Criteria

Put together standard rental criteria. This could be a list of qualifications. Put the criteria in writing and provide it to any potential tenant who is interested in filling out an application. Then, make sure you follow your own standards consistently every time you screen.

You have to screen each application against the same requirements, otherwise, you could be accused of discrimination.

Written standards will help you with that consistency, and it will also make your screening process more objective. Set up the standards you seek in terms of:

Credit scores
Income requirements
Eviction history
Positive rental references

Having this criterion in place and providing it to applicants will make it easy for you to move through the application process because you’ll know exactly who is approved and who is not just by looking at the data. You won’t have to make subjective judgments that can put you in fair housing territory.

Staying Up to Date on Fair Housing Developments

Staying up to date with California's fair housing laws requires attention to new laws and also to the way that the courts are interpreting fair housing requirements. You need to know what’s changing and what’s shifting.

Recently, the law has changed in two specific areas of fair housing, and we want to talk about those a little bit because we know that owners without a lot of legal experience are struggling to make sense of what they mean.

These areas are service and support animals (federal law) and Section 8 tenants (state law).

Service and Companion Animals in California City

Pets in rental properties are more popular than ever. During the pandemic, the number of people owning pets grew. Therefore, providing a pet-friendly rental home is a great way to increase what you earn and decrease your vacancy exposure. But, we understand that not all rental property owners are thrilled with the idea of pets on their property. You don’t have to allow pets.

But, you cannot deny a tenant a service animal or a companion animal, even if you have a no-pet policy.

The law does not see service or support animals as pets. The law sees them as accommodations.

Not only are you required to accept the qualified tenants and their service or companion animals; you also cannot charge a pet fee, pet deposit, or pet rent.

There are some nuances to how a service animal is treated versus a companion animal.

Service animals are trained in specific tasks and they are always dogs.
Companion animals , however, provide support, therapy, or emotional help to their owners.

When a tenant has a service animal, you need to allow that animal without any questions. You cannot ask why they need it or demand an explanation of their disability. Companion animals, however, can be questioned carefully. They are prescribed by healthcare providers, and you can ask your tenant for a copy of a letter or other documentation from their doctor or provider. This should outline why the animal is necessary.

Section 8 Tenants and the Leasing Process

The Tenant Protection Act was passed in 2019 and went into effect in 2020. This law is best known for statewide rent control and just causes evictions, but there’s also something in it that applies to Section 8 tenants and whether they can apply to rent your property. Yes, they can.

Those housing vouchers that Section 8 tenants receive can be used as proof of income. It cannot matter how tenants make their money when they apply to live in your home. As long as they have the required income that meets your screening criteria, you must consider them.

Previously, landlords could advertise “No Section 8” when marketing properties. That is not the case any longer. You must consider every applicant, regardless of income type.

California City Interest Rates: Everything You Should Know Before Investing in Property

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 19:17:34 GMT

Are you weighing your options on investing in California City rental property ? Perhaps you’re still thinking about investing in property in the area, but might be thinking twice because you’ve heard about the rising inflation rates in some California cities.

https://wallethub.com/edu/cities-inflation/107537

https://wallethub.com/edu/cities-inflation/1075 Interest rates will grow. As such, it’s important to consider facts before investing in California City property. In this blog, we discuss the current real estate interest rates and how they may impact your investments. In addition, we mention other essential factors that are likely to influence your strategy. Take a look at how you can maximize returns on your investment.

Current Real Estate Interest Rates in California City, CA

Note that real estate interest rates change quickly at all times. You may have to adjust your plans if they suddenly change when you decide to take action. Still, the current rates can help give you a reliable estimate to make an informed decision. Here are the current mortgage rate trends in California City as of March 6, 2023:

30-Year Fixed: 6.95%
15-Year Fixed: 6.25%
5-Year ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage): 6.42%

These rates come from Realtor.com, which collects data from Icanbuy LLC. Their payment rates do not account for taxes and insurance premiums. Your unique circumstances will also apply to the final rates, such as having a spouse who served in the military or the loan type you intend to make.

How much you will pay for your investment property will depend on your scenario. Likewise, selling or renting the property that you already own will involve these factors when a potential buyer shows interest. Consider speaking to a California City property management company for a professional assessment of your options.

Benefits of Investing in a California City Home

Investing in property in California City comes with many potential benefits. California is an excellent area to invest in rental properties, particularly California City. This city in Kern County is among the counties with the https://stacker.com/california/counties-most-renters-california

https://stacker.com/california/counties-most-renters-california

most renters in the state , which decreases the chances of your home sitting vacant should you choose to rent it out. Some of the key advantages that attract residents include the following features:

Low Cost of Living

California City’s cost of living is 5% lower than the national average. In addition, other factors that affect this cost include careers and average wages. Depending on a person’s lifestyle, they can easily enjoy the vibrant culture and ease of access that the area offers.

Low Housing Expenses

Housing expenses in California City are 49% lower than the national average. However, the utility prices are 58% higher, which will still depend on a person’s lifestyle. Likewise, transportation expenses are 16% higher than the national average but make sense considering the accessibility it offers. Here’s an overview of the current rates of common expenses based on

https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/california-california-city

PayScale data :

Median Home Price: $227,909
Median Rent: $692.96 per month
Energy Bill: $279.73 per month
Phone Bill: $300.93 per month
Gas: $3.95 per gallon

Good Food and Grocery Options

Although California City’s grocery prices are 10% higher than the national average, its options are still diverse and affordable compared to other parts of the state. Here's a quick look at the average prices of essential food items:

Loaf of Bread: $4.27
Gallon of Milk: $2.68
Carton of Eggs: $2.48
Hamburger: $5.65

Access to Healthcare Facilities

California City has immediate access to at least

https://www.healthgrades.com/hospital-directory/ca-california/california-city

five hospitals with high recommendations from local patients. Moreover, healthcare in the city is generally affordable, at only 1% higher than the national average. Here are some average costs of various services:

Doctor's Visit: $126.41
Dentist Visit: $109.06
Optometrist Visit: $119.07
Veterinary Visit: $60.88

Tax Benefits

California City investors can enjoy numerous tax benefits, such as from repairs. Repairing your investment property is also a great way to improve it while saving money from a tax write-off. Whether you repaint the property's exterior or interior, fix the floors, replace the gutters, or get an electrician to bring it up to code, you can write them off within the year that you needed to conduct the repairs.

What To Look for When Investing in California City Property

When you’re looking for properties in the local real estate marketplace, you need to assess your needs before investing. For instance, if you do want to get into real estate investments for rental purposes, then you'll want to ensure that your property is something that appeals to tenants who recognize the value of living in California City.

While you can get help from a professional property management company to calculate the potential returns on your California City investment, you can do some of the math on your own to get an idea of your gains and losses when investing in property. Consider the following things before buying a real estate asset.

Attractive Location

Your California City property’s location is a big factor in its value. Valuable property justifies how much you would charge for the property should you sell it in the future. Likewise, it rationalizes how much rent you would charge tenants if you go the landlord route.

Maintenance costs in desirable areas can also be higher, which may affect your rental or sale rates. Meanwhile, high inflation in attractive locations could influence properties to retain their value, making it a good investment in the long run. Overall, it pays to research where you are going to invest in local property before proceeding with your plans.

Property Type

Consider the kind of property you’re looking to buy. Depending on its type, the property may appreciate faster than others during high inflation periods. For instance, single-family homes in desirable neighborhoods might do better than two- or three-story condominium units in appreciation. Furthermore, luxury properties are most likely going to appreciate faster than a regular home in a not-so-great area.

If you plan to invest in property for commercial purposes, you may have better chances of experiencing growth in values. After all, businesses need to operate despite inflation. Thus, running a rental property in California City for commercial purposes is a good option if you have liquid capital and are expecting higher returns on your investments.

Low Property Value

Prices can rise quickly in California, especially when the market is going through high inflation. You could maximize your ROI when you look for undervalued properties. However, it can take time from all the research you would do to secure such properties in the area.

In addition, sprucing up the property can be challenging when your property investment venture is not your main source of income. As such, you might want to look into your property management options to find deals and maintain them properly.

Property Features

Just like the general location of your investment property, be sure to look at the property itself. What does it have to offer potential tenants that make your place an ideal living space? Even if you invest in an undervalued property in a high-inflation environment, you can work to bring it to a better condition.

You could fix the property yourself to highlight its features or bring in a professional property manager to source the best local contractors to work on the place. Reliable property management companies like JBL & Associates can help you assess your property features, suggest improvements, and maximize your California City investment.

Affordable Closing Costs

Certain entities can charge specific fees when you purchase any property in California Cities. Among these different entities are title companies and lenders. All the fees they charge could add up and go beyond your initial budget when planning to invest in property.

As such, it's important to ensure that you understand all the closing costs associated with buying California City property. Be sure to plan, understand the terms of your financing options, and estimate all your expenses before you set anything in stone.

How Can a Professional Property Management Company Help Me?

Anyone investing in a California City property for rental purposes can take advantage of the benefits that professional property management companies like JBL & Associates offer. Running a rental property anywhere is a challenge, especially if you do it as a side hustle and you don’t have direct experience.

Working with professional property management in California City can help you maximize your rental property investment. Rather than dealing with the tenants yourself, you can rely on a professional to oversee the associated tasks for you. From securing tenants to addressing their complaints, you can delegate all the tedious responsibilities to your property manager while you focus on your primary operations.

Additionally, rental property managers help with rent collection and can even provide solutions for late payments. This way, you can secure your income and ensure that you won’t lose out on any earnings.

The Bottom Line

Renting your property can be a good idea since California City is generally a desirable place to live in. Accordingly, you have better chances of securing tenants who can help you make up for your purchase. However, running a rental business can be challenging. Consider speaking to our experts at JBL & Associates to assess your situation and help you run a successful rental business.

How To Attract And Retain High-Quality Tenants | Explained By California City Property Managers

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Fri, 12 May 2023 20:00:00 GMT

While tenants search for safe homes that offer value for money, landlords also look for long-term leases to ensure a steady income stream and consistent market value. These goals can be mutually achieved by attracting and retaining high-quality tenants. In the long run, good tenants help you achieve your investment goals and ensure long-term profits.

Longer tenancies also mean less vacancy rate, less tenant turnover, normal wear and tear, and fewer void periods. In a nutshell, it is worth learning strategies for attracting and retaining your high-quality tenants.

Here is what you should know about ideal tenants and how you can keep them.

Who is a High-Quality Tenant?

Quality tenants are responsible enough to take care of your property as if it were their own, are honest and transparent, and generally want to live a comfortable life. Based on our experience, here are some of the common traits of high-quality tenants in California.

No criminal background
Financial stability
Good credit score and steady income
Ability to pay rent regularly and cover potential property damage
Rule-abiding behavior
Good tenancy record
Strong potential for lease renewal

Now that we know what an ideal tenant looks like, let us take a look at how you can attract them.

How To Attract High-Quality Tenants

Here are a few tips to attract potential tenants for your California City rental property with the criteria mentioned above.

1. Think of Innovative Marketing Strategies

Nothing worries landlords more than a vacant rental unit. So, the first thing you can do to attract your prospective tenants is to bring them to your doorstep to view the property. A few effective marketing strategies can help you connect with a vast pool of tenants and allow you to contact them directly.

Use Online Marketing Tools Effectively

In the digital marketing era, the rules of promoting your rental have changed tremendously. You can easily promote your rental unit by posting photographs, property features, and fair rent prices on various online platforms.

Consider using property listing websites, paid marketing, promotional content, real estate websites, vlogging, social media websites, property management apps, and display advertising tools. It is the most cost-effective way to reach out to your tenants and encourage them to lease your property.

Tap into Offline Marketing

A few offline marketing tools are useful even in today's digital world. You can attend seminars, post an advertisement in a local newspaper, distribute pamphlets and business cards, set up a referral system, and use word-of-mouth channels to inform people about rental vacancies.

2. Keep The Property Rent Ready

The first impression always counts, especially when people are looking for their dream home. If your property is well-maintained and rent-ready, it can easily attract potential tenants. On the contrary, keeping your property shabby and neglected may not attract people and increase the vacancy rate, turning into a financial liability.

To spruce up the look of the place, make sure you clean the items like carpet, landscape, and interior spaces in your property, paint exterior walls, change fixtures, add decorative items, install new curtains, replace appliances, and repair significant systems.

Also, consider illuminating the outdoor area with lights, checking the roof for leakage, cleaning gutters, mowing the lawn, and improving curb appeal. We suggest keeping a checklist with you while inspecting the property to track a detailed record of things that need attention.

3. Consider Having Flexible Policies in the Lease

Have some negotiable and flexible lease terms to attract qualified renters. If people feel locked into never-ending rules, terms, fees, and regulations, they might not end up renewing the lease, which can lead to rental vacancies and high turnover rates. Therefore, it is good to have flexibility when it comes to some of the clauses in your lease, such as:

Pet Policy

Many landlords often prevent tenants from having pets on the property. However, doing so can alienate a larger pool of high-paying tenants who are even ready to pay a little more for a pet-friendly property. In such cases, you can consider tweaking your pet policy and allowing your tenants’ furry friends to stay in the house.

Guest Policies

Tenants may invite their relatives, friends, and family members to the unit for specific reasons, like family functions. In such scenarios, if your tenants request you to allow their acquaintances on the property, be amenable. You can include a provision to fix the duration of stay and the maximum number of guests to ensure that you do not end up having freeloaders.

4. Have a Thorough Screening Process

Screening your applicants allows you to select the best tenants who meet your rental criteria. It helps you narrow down the pool to qualified tenants and eliminate the applications that don't fit your expectations. Here are a few crucial steps you should take while screening your tenants.

Create a screening checklist
Draft a rental application
Set the renter's criteria
Run background and credit checks
Ensure the applicant's financial stability and validate employment
Study their rental history
Collect references to previous landlord and employer
Interview your tenants in detail

5. Set The Right Rent Price

As an experienced landlord, you might know the importance of setting fair rent prices. While overcharging doesn't attract your potential tenants, under changing decreases the value of your rental property. Hence, it is crucial to charge the right rent based on an in-depth rental market analysis.

It can draw a significant number of prospective tenants, unlock the opportunities to choose from a wider pool, and get your property rented in less time. We suggest analyzing the rental market in your location correctly, understanding the affordability of your tenants, and charging appropriately.

How To Retain Your Tenants

Now that you have made every effort to find quality tenants and finally have gotten one, you must keep them in the long run. Here are a few retention strategies you can consider to encourage your tenants for lease renewals.

1. Maintain The Habitability Of The Place

Being timely with routine maintenance is a promising way to keep your tenants happy. It not only helps you retain your tenants but also increases the habitability and value of your property.

We suggest conducting regular property inspections to check on items like walls, roofs, plumbing, drainage, appliances, HVAC systems, and fixtures and provide proactive maintenance to prevent potential damage .

The exterior of the property is equally important to keep your tenants. Make sure you clean, remove debris, keep the area clean, mow the lawn, and upgrade the landscape. It will make your renters feel safe, and they are more likely to stick around your property.

2. Build a Healthy Landlord-Tenant Relationship

Creating a positive impression at the start of the tenancy can create a long-lasting relationship between you and your tenants. You can warmly welcome your residents during the move-in process and offer gifts, personal notes, welcome packets, and cards for birthdays and holidays to create a sense of community.

Additionally, you can have frequent discussions with them to know their requirements, ask for feedback and make them feel comfortable while talking to you. Be polite and respectful during your conversations. This can help you build a strong working relationship with your tenants , and they can take pride in dwelling in your rental.

3. Maintain Transparency In Communication

As a California landlord, you are responsible for maintaining transparency while communicating with your tenants. Try to be an effective communicator and reach out to your tenants whenever they need you.

Consider clearing their doubts and queries related to lease terms, clauses and their obligations. Also, set the right expectations and avoid ambiguity in a lease agreement to prevent misunderstandings.

4. Respect Tenants’ Privacy

According to the California Tenant Confidentiality Law , tenants should be able to enjoy their stay in privacy. Landlords can't show up unannounced or enter a property without a valid reason. Suppose you want to visit a property for reasons like property showing, routine maintenance, and inspections.

In that case, you must give 24 hours’ notice before coming to the property, especially when you are not the only visitor. However, there is an exception to this rule in case of emergencies. You can directly visit the property in case of issues like fire, pipe, or gas leaks.

5. Meet Tenants’ Rental Expectations

Tenants are becoming choosy these days due to various rental options available. So, if you want to retain them, you should understand their rental expectations and make changes in your rental accordingly. Consider providing modern amenities, such as energy-efficient appliances, a gym, swimming pool, and home offices.

6. Follow all Fair Housing Laws

California fair housing law prevents discrimination based on race, gender, color, national origin, sex, disability, and religion. The law requires landlords to observe fair housing practices while renting a property to tenants and avoid discriminating against any of these factors.

As a landlord, you cannot refuse to rent a property to a protected class for their background or treat them differently because of their origin. You are responsible for treating all your tenants equally, or you may have to go through legal procedures and penalties.

Risks And Rewards Of Investing In California City Real Estate

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 01:02:05 GMT

California, the 3rd largest city in California, is attracting many investors because of its key features: the growing economy, increasing population, rich environment, and high employment rate. The current housing price in the city is around $263,560 , which has gone up by 32.9% over the last year. With that said, investors can earn a high appreciation rate and returns on investment in California City. So, if you are thinking of investing in California's real estate, this is the right time.

However, every investment decision has risks and rewards involved. It depends on how effectively you analyze the risks and are willing to tolerate them. Let us consider both sides of investing in California City real estate.

Rewards of Investing in California City Real Estate

California is a consistently growing market and its meteoric rise is expected to continue in the near future. With that in mind, let us look at some of the benefits of buying a property in California city.

1. Steadily Growing Population Equals Vast Tenant Pool

According to the California City Chamber of Commerce study, the city remains a viable area for growth and development. The city population is growing at the rate of 0.22% and has increased by 1.21% over the last two years. With a current population of 14291 , the city is the 423rd most populated city in the state and has a population density of 70 people per square mile, including 10,921 adults. As housing becomes more and more expensive, many people are looking for rentals, which ensures a large tenant pool for investors in California.

2. Rapid Economic Growth

California is becoming a buyer's market and thriving in terms of economy. Even after the pandemic, the region continues to flourish due to industrial growth, recreational advantages, diverse landscape, and tremendous educational opportunities.

3. Great Climate

Sunshine, warm weather, proximity to California coastal cities, and fertile land are synonymous with California. This provides a lot of options for development and population growth, which results in tenants looking for long-term leases in the city.

Also, it is one of the top vacation destinations in the country for local and international tourists. Major tourist attractions, such as encompassing mountains, coastal areas, national parks, and deserts, offer their own outstanding experience to the tourist, increasing the scope for short-term rental investment.

4. Employment Opportunities

The job market in the city has increased by 1.2% over the last year. It is likely to grow by 19.6% in the next ten years with established employers within commutable distance, such as Edwards Air Force Base, Wind Hub Generation, Golden Queen Mines, and Mojave Air & Space Port.

Additionally, several reputed companies and entrepreneurs are planning to invest in the region, offering new employment opportunities. This upcoming growth will eventually translate to more money in the market, which can further your investment goals.

5. Demand For All Types Of Properties

California City has a great inventory of commercial as well as residential properties. Since different properties offer different benefits, you can invest in any property based on your investment goals. This includes:

Commercial Properties

If you want to diversify your real estate portfolio, investing in commercial properties can be a solid step. Although the investment cost of commercial properties is higher than residential buildings, they can offer high ROI, steady cash flow, and a high occupancy rate. In California city, you can rent commercial property for shopping malls, grocery shops, office buildings, and industrial warehouses. Make sure you do your due diligence before and calculate the risks before investing.

Residential Properties

With the growing population, California's demand for residential properties is also growing. Here are some residential properties that are in trend in the city.

Single Family Homes

Single-family properties always attract investors and tenants. Since highly qualified tenants search for a single-family rental, buying one is always a great investment option. It also offers high appreciation, increases your property's value, and ensures a steady income for investors.

Multifamily Properties

Multifamily properties also bring you closer to your goal of diversifying your portfolio. They are more cost-effective and require relatively low maintenance and management costs. Additionally, investing in multifamily properties ensures reliable income and a low vacancy rate. For example, if one unit remains vacant in your property, the income from another rented unit can compensate for that vacancy, reducing financial risks.

6. Investor-Friendly Market

Despite the skyrocketing home values and living costs, California's real estate market has always been a favorable option for investors or buyers due to its extensive inventory, variety of tenants, and significant appreciation. Even if most cities across California have a seller's market, the situation is likely to change in the upcoming years.

According to the 2022 housing market forecast , a decline in sale pace will be a welcome relief for real estate investors with more inventory. Homebuyers will have plenty of old and newly constructed properties available in the city and an affordable range of housing prices.

Additionally, some positive aspects of living in the city include growing industrial opportunities, agriculture, proximity to other metropolitan cities, and highways. This has given rise to the demand for rental properties and buying opportunities for investors.

7. Stable Rental Rates

Unlike other cities, California has had a relatively stable rental market over the past few years. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in California City is $850 , which remains flat compared to the last few years. The data ensures positive and steady cash flow considering the rental price at the point for many properties.

Additionally, a larger pool of qualified tenants, including workers, students, and families, are likely to pay more for well-maintained properties. The market in California City doesn't fluctuate the way it does in other neighboring cities like Los Angeles, or San Francisco, ensuring consistent monthly rental income in the long run.

8. High Returns On Investment

Investing in real estate may have several purposes. If you consider it a retirement destination, you may buy and rent a property until you move into the property after the retirement or keep it as long as you can and pass it on to your heirs.

The longer you rent the property, the more appreciation and returns you get on your investment. Since there is a larger pool of renters, it will hardly stay vacant, ensuring steady income. Renting a property also provides tax benefits to homeowners, reducing additional expenses and boosting ROI.

Risks of Investing In California City Real Estate

Along with the rewards, you should also consider the downsides of investing in real estate to eliminate the risks of financial loss.

1. High capital investment costs

You will have to raise capital for investing in real estate. Once you buy a property, the fund will be tied up for longer. However, several factors, such as volatility of the rental market, high vacancy rate, and location, may adversely affect your investing, causing you negative cash flow and additional financial expenses.

2. Vacancy Rate

Not all days are the same in terms of rental property income. The time of the year or seasonality may affect the renting process, resulting in a high vacancy rate. For example, the leasing process is at its peak during summer and spring. At the same time, the demand for rental properties is less during winter.

In addition, if you need to evict your bad tenants for several reasons, you may need to wait until you get the right tenants for your property. You may have to wait until you get the right one, keeping your property vacant.

3. High Maintenance Costs

As an investor, it is your responsibility to maintain the habitability of your property and keep it clean and safe. You may need to invest in routine maintenance services to check the essential items available on the property, such as walls, roofs, appliances, HVAC systems, fixtures, plumbing, and drainage.

Maintaining single-family and multi-family apartments has significant costs in a city like California and they require constant attention to stay in good shape. Also, if unexpected maintenance issues arise, like water leaks or gas leaks, the associated maintenance costs can be substantial.

4. Real Estate Scams

Unfortunately, a big city like California is also home to real estate scams. Often investors fall prey to such get-rich-quick schemes and end up losing their hard-earned money.

Avoid trusting things like phony investment seminars, signboards like empty houses for rent, unrealistic guarantees, lack of documentation, and demands for wire money to secure your down payment on a property. We suggest going through the proper channels and hiring professional property managers or real estate agents before making any investment decision.

6 Amenities That Will Increase the Value of Your California City Rental Property

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 17:36:21 GMT

As a California city landlord, you have to make every effort to meet your tenants' expectations from the rental property to retain them in the long run. One of the best ways to do so is by offering amenities that make your property more comfortable and more desirable.

Modern amenities attract a larger pool of tenants to your property and increase the value of your rental. In addition, you also can charge your tenants for the additional amenities, if required, which can help you boost your sources of revenue.

At JBL & Associates, we have kept track of the changing tenant priorities over the years when it comes to rental amenities. Here, we list the top six amenities that California property managers should consider providing to their tenants.

Smart Home Appliances

A smart home is a quintessential example of how technological advancement has made life easy for humans. So naturally, many tenants often look for houses with intelligent automation systems installed. While these need not always be high-end fixtures, incorporating some of the following smart home features can help you maximize the value of your California rental property.

Intelligent Water Leakage Detection and Management

Water damage can be a significant threat to the structural integrity of your house, as it can lead to the growth and spreading of mold and mildew. However, having an intelligent system that can identify water leaks, notify through an alarm, and automatically stop water supply can save the situation. It also gives you time to arrange repair services and prevent drastic damage.

Digital Security Tools

To retain your tenants, you need to make them feel safe in your rental. This is where digital security tools can help. A fully automated security system can significantly improve your home's safety standards.

Consider setting up an intelligent security camera, digital lock system, video doorbell, smart plugs, and indoor CCTVs to protect your tenants and property from potential risks of theft or break-ins.

Smoke Detection Systems

Installing smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can boost the safety of your rental property and alert you immediately to the danger of fire. Furthermore, it can automatically turn on the sprinklers to prevent the fire from spreading in your absence.

Home Automation Devices

Home automation systems allow your residents to control all appliances, from entertainment systems to electrical devices like television, refrigerators, and air conditioning, at the touch of a button. Tenants can customize the app settings according to their preferred routines. For instance, they may find warm water to bathe or a cup of hot coffee waiting for them every morning, thanks to home automation systems.

Landscape Maintenance and Outdoor Amenities

These days, tenants are more inclined to prefer properties with a large yard, nicely landscaped garden, and some outdoor amenities for families and kids. You can take advantage of this trend and offer the following facilities that can turn a boring yard into a fun place for your renters and their tiny tots.

Landscaping and Gardening

According to a recent study, landscaping boosts curb appeal and can lead to a 15% increase in rental property value. To make your yard more attractive, you can use several affordable and creative landscaping ideas such as installing low-maintenance shrubs, adding white picket fencing, creating DIY fire pits or a backyard garden, and hanging string lights to create an attractive ambiance.

Outdoor Dining Spaces

Many people like to cook and eat outside, especially in summer. You can create a small kitchen and dining space with a cabinet, counter space, barbeque, sink, wastewater drains, and a gas line.

Rooftop Terrace

Rooftop terraces are inviting and eco-friendly, which can be a selling point for your tenants. Additionally, such terraces often offer a beautiful view of the city and provide more space to add your personal touch.

You can also install light furniture like a table and some chairs, rugs, and lights. Installing a shade can protect your plants from sudden weather changes like rain and summer heat.

Create a Coworking Space

In the last few years, the number of people working remotely has increased tremendously. Consequently, tenants are now on the hunt for properties that offer co-working spaces or home offices to enjoy an undisturbed and focused work-like atmosphere.

Outdoor co-working spaces are also a good idea, as they offer fresh air and sunlight, which can boost creativity and critical thinking. Consider providing comfortable seating, electrical outlets, internet, and enough workspace.

Set up a Modular Kitchen

Gone are the days when the kitchen was the least priority in terms of interior design and facility. These days, renters look for modern features in the kitchen with easy installation and customization options and sufficient space to arrange utensils in clutter-free ways. Here are a few tips for converting your kitchen into a modular one.

Install Energy Efficient Appliances

Modern appliances use less energy and provide high performance, improving the quality of your life. Consider replacing old appliances with new energy-efficient ones, such as refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, ovens, washers, and dryers. These appliances are also environment-friendly and help minimize the exploitation of natural resources.

Build Attractive Kitchen Cabinets

You can opt for wooden cabinets with stainless steel handles or glass cabinets for a catchy and designer look. However, cabinets made of MDF, particleboard, and other mixed synthetic material are less expensive but look trendy in your kitchen.

Countertops

There are different countertops with different types of material available in the market. While granite and wooden countertops are durable, though expensive, waterproof cement and tile countertops are affordable and look like a million bucks. Make sure you calculate the cost of countertops per square foot before installing them.

Kitchen Shelves and Accessories

Installing kitchen shelves allows your tenant to systematically store many things in one place. Based on the interior and your budget, you can use baskets, partition baskets, open shelving, pantry units, kitchen holders, pull-out units, and tall units. Also, open shelves are trending these days, So you need not close the shelves all the way through.

Lavish Flooring

Flooring is the first thing that draws the attention of your tenants while assessing the property. Also, it is a crucial factor in improving your property's value. There are different types of flooring options you can use in your unit. However, the following two are tenants' most favorite.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floorings are the most durable and contain solid pieces of milled wood, such as oak, walnut, cherry, and maple. It is a desirable option for many tenants due to its versatility and high-quality material.

The average cost of this flooring is around $5 to $10 per square foot. It also requires regular maintenance like cleaning or applying a fresh coat of finish.

Carpets

Like hardwood flooring, a brand-new carpet can also make your property stand out from the crowd and add to its value. It protects your tenants in harsh weather conditions like cold and summer when walking barefoot is difficult. However, make sure you stick to a neutral color palette, as this is for your rental apartment, and you don't know the tenant's taste in furnishings. Choose quality material that can last for years and avoid installing it in areas that can be complex to clean.

Modern Bathrooms

The interior of the bathroom is an equally important consideration for the new-age tenants. A modern bathroom with a few renovations and upgrades can draw the attention of prospective tenants and allow you to charge for the facilities you provide. Here are a few bathroom amenities you can provide in the bathroom.

Install a Vanity Cabinet

Bathroom vanities are one of the popular upgrades for rental properties that improve functionality and the design and offer extra storage in your bathroom. Vanities come in six different types: freestanding, pedestal, floating, vessel, under-mounted sink, and cabinet. The vanity cabinet is similar to your kitchen cabinet with pull-out drawers and is customizable as per personal taste.

Walk-In Shower

Walk-in showers occupy less space and add an elegant look to your bathroom with minimal structural changes. You can easily install them in a small area and customize any shape that best suits your bathroom.

Some Miscellaneous Amenities

Apart from these modern amenities, you can also consider a few extras that always help in boosting your property value and are commonly seen in every rental unit.

Fitness Center

If you own a multi-family property with fitness-conscious tenants, offering fitness centers can add to your benefit. Consider providing some gym equipment like a jump rope, doorway pull-ups, dumbbell sets, and a treadmill or two to encourage your tenants to stay fit and healthy.

Swimming Pool

Offering a swimming pool in your rental property can increase the scope of your tenant pool and allow you to survive in rental competition. Even if your tenants don't use the swimming pool daily, having access to it can enable them to host a pool party, improve their social life and enjoy summer times with loved ones.

Parking

No tenant will want to waste half an hour searching for parking after a long day of work. If you provide ample parking space to your tenants, they are more likely to stay in your rental unit, increasing your property value.

An In-house Laundry

Tenants in apartments love when they need not go to a laundromat every time to wash their clothes. Although providing in-unit laundry is not legally required, offering one can save your tenants' time and effort and make your rental unit stand out. Make sure you opt for modern appliances that consume less energy and provide good performance.

How Technology Can Help Manage Your California City Rental Property More Efficiently

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 21:00:02 GMT

The advent of technology has brought a radical transformation in every sector, and the property management field is no exception. As a California city landlord, you must change with time and adopt more technologically enhanced features. It can help you significantly reduce vacancy rates, increase your return on investment (ROI), streamline your business operations, and allow you to manage multiple properties simultaneously.

There are several upsides to using property management technology, and it can also help you completely transform your business. Here are a few ways in which you can use property management technology to increase the efficiency of your rental business and develop a strong revenue-generating portfolio.

Set Accurate Prices for Your California City Rental Property

The occupancy rate of your rental depends directly on the rent you decide to charge for the house. Nobody likes to rent a house that is overpriced, even taking into account its area and its offerings. It is therefore advisable to set an affordable cost for the house that aligns with the amenities and utilities you are offering.

Additionally, properties similar to yours in the area also influence the current local market rates. You can use different software and online tools to analyze the current rates and market trends for rentals in your area. Software like AppFolio and TurboTenant can help you do the following essential things:

Market Research

Conducting thorough market research and analysis is a crucial step in deciding the price of your rental. It entails a thorough evaluation of your neighborhood and requires the identification of comparable properties in the area. A market analysis can help you determine the estimated cost of your rental. Software like TurboTenant can help you conduct comprehensive market research, starting from the current rates of different areas.

Identify a Competitive Rent Price

Another vital aspect you need to remember is to rely on competitive prices based on the location of your properties and the amenities you offer. Your property will be more appealing to tenants if you offer rates based on the condition of your property and its contributions to the tenants that set it apart from the competition.

Develop a Digital Tenant Screening and Application Process

The tenant screening process is perhaps one of the most complicated processes you have to deal with as a landlord. You always have to abide by the tenant screening laws for your state. Integrating technology while selecting tenants leads to complete digitalization of the screening and application process and can save a lot of time, effort, and money on your and your applicants’ parts. A digital screening process includes:

Online Applications

Interested people can apply digitally, instead of filling out reams of forms. Digital tenant screening platforms streamline the process of collecting standard information and providing secure portals for applicants.

Criminal Background and Rental History Checks

Software and platforms like First Advantage reduce the hassle of conducting a background check on each applicant. They help analyze credit profiles, criminal background, rental histories, and income to rent rations to shortlist qualified candidates.

Tenant Portals for Easy and Effective Communication

Communication between the landlord and the tenant is essential for any property management business to thrive. It can be enhanced by using tenant portals that allow renters to convey their problems directly to the landlord. Here's how portals like Active Building help.

Improved Landlord-tenant Relationship

Having an online landlord-tenant portal helps maintain transparent communication between you and your renters. All the information is clearly available in one place, and is easily accessible by both parties, in case of any issues. Greater the transparency, the more likely that tenants will rely on you and choose to renew their leases. You can also use this software to keep track of your duties as a landlord and carry them out without any delays.

Convenient Submission of Maintenance Requests

Your tenant can send you a maintenance request whenever they want. A request in a written form or personally delivered is outdated. Most California landlords and tenants prefer to use tenant portals to submit their requests. As all of this is online, you can check them from anywhere and ensure that the problem is resolved to the tenant’s satisfaction.

Better Marketing Techniques for Your California City Rental Property

Technology also plays a vital role in transforming the marketing process of your property. The marketing of your California property cannot be just limited to methods like word of mouth, referrals, and recommendations. You can also use online marketing tools for landlords to widen their reach and get newer and better tenants. For this, you can use platforms like,

Social Media

Social media platforms are a boon for a property manager as they help your property advertisements reach a wider base. The younger renter pool primarily uses platforms like Facebook and Instagram to look for rentals. As a landlord, you can include hashtags, detailed descriptions, and aesthetic images of the property in your social media posts, so people can easily find you.

Online Listing Sites

The most popular way of searching for a rental in a given neighborhood is by using online listing sites. Sites like C ra igslist and Zillow have been around for some time now and are known to provide reliable recommendations. These listing sites filter properties by user demand criteria according to the information that you include in your listing. It can also help you find the right tenant for your house.

Integration of Smart Technologies in Your California Rental

Tenants nowadays prefer to rent smart homes, equipped with modern conveniences. They are also willing to pay more for smart gadgets as they offer a sense of security and peace within the new rental. Here are some examples of what can be included in your rental –

Security Cameras with Remote Sync

Several rentals have CCTV cameras that only record the events around the area where they are installed. However, installing remote security cameras helps you get live footage of your property on your mobile, regardless of where you are.

Smart Lighting Systems

The lack of ample lighting in and around your rental is an important security issue. Lately, renters prefer to use smart lighting systems that allow tenants to save energy and money by enabling them to control lights remotely via mobile devices.

Advanced Burglar Alarms

You can also consider integrating burglar alarms within your California City rental to ensure the proper protection against events like theft and burglary by making a loud noise and alerting the required authorities.

Efficient Financial Management With Advanced Property Management Technology

As a landlord, you have to wear many hats – marketer, contractor, accountant, and more. It can be incredibly challenging if you are the only person tasked with keeping your property's detailed income and expense records. Therefore, it is advisable to use accounting and bookkeeping software to make your job easy.

Accounting Software

Cloud accounting software like Freshbooks and Quickbooks are gaining popularity among landlords and other business owners. If you aren't a tech-savvy person and need something simpler, you can even use an Excel spreadsheet to record all the details of your business finances. Property management companies usually have the software they use for their clients and systematically keep track of each person's accounts.

Detailed Financial Reports

Financial tracking software helps in streamlining your operations and responsibilities as a landlord. The best part is that accounts for different tenants are accessible to you at your fingertips in a well-organized manner. It optimizes your financial operations as you do not have to search for reports manually.

Seamless Rent Collection with Online Portals

As a landlord with multiple properties and tenants in California City, collecting rent from each can be a hassle. Therefore, it is advisable to use software like DoorLoop , Avail , and Buildium that enables you to collect rent from your tenant conveniently. It also offers other additional benefits like,

Autopay

It allows your renters to set an auto-pay feature where the software automatically deducts money from their bank account. It increases convenience for the landlord and the tenant as it eliminates the need for physical interaction. The autopay features also promote timely rent payments, and you can offer incentives to renters who use autopay while paying their rent digitally.

Fund Transfers

Online rent collection portals help your tenant quickly transfer amounts to your bank account. Your tenants can pay their rent from anywhere by multiple transfers like a credit card, debit card, etc. These platforms also send automatic reminders to your tenants of payments and notifications if their rent is overdue, making the rent collection process much more manageable.

Using Technology for Property Management with Professional Help

What California City Landlords Should Always Look for in a Rental Property Inspection

fred@imcrealestate.com (Fred Whitney) — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 20:00:01 GMT

As a landlord, placing quality tenants in your rental property is not enough. You also have to ensure that they are actively looking after the property and take care of regular maintenance. Plus, you need to check if there are any repairs or improvements required in the house and take care of them at the right time. The best way to do this is by conducting thorough rental property inspections.

According to the California Civil Code , every landlord must provide habitable and safe premises for their renters to live in. Conducting regular rental property inspections helps you to identify maintenance issues and resolve them on time, thus saving you from staggering expenses in the long run. Here are some types of rental inspections that landlords ought to conduct.

Types of Rental Property Inspections

Rental inspections are conducted routinely, roughly every quarter, as well as when the tenant moves in or out, to minimize the risk of tenant dissatisfaction, property damage, tenant injury, or liability. Here are the four main types of assessments that can be beneficial in the long run.

Move-in Inspection

A move-in inspection is conducted when a new tenant moves into your property. It includes a walkthrough where you showcase all the features of the unit to the tenant. During this process, you need to document the house's current condition by creating a comprehensive inspection checklist. It can help you keep track of the existing appearance of the property. This inspection serves as a baseline for you to later compare with the move-out inspection, to identify if your tenants have caused any intentional damage.

Routine Inspection

A routine inspection requires you to check if there are any issues in the unit while the renters are staying. It focuses on detecting problems that the tenant may have missed reporting or damages that have occurred due to their negligence. Routine inspections also play a massive role in ensuring that issues affecting day-to-day living are resolved promptly.

Drive-by Inspection

In a drive-by inspection, you, as the landlord, can cruise by the rental and see if the property is in good hands. Since this inspection requires you to do a quick drive-by, you only need to focus on the external aspects of the property, such as its landscaping, yard maintenance, color, and presence of unauthorized pets on the property.

Move-out Inspection

The move-out inspection is to ensure that your tenant is leaving the house in as good a condition as it was before. You can use your inspection checklist, and compare notes, images, and video recordings of the house's condition to your observations during the move-in inspection. Even though normal wear and tear of the property are expected with constant use of the house, you need to verify whether the tenant has caused extensive damage on purpose.

Note that for every type of inspection you decide to conduct, you must get permission from the tenant to access the property .

What To Look for During Rental Property Inspections in California City?

If you are a California landlord, there are a few particulars that you need to consider before conducting an inspection. It is advisable to have a comprehensive inspection checklist that allows you to check for all signs of potential damages. You can consult a professional property manager to know more about what an ideal property inspection checklist should include. To give you an overview, it documents the following aspects.

Damage to the Interior of Your California City Home

Inspecting the interior condition of the property refers to checking the appliances, utilities, their functions, and repairs to make in your rental home for the tenants. Be wary of any unusual odors, clutters, or signs which indicate that your tenant is not looking after the property.

Upcoming Maintenance Needs

Not all tenants may give you a call when they see the first sign of a breakdown of the features in the house. They might think that the damage is too insignificant and it might go unnoticed. However, if such minor issues are neglected, they can cause a massive malfunction down the line. Therefore, you need to check any prevailing maintenance problems that may arise in the house. It includes issues related to appliances or checking for leaks, clogged gutters, and unpaved entryways, among other concerns.

Adherence to Health and Safety Requirements

It is also essential to inspect the property for any health and safety-related hazards. The gas lines in the house should be secure, which can be confirmed by carrying out annual gas safety checks. You can also ensure electrical safety for your tenants and make sure that all the electrical installations and appliances in the house are safe to use. Additionally, you need to check and replace the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and see that the fire escape routes are unhindered.

Potential Plumbing and Water Damage

While inspecting the interiors, it is also essential to check for plumbing issues. Unchecked leaks can lead to extensive water damage that can later cause cracks in the walls, water seepage, and mold. If water damage is detected early during a rental property inspection , it can be fixed immediately to avoid any further damage.

The integrity of Flooring and Walls

The flooring of your house needs to be as clean as it was when the tenant initially moved into the place. Flooring is the most used part of the house and suffers from scuff marks, stains, and regular wear and tear. If you notice that the flooring is damaged, you can take it up with your tenants. Similarly, some landlords do not allow the tenant to repaint or modify the colors of the walls. It is, therefore, essential to check if your tenant has painted the walls of the house without authorization.

Lease Violations

We also recommend keeping a strict eye out on the tenants' behavior regarding lease violations. If you haven't allowed your tenants to keep a pet within the unit, they should not have one. If they do, it is considered as breaking the lease. Furthermore, the pet can create a nuisance, destroy the house's landscape, or even chew on the electric wires, which can be an issue. Additionally, ensure that your tenant carries out all of their duties specified in the lease, such as yard maintenance, regular disposal of garbage, maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, and so on.

Replacement of Air Filters

The HVAC systems in every house are one of the most consistently used functions, which can get damaged due to overuse. They may also malfunction due to dust accumulation. Therefore, ensure that you replace the dirty air filters with new ones during your inspection.

Presence of Pests on the Property

Many times, pests like ants, mice, termites, or rodents can go unnoticed for a long time. Make sure you check for pests while inspecting a house. If you find some of these pests, you can easily do a spray treatment to prevent them from spreading.

Damage to the Exterior of Your California City Rental

Along with ensuring that the interiors of the house are safe and habitable, it is also essential to check if the tenant has maintained the property's exterior condition. The home's exterior is the first thing people notice and can be a major attraction for potential renters if it is well maintained. Therefore, there are several aspects of the exterior condition of the house that need to be thoroughly checked.

Cracks in the Roof

If the roof of a house is poorly installed or has cracks or damage, it could cause water from the rain to enter the home. It is also a safety hazard as it may cause significant injury to your tenants. Also, check for loose or lost shingles, and get the roof fixed.

The Backyard and Front Yard

The yard of your rental property is one of the most appealing areas to the tenant, and it should be maintained accordingly. During routine property inspections, ensure that you check if the tenants maintain the yard properly by mowing the lawn, trimming bushes, and beautifying its overall appearance.

Security of Doors and Windows

While inspecting the doors and windows of the rental property, check if they are secure enough to prevent intruders from entering the house. Ensure that all the house's entrances, exits, and windows have strong, high-quality locks. You can also add adequate lighting near each of these to enhance safety. Further, you can think of installing security cameras at crucial locations like the front and back entrances, in the driveway, and in common areas, if required.

Overall State of the Property

Finally, you need to determine the overall state of the property, to ensure that the structural and aesthetic integrity of the property is being maintained properly. If there are any additional inspection or maintenance-related issues with tenants, you must address them right away.

How Can a California City Property Manager Help with Rental Property Inspections?

At JBL & Associates, we offer all-inclusive property management services to landlords and make the management process easier for them. For more assistance regarding property inspections, reach us at JBL & Associates.

How Does Remote Working Impact the California City Housing Market?

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 20:00:00 GMT

As the pandemic made remote working a necessity, it significantly impacted the California City housing markets to a large extent. The housing market in California underwent steady appreciation in the last two decades. California house prices rose 120% in 2019 vs 26% in the 2000s . The California City housing market also saw a significant impact coupled with the housing shortage in the state and an increase in people’s desire towards settling in suburban California.

Several companies adopted remote working as a viable option for daily work and encouraged employees to work from home. This eliminated the need of staying in the city to commute. Studies have also shown that remote working is better than working in an office. People who work from home are 47% more productive on average.

In the last two years, California has witnessed a steady stream of business professionals moving to the suburbs of California, like Sacramento and Stockton, from California City for cheaper housing , as the need to live in urban areas for work and commute suddenly stopped.

Now that remote working is here to stay, it is expected to change the California city housing market significantly. Here’s how.

Effect of Work-Life Balance Trends on Housing Preferences

The cost of commercial real estate in California has surpassed the national average for several years. With people unable to rent an apartment in the city at a reasonable cost and instead preferring to move away, finding a house in the city is no longer a priority. Now, living in the suburbs provides people with the chance to live in larger homes, better school districts, healthier and safer neighborhoods, natural diversity, and lower real estate prices.

Surging Prices and Property Demands in the Suburbs

One of the primary reasons people saw remote working as an opportunity to move from California City was its housing crisis. Most residential areas of California have experienced surging rates that continue to increase steadily over the years.

The housing prices grew steadily by 8.5% every year on an average during the 2010s. This is because the state’s construction of new houses significantly reduced to an average of well below 90,000 units per year due to the recession of 2008. The shortage has since continued, plaguing potential homeowners in the city with worries about affordability.

However, now that urbanites are moving to suburban areas of California , the housing prices and property demands are increasing in the suburbs every day. This shift from urban to rural has been good for people and working professionals but has increased the need for affordable housing in the suburbs, which is now surging in rates.

Since the housing market in California City is almost unaffordable for a lot of people, they are switching to relatively affordable suburbs like Irvine, Oxnard, Bakersfield, Clovis, Redlands, and others. As a result, the suburbs are experiencing growth as homeowners seriously consider choosing between property in the city or the suburbs. While suburban homes are still cheaper than those in cities, the gap between their rates is rapidly shrinking.

Current State of The California Housing Market

During the last two years, the California housing market saw a turbulent decline in housing rates since the housing preferences of consumers drastically changed. However, the setback in the housing market was temporary. Currently, the housing market is relatively steady, though the state still has a significant shortage of residential properties and homes.

However, California may experience a decline in sales of houses and residential properties in 2022 . According to C.A.R.’s “2022 California Housing Market Forecast” the median prices of homes may rise by 5.2%. Even though the sales projections are low, the recovering economy, and demand for houses in metro areas will drive up the prices of homes. The rate of new home construction in California is increasing slowly, which may lead to house availability and may cause changes in the market trends.

Increase in Demand For Specific Housing Features

Earlier, people had set expectations of rooms and kitchens when looking to buy a house. However, since people prefer to work remotely, they have evolved demands regarding the type of housing they want. A house with bedrooms and a kitchen is not enough for today's working professionals. Instead, they prefer spaces that enable them to have a home office or a separate room in the house where they can entirely focus on work. As a result, many multi-family developers are building co-working spaces in their rental properties.

Here are some of the specific features that people want -

Home offices

People want additional space or room in the house that they can use to work from home. Houses with home offices are excellent examples of properties fit for people who work remotely.

Proximity to Co-working Spaces

Like freelancers, most people who work in California prefer to buy houses with co-working spaces in the vicinity. These spaces allow people to step out of their homes and work independently on their projects without any distractions. Although co-working areas have existed for a long time, they have recently gained tremendous popularity and now become a preferred alternative to working in an office, especially among numerous self-starters and entrepreneurs.

According to Upwork , freelancers providing skilled services from various fields will rise to 53% in 2021. This is an 8% increase observed in just the past two years. Therefore, co-working spaces serve as an opportunity to work and network with like-minded people while maintaining a distinct line between personal and professional life.

Work Studios

Other professionals who work remotely also include artists. Since California is home to several renowned art schools and colleges , several people require extended continuous space or additional area in their house for work. Therefore, homes with work studios, warehouses, or empty garage spaces are also a popular feature among individuals. Other than this, the location of the property is also of importance. The development of zoom towns across the US has changed the housing industry landscape. People are looking to purchase moderately expensive but comfortable homes in areas that used to be prime vacation spots, like Truckee, in California.

Future Impact of Remote Working Trends on the California Housing Market

The housing market in the region is highly competitive as buyers are looking for more living space. However, there has been a shortage of housing supply in the last few years. As the demand for houses increases, California will face an imbalance between supply and demand in its housing market due to a significant lack of residential properties, primarily in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas.

Compared to last year, the housing costs in the state have been steadily rising, thus hindering affordability. The median home price in California is expected to increase by 5.2% in 2022. California's housing affordability is also likely to drop by 23%. The state is still a seller's market and will continue to be so in the upcoming years.

Currently, several buyers are offering sales bids at a much higher rate than the asking price. As new people come to the city for work and seek more living space, the California housing market will be more competitive in the upcoming years. The rates will be driven by low mortgage rates and a continual shortage of housing supply.

Opportunities for Investment in Rental Real Estate in California

California city remains a popular dwelling area for people who work remotely, including singles, people with fast-paced lifestyles, and IT professionals working in companies within the city. However, the gap between homeowners and renters is steadily decreasing, with 45% of households in the city being occupied by renters in 2022.

Consequently, even though there is a housing shortage in California, investors are still looking for opportunities to invest in real estate. The prices of rentals in California are likely to rise at a slow and steady rate through 2022, with expected rent growth of 7.1% . This slow supply may raise the rent prices, and financing and managing rentals become a tough problem for investors. However, the demand in the rental market, especially for single-family houses, will be a good opportunity for investors. Based on these trends, hiring property management companies will be a popular choice to tackle the management issues and deal effectively with your investment properties.

How Hiring a California City Property Manager Can Help

If you are considering buying a house in California city, it can be helpful to consult a property manager first. A qualified property management company can identify lucrative trends and help you invest in rental properties at the appropriate time, to earn maximum ROI.

A Property Owner's Toolbox to Renovating Their California City Rental

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 14:07:16 GMT

When you decide to renovate a California City rental property, you should do it with the following considerations in mind:

Which renovations will increase my rental value?
Which renovations will attract great tenants?
How long can I afford not to collect rent while I’m renovating the property?

We’re touching on all of those things today while we talk about how to effectively and affordably renovate your rental property.

Strategic Renovations vs. Total Rehabs

If you’ve purchased a fixer upper and you need to invest a lot of time and money getting it ready for the rental market, you’ll really have your work cut out for you. However, if your rental property is already in good condition, you can focus on making strategic renovations that will have an immediate impact on rental value and ROI without setting you back too much. For example, there’s no need to gut and remodel a kitchen when some updated appliances will do.

Some of the best renovations to maximize what you earn include:

Fresh paint
Energy-efficient appliances in the kitchen
Hard surface flooring instead of carpet
Improved interior and exterior lighting
Small changes to kitchens and bathrooms
Better landscaping

None of these improvements will cost very much or take very long. They’ll cut down on emergency repairs and keep your rental values at the top of the range for the current market.

Thinking Like a Tenant

Perhaps when you think about renovating your own home, you imagine a garden soaking tub or marble floors or a built-in wine cellar.

Those sound great, but they’re pricey. And, tenants in California City like a bit of luxury but what they really want is value.

Some of the tenant-friendly upgrades and renovations that your renters will most appreciate include a fenced-in yard where pets and children can play safely, outdoor spaces in a multi-family unit such as a balcony or patio, extra storage, and secure, off-street parking. If you are looking for a new way to attract tenants without renovating too much of your home, install a washing machine and a dryer.

Fixtures and appliances will also get the attention of tenants. Instead of replacing an entire bathroom, simply upgrade the lighting and the faucets. Install a modern mirror instead of the large glass rectangle that’s typical in rental homes.

Planning Your Renovations: Timelines and Budgets

Renovations are best done during tenant turnover periods. You don’t want to spend too much time on them, however, because a vacant property that’s under construction does not earn you any rental income.

Get your best vendors and contractors lined up well before your intended start date. Set a budget and stick to it. Use durable materials that are more likely to last for many years, so you can avoid renovations every time you turn the property over. The longer the lifespan of any improvements, the more profitable you’ll be.

Crime Prevention Methods to Protect Your California City Rental Property

Fri, 13 May 2022 20:00:04 GMT

You’re required to provide a safe and habitable California City rental property as a landlord, but there’s quite a bit of danger that’s completely outside of your control. Make sure you’re doing everything you can to prevent criminal activity at your property. You want your tenants kept safe from harm and you also want to protect the condition and value of your investment.

Preventing crime can come from adjustments to property design, keeping vacancies secure and to a minimum, and having good relationships with your tenants and your community. You never know when you’re going to have an incident with a disaffected tenant, a bored teenager, vandals, or an experienced criminal with bad intentions.

Many communities have neighborhood watch programs, which are helpful but not always 100 percent effective. Here are some of the best methods we recommend when you’re preventing crime and protecting your tenants and your property.

Check Your Lighting and Property Surroundings

It’s not unusual for a criminal to steal or break an outside light bulb with the intention of coming back later to commit a crime. Replace any missing or non-working bulbs right away. This keeps the property safer and it also sends a message to would-be criminals that you’re taking good and watchful care of the property.

Install bright lights. Motion lights are also a good idea and can help create a safe atmosphere for your renters.

Make sure there aren’t any shrubs or trees blocking your tenant’s view of what’s happening outside. They should be able to see out the windows into the outdoor spaces. You can also install gravel or mulch on the walkways, alerting tenants when someone approaches the property.

Keep Your California City Rental Safe during Vacancies

A vacancy can make your property an easy target for vandals, thieves, and trespassers. It also opens you up to criminal activity such as rental scams. Make sure your neighbors know when the property is vacant and encourage them to contact you or the police if something looks off. Visit the property as often as you can and install some additional security. Don’t leave the garbage cans out after the trash has been picked up and don’t allow mail or newspapers to accumulate.

Create a Safety Checklist for Inspections

Rental inspections are important before and after the tenancy. You’ll also want to get inside the property when you can for a routine maintenance check-up . During these walk-throughs, you should have a checklist that lets you know whether any repairs are needed. You should add some security and safety information to that checklist. You’ll want to test lights, locks, and windows. If you’re renting out units in a multi-family building, make sure you also check for safety on stairs, common areas, and outdoor courtyards.

Educate California City Tenants on Safety Issues

Your tenants can also be proactive in preventing crime and keeping the property safe. Talk to them about the importance of security and encourage them not to open the door to anyone they don’t know or aren’t expecting. Make sure they know to immediately report any problems with lighting or locks. A lot of residents use smart home devices such as video doorbells and security cameras. Make sure your property is set up to accommodate this technology.

5 Ideas to Improve the Curb Appeal of Your California City Rental

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 20:00:03 GMT

Better curb appeal at your California City rental property can accomplish a few important goals. It can lead to higher rents and it can also attract high quality tenants to your property quickly, eliminating a long and potentially expensive vacancy period .

If you’re wondering how to make your rental property more visually appealing, we have some ideas for you.

1. Check Your Paint

Curb appeal creates positive first impressions . And the thing potential tenants will likely notice first about your rental property is the paint condition.

Paint remains one of the most valuable and cost-effective investments you can make in your rental property, whether it’s interior or exterior paint. This is a great way to increase your curb appeal as well as your rental value.

Look at the paint on your property. If it’s faded, chipping, or simply unattractive - schedule some painters to give it a modern, clean facelift.

2. Pressure Wash the Property

It’s easy to forget how easy and inexpensive power washing your property can be. There’s going to be a lot of debris, dirt, pollen, and wayward leaves clinging to the outside of your rental home. Your driveway and sidewalks can likely use a good cleaning, too. Pavement tends to get darker as the dirt accumulates.

A good power washing will rinse away everything old and dirty and give your property a clean and fresh look. Power washing companies don’t charge too much, making this a must when you’re trying to improve your curb appeal.

3. Update Exterior Lighting

Good lighting outside your property is more than aesthetically pleasing - it’s also a security issue. You want your tenants and their guests to feel safe coming and going. It also helps when the property has a soft and visible glow in the evenings. Make sure there’s good lighting at the front door, on the side of the house, and in the back. Motion lights can be a good idea in garages, carports, or parking areas.

4. Invest in Better Landscaping

Offering a well-landscaped home is an excellent way to earn the highest possible rent and attract qualified tenants. You want it to look clean and pretty, but also low-maintenance. If there are complicated topiaries, a koi pond, and sensitive plants all over the place, tenants may worry that they’ll be expected to keep it looking that good. There’s no need to go overboard with the landscaping, just make sure the outdoor space is clean, appealing, and if possible - green.

Low-maintenance plants and simple landscaping features will enhance your curb appeal.

5. Use Color and Accessories

Simple upgrades aren’t expensive and they still grab the attention that good curb appeal requires. For example, look at your mailbox. Perhaps if it’s chipping or rusting or leaning to one side, you can invest in a new mailbox. New house numbers are also cost-effective. They can be stylish and metallic to really stand out when tenants arrive. Consider painting your front door or adding a couple of pots of bright flowers to the entryway.

Commercial Real Estate: the California City Investor's Guide

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 18:18:04 GMT

California offers real estate investors a number of benefits and favorable conditions. If you’re looking to invest in the California City market, there’s never been a better time to turn your attention towards commercial real estate.

Let’s take a look at the key factors that may drive investors in California City towards commercial properties and how it can help grow and diversify an investment portfolio. We’ll also talk about how to set yourself up for success.

Commercial Property Offers Portfolio Diversity

Investing in commercial property is a great way to diversify your existing real estate portfolio. Typically, commercial property represents buildings that house businesses. If you own an entire apartment building, you may consider that commercial property as well. Commercial property has a different set of rules and standards for financing, taxes, and legal requirements.

Commercial property could be a shopping mall, grocery store, office building, or industrial warehouse. It’s different from residential real estate.

Investment costs will be higher than when you buy residential homes. That’s because you may have to make some customizations to your building to accommodate the tenants who will rent the space. However, your returns will more than make up for it. Generally, commercial property makes more money than residential property.

Triple Net Leases are Beneficial for Commercial Investments

A triple net lease is available to commercial owners but not residential owners. In this type of lease agreement, the tenant will pay all real estate taxes, insurance, and maintenance or repair costs . That’s in addition to the normal costs, which include rent and utilities.

Here’s how a triple net lease can work for California City real estate investors:

You don’t need to be responsible for scheduling vendors and maintenance work.
Returns are consistent even with a more passive investment strategy.
Less risk to the property owner.
Management fees are often lower

It’s a great way to grow your portfolio.

Prepare for Commercial Property Financing

Commercial property financing is different than the type of loan you’d get for a residential property investment. You will likely need to meet higher income and net worth standards, and the required down payment might be a bit larger.

Interest rates will depend on the market, and while they’re pretty low right now, you’ll want to lock in a fixed rate so the interest doesn’t spike too high.

Find the Right Commercial Property Opportunity

Establish your investment goals and stick to your criteria. Before you buy, make sure you know why you’re buying commercial real estate and what you hope to accomplish. There is no good reason to acquire an investment that doesn’t fit your goals, no matter how enticing the price.

Bring your due diligence to the table. Run the numbers before you make an offer and analyze the deal as a whole. Are the inherent risks worth the potential rewards? Is there another property that would be better suited to your goals? Don’t move forward until you are certain the property will be beneficial to your portfolio.

Hire a California City Property Management Expert

Partner with the right professionals, especially if you’re investing in commercial real estate for the first time. Hire a real estate agent who specializes in commercial property. Work with a real estate attorney and a CPA who has a similar area of expertise.

Most importantly, work with a California City property manager who can help you understand what types of rents you’ll earn, how long of a vacancy you can expect, and where you’re likely to find the best tenants for your property.

How to Invest in California City Real Estate Virtually

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 20:46:43 GMT

Technology has changed the game when it comes to real estate investing and property management. You can invest in California City rental real estate from anywhere in the world. You don’t have to live here to have a successful investment experience.

We work with a number of out-of-state investors. We also work with buyers who aren’t planning to visit California City or explore the market in-person. With the real estate landscape as competitive as it is right now, there’s no surprise that investors are eager to save time and money by investing virtually.

Here’s how to do it, and how we can help.

You Need to Know the Market

You don’t have to visit California City to invest here, but you do need to have a sense of the rental values, the available properties, and the tenant pool. This is part of the due diligence you would conduct on an investment property even in your own neighborhood. Spend some time researching the area and its economy. You’ll want to know if it’s a growing region for commercial activity and whether the population is expanding or shrinking.

Tenant turnover and rental property inventory are important metrics. You’ll want to know how often rents increase and what vacancy times look like. Talk to a California City property manager so you can leverage reliable and accurate data as well as local expertise.

Identifying Investment Opportunities

When you’re not geographically close, you can’t eyeball the potential properties that you’ll buy.

Finding investment opportunities will require some digging, as well as great relationships.

This can easily be done virtually, thanks to the online platforms and tools that are available now to out-of-state investors. Build a team of local experts so you have people you can rely on to talk through a potential acquisition. Someone will need to show you the property you may buy, even if it’s a virtual showing. You’ll want to see pictures and videos. You’ll want to review comps and demographics.

Property management will be incredibly important when you’re investing virtually. Contact a good management company before you buy. This will allow you to access rental values, tenant information, and everything you need to know about the local market and the people who rent there. Get to know the competition and what kind of expenses to expect.

California Rental Laws

Investing in California City real estate can be done virtually, but you have to understand that the laws here are different than in many other parts of the country. We have statewide rent control, just cause eviction requirements, and protections for Section 8 tenants during the screening and marketing process.

None of these rules and requirements make it difficult to own rental property here, but it does highlight the need for local property managers who understand the laws and can keep you in compliance.

What Are the Unexpected Expenses of Owning a California City Rental Property?

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 21:00:02 GMT

Owning a California City rental property can offer several ways to earn money. You have a tenant paying down your mortgage and contributing to expenses. You’re earning appreciation and equity over time, and you’re hopefully taking advantage of all the tax breaks that come with income-producing rental homes.

There are also costs and expenses. Most of them are expected, but some can catch you by surprise.

Unexpected costs can be painful, especially if you don’t have the money set aside to cover them. Here are some of the things that many rental property owners forget to budget for when they’re investing in rental real estate .

Vacancy and Turnover Aren’t Cheap

You may have budgeted for your income and expenses without considering that your rental properties won’t be occupied 100 percent of the time. This is a common thing to forget. Vacancy can sneak up on an owner, and it’s almost always more expensive than you think it will be.

This begins immediately after you acquire your investment property. After you close, you’ll need to spend a few weeks or even a few months getting the property ready for the rental market and finding a tenant. When one tenant moves out, you’ll have to invest in turnover costs like cleaning and maintenance before another tenant moves in. Then, you’ll have to advertise and market the home. It can be a few weeks before you’re collecting rent again.

Vacancy costs are especially costly because it’s money that you can’t really recoup. The longer you don’t have a tenant in place, the more your investment costs you. You’re not receiving rental income, and at the same time you’re also required to pay for the utilities, security, landscaping, and upkeep.

A strategic marketing plan will help. You want to get a well-qualified tenant in place as soon as possible. Once you have a great resident, focus on tenant retention so you don’t have to face a vacancy shock every year.

The High Cost of Deferred Maintenance and Emergency Repairs

Maintenance issues never get cheaper with time, and if you don’t take care of routine and preventative work, you’ll find you are responding to a lot of maintenance emergencies.

Putting off minor repairs will only cost more when you’re forced to fix a leak or a roof. Take care of preventative and routine maintenance right away. There will always be maintenance costs involved in renting out a home, no matter how new it is or what kind of excellent condition it happens to be in. We recommend you budget for maintenance, and it doesn’t hurt to over-budget for maintenance.

Have a reserve fund or a savings account set aside for potential repair bills. Be responsive when those maintenance requests come in from your tenants. You want to preserve the condition of your home and avoid complex and costly repairs. You also want to keep your tenants happy. Responsive maintenance saves money by retaining tenants.

Screen Well or Pay for Bad Tenants

Bad tenants are expensive. They’re more likely to pay rent late or not pay it at all. That will require a series of notices and potentially, an eviction. A bad tenant can also cause property damage and may violate the terms of your lease. You’ll spend more time and money than you want to on evictions, maintenance, and renovations.

Unless you want to spend a lot of money on bad tenants, be sure your screening process is thorough. You need to be detailed and consistent so you aren’t losing money on terrible tenants.

Do I Need an On-Site Manager for My California City Rental?

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 20:00:03 GMT

Investing in multi-family rental properties comes with a different set of requirements and responsibilities than you have when you own single-family rental homes. One question that we’re often asked is: do I need an on-site manager for my building?

The answer is pretty simple - it depends on how many units you’re renting.

Before you invest in a multi-family California City rental property , it’s important to understand California law and how it differs when we’re talking about larger buildings.

On-Site Property Management Requirements in California

Legally, you will need an on-site property manager for an apartment building or rental property with more than 16 units. You can work with an off-site management company when you have an investment of this size, but you’ll also need a residential manager who lives in one of your building’s units.

Buildings with fewer than 16 units do not have this requirement, although sometimes a property owner will want to hire an on-site manager or maintenance expert to keep an eye on things and respond to any repair needs that might come up. With smaller buildings, the decision is completely up to you.

Employing On-Site Management Staff

When you have an on-site property manager, you’re essentially hiring staff. California law requires that the property manager at your property be classified as an employee. This can create some extra expenses for you that you need to be aware of and prepared for.

Because your on-site property manager is an employee, you are legally required to provide workers compensation insurance. You also have to withhold all required federal and state income taxes from their salary and contribute to social security.

Creating an On-Site Manager Job Description

Typically, the on-site property manager will be tasked with taking care of the day-to-day operations of the building, the individual units, and needs of the tenants who live there. These responsibilities may include:

Rent collection
Showings and tours
Tenant screening
Serving notices when rent is late
Responding to questions from tenants
Overseeing maintenance
Providing reports to property owners

Sometimes, an on-site property manager will provide these services in exchange for a reduction of rent since they live in the building. If, as a condition of employment, the on-site property manager must live at the place of employment or occupy quarters owned or under the control of the property owner, then that property owner is not allowed to charge rent in excess of the values set forth under California law.

How to Decide: Pros and Cons of On-Site Management

If your investment property has more than 16 units, you know you are required to hire an on-site manager for the property. If you’re not legally required to an on-site property, is it something you should consider?

This will largely depend on the property itself, the tenants you have, and whether or not you’re working with a full-service California City property management company already. If you’re renting out six apartments in a smaller building and you’re already working with a reliable property manager, you probably won’t need an on-site person responding to maintenance and tenant issues. It would only take up one of your available rental properties.

The Essential Routine Maintenance Checklist for All California City Landlords

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 20:01:34 GMT

What is on your routine maintenance checklist?

If you don’t have one, you could be putting your California City rental property at risk.

Inspecting your rental property is important if you want to protect and preserve its condition and value. Having a set routine for when and how you inspect your home is a good way to stay organized, consistent, and thorough. With a checklist, you can be sure everything has been looked at. Either you’ll have the peace of mind that it works well or you’ll make a note that something needs attention.

We recommend you use the same inspection checklist every time you go to your property. It creates a seamless way to document the condition of your rental home.

Move-In Inspection Checklist for California City Landlords

The move-in inspection will allow you to set the expectation with your tenants for how you want the home to be maintained. When you hand over a property that’s clean, functional, and in excellent condition, you can let them know that you expect it to be returned in the same general shape.

You want to make sure everything in the home is working and clean.

The checklist should include:

Changing air filters and light bulbs.
Testing appliances and faucets.
Turning on air conditioning and heat.
Flushing toilets.
Testing outlets.

You want to completely and accurately document the condition of your property before your tenants move in. Once your tenants have received the keys and signed the lease, give them an opportunity to do a move-in inspection of their own. Share the checklist, and allow them to add any notes or concerns to your report, and then make sure all parties sign off. This puts you all on the same page in terms of how the property looks when a tenant takes possession.

California City Move-Out Inspection Checklists

When you receive written notice that your tenant is planning to move out, remind them of what they’ll need to do before moving out. This might mean having the property cleaned professionally or the carpets steam-cleaned. Refer to the lease agreement and explain how and when they should return the keys.

In California, you’re required to invite your tenants to attend a pre-move out inspection, which will allow you to point out anything that may lead to a deduction from their security deposit .

After your tenant has moved out, you’ll conduct another inspection to compare the condition of the property at that time to the condition the home was in before the tenants moved into it. Remember that normal wear and tear is to be expected, and you cannot hold the tenants accountable for it. Use the same checklist you moved during the move-in inspection.

Annual Maintenance Walk-Through Inspection Checklist

In addition to the move-in and move-out inspections, having a set routine where you inspect the home annually while the tenants are in place is a good way to manage your relationship and protect your property. Let your tenants know at the beginning of the lease period that you’ll conduct such an inspection, and give them plenty of notice before you show up.

California privacy laws are pretty strict, and you can’t show up at the property for no reason. A maintenance walk-through, however, will give you the opportunity to look for any deferred or unreported maintenance . You can also make sure your tenant is taking good care of the home.

Checklist items at this time will include:

Checking under sinks and behind toilets for drips or leaks.
Making sure filters are being changed regularly.
Looking for health, safety, or habitability concerns.
Ensuring there are not obvious lease violations.

Take pictures during this inspection as well, and prepare a complete report so the condition of your property is well-documented.

Service Animals: What All California City Landlords Need to Know

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 20:00:33 GMT

What does it mean when a tenant wants to move in with a service animal? How do you handle a tenant who is already living in your pet-free property and comes to you explaining that they need a dog, but that dog is not a pet, it’s a service animal?

These can be complicated questions for California City landlords, especially if you’re not up to date with the fair housing and accessibility laws that regulate service and support animals.

Here’s what you need to know.

Defining Service Animals

Service animals are defined by the U.S. Department of Justice, within federal laws such as the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Some states and local governments have created their own laws and regulations. They must support and comply with these federal laws, however.

Outside of the service animal definition you’ll also find companion animals and emotional support animals. Therapy dogs. These are different, and we’ll explain how they’re different later in the blog.

Service Animals and Tenants

According to the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.

Only dogs can be service animals. This was established in 2011. There was a time when tenants might have insisted their miniature horse was a service animal. Some people have tried to use pigs or even snakes as service animals. They’re not - only dogs are certified service animals.

Examples of the work or tasks that a service animal may accomplish for a person with a disability include:

Guiding people who are blind
Alerting people who are deaf
Pulling a wheelchair
Protecting a person who is having a seizure
Reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications
Calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack

Dogs and other animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under federal law.

An assistance animal has a broader definition and they have their own protections under the Fair Housing Act. Assistance animals can serve different roles and may be an emotional support animal, companion animal, or therapy animal.

Companion Animals are Different

An emotional support animal is not a service animal, but it’s also not a pet. An emotional support animal is a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefits to an individual with an intellectual, emotional, or psychiatric disability.

The person seeking the emotional support animal must have a verifiable disability. This type of animal is considered a "reasonable accommodation" under the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) uses the term "assistance animal" to cover any animal that works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability.

An emotional support animal is one type of assistance animal allowed as a reasonable accommodation, even if you’re renting out a California City property that does not allow pets.

How this Impacts your California City Rental Property

You’re free to allow pets or not allow pets in your property . We have found that pets can limit your vacancy loss and lead to higher rents. However, not every rental property owner is thrilled with the idea of pets, and it’s up to you to allow them, not allow them, or consider them on a case-by-case basis.

Service animals, however, are legally required. You must allow them if your tenant requires one of these animals.

You cannot charge a pet fee or a pet deposit. You cannot charge pet rent. Service animals are not seen as pets. They’re seen as accommodations.

Should You Invest in Multi-Family Real Estate? California City Investment Guide

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 20:00:02 GMT

Investing in multi-family properties is a great way to leverage the current real estate market in California City and the surrounding areas. Maybe you’re new to investing and trying to identify a good first opportunity. Or, perhaps you’re diversifying a growing real estate portfolio.

Multi-family homes can be a profitable and low-risk way to earn some money in the real estate market.

Single-family homes can earn you reliable income and long-term appreciation. Multi-family rental property, however, offers less risk which typically translates to more money.

Multifamily properties in the California City rental market help you reduce your vacancy risk . They’re more cost-effective when it comes to maintenance and management. There are some excellent reasons to invest here, and we hope you’ll consider all of them when you’re looking for a new market and a larger portfolio.

Lower Purchase Price and Maintenance Costs per Investment Property

Lower acquisition costs, especially per-unit, are often what attract investors to multi-family homes. As an investor, you have more purchasing power when you’re looking at multi-family units. Lenders are also able to offer better rates on multi-family properties because you’ll be able to leverage your potential rental income. Most banks are willing to lend money because they know there’s a lower risk of foreclosure and default.

Maintenance is more cost-effective. You can expect volume discounts thanks to your purchasing power.

If you have an apartment building with 12 units, getting maintenance work done on those properties is a lot easier, cheaper, and faster than it would be to dispatch maintenance teams to 12 separate single-family homes around the city. Multi-family properties make more financial sense and provide better earning opportunities when it comes to preventative issues like pest control, roofing, HVAC servicing, and plumbing. You’re also likely to get a deal on California City property management .

Lower Vacancy Risk with California City Multi-family Investments

When you own several multi-family properties or an apartment building, you’re bringing in rent from several different sources. That means when one property is vacant, the financial loss isn’t nearly as devastating as it is when you’re renting out a single-family home . You still have plenty of other income streams to cover that loss. You won’t find yourself without any income at all in a given month.

Growing Your Investment Portfolio

When you’re growing your California City real estate investment portfolio, investing in a multi-family property will move you closer to your goals than a single-family home. You’re able to bring in a handful of properties rather than just one. This gives your entire portfolio some diversity as well as extra strength.

According to recent real estate studies, most investors hold their multi-family rental property for an average of five years. Maybe you have a 10 or 15-year investment plan and you’ll hold onto the assets a bit longer, but most of the investors we work with don’t like to keep their money tied up in one property for too long. You can use the assets you own to conduct 1031 exchanges and keep your assets growing.

Pros and Cons of Investing in Single-Family Homes | California City Investment

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 20:03:19 GMT

As an investor, you have a lot of decisions to make. One of the first things you’ll need to decide is what type of property you’re going to buy.

Single-family homes are always attractive to both investors and tenants. California City has a great inventory of single-family homes, some of them in new construction HOA neighborhoods and others in older, more established communities.

There are pros and cons to single-family investments. Deciding whether it’s the right type of investment for you will depend on your investment goals, the amount of risk you’re willing to tolerate, and the amount of responsibility and interaction you want to have with your management team and your tenants.

Pro: Single-Family Homes and Earnings

A single-family home is always a great investment option because highly qualified tenants enjoy renting them. The tenants you attract with a well-maintained single-family home in a good location will want stability, and they’ll probably take care of the home just like it’s their own. You can expect them to stay in place for more than a year, and they’ll be attentive to taking care of the home.

Pro: Single-Family Homes Earn Cash Flow and Appreciation

Cash flow is easily achieved with single-family properties because they usually rent for more money than multi-family homes or apartment units. The returns are also more reliable in both the short term and the long term. You’ll earn higher rents and your investment will also increase in value faster and more reliably than a multi-family home.

Con: Vacancy Risks are Higher

There’s less vacancy risk when you invest in multi-family properties. Owning a single-family home means having one source of rental income. If that tenant falls behind on rent or suddenly moves out, you’re left without any income. This can be unnerving, especially in a slow market where competition for tenants is fierce.

Pro: Utilities are a Tenant Responsibility

With single-family homes, it’s easy enough to require your tenants to set up their own utility accounts. They have their own electricity, gas, water, and trash services and you can require in the lease that they set up those accounts before they move in. The tenants will be responsible for receiving and paying the bills every month, and they may also have to pay deposits and handle turning off the utility services when they move out.

You’ll have to decide how you want to handle things like landscaping, lawn care, maintenance, and if you have a pool - pool upkeep. These responsibilities should be written into the lease agreement and discussed with tenants.

Con: Higher Maintenance and Management Costs

When it comes to per-unit maintenance and management costs , single-family investments will cost more, usually. Maintaining a single-family home will be more labor-intensive, even if your property is new or in good shape. Expect to spend a little more keeping it in excellent condition.

These are just some of the things to think about when you’re weighing the benefits and risks of single-family home investments. We can help you with your investment decisions and all your California City property management needs. Please contact us at JBL & Associates.

Should California City Landlords Require Renters Insurance?

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 19:42:01 GMT

The owners and investors we work with are pretty smart, and they understand the need to insure their investment properties, whether it’s an apartment, condo, or a single-family home that they’re renting out. Good insurance protects you from liability and disasters.

Tenants are often under the impression that they are protected by their landlord’s insurance. This is not the case, of course, and it’s important that you require your tenants to have renter’s insurance before they move into your property.

Legal disputes and conflicts with tenants are best avoided . When you require renter’s insurance, you’re protecting your tenants, your property, and your own financial stability. We strongly recommend that you require proof of insurance from tenants before the lease is signed.

Renter’s Insurance Covers Personal Property

The most important reason to require this type of insurance is to ensure your tenant’s belongings are protected. If a flood or a fire occurs at your property, a tenant’s personal belongings are likely to be impacted. The necessary repairs and replacements won’t be covered by your policy.

If tenants don’t know this and don’t have their own coverage, you can expect a lot of anger and frustration on their end. When you require that they have a renter’s policy in place, they’ll be compensated for their own loss after a covered event. The tenant’s insurance policy should pay to replace or repair damaged items.

Knowing that their claims will be paid will also encourage continued on-time rental payments. An angry tenant who lost all their electronics during an incident and didn’t have renter’s insurance to cover the loss is less likely to pay rent the following month.

Renter’s Insurance Lowers Liability and Lawsuit Risk

Tenants can cause damage and disaster at their home, even unintentionally. Landlords should not be left to bear the burden of all that liability. Perhaps a tenant will leave a pot on a hot stove, starting a fire. If there’s $10,000 in damage to the kitchen, you’ll want your tenant to be responsible for that, not you. If a tenant has guests over and someone becomes injured, a lawsuit may be filed by that injured party.

Liability insurance is almost always included in renter’s policies. In the above scenarios, the renter’s policy would likely pay for the kitchen repairs or the injured guest’s medical bills if the renter is found liable for the loss. As the property owner, you would not have to be named in the lawsuit at all, nor would you have to use your own insurance.

Renter’s Insurance is Inexpensive

Most tenants understand the importance of renter’s insurance, and you should feel comfortable explaining why you require it. There’s no need to agonize over costing the tenants more money. Renter’s insurance is extremely affordable. Most tenants won’t pay more than $15 or $20 per month for full coverage. If they have auto insurance, they can likely bundle the coverage and save some money.

Include the requirement in your lease agreement. You’ll protect yourself, your tenant, and your property.

If you have any questions about renter’s insurance or California City property management , please contact us at JBL & Associates.

How to Gain a Better Relationship with Your California City Tenants

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 20:00:02 GMT

A positive landlord-tenant relationship will result in a better rental experience for everyone, and a better investment experience for you. We have a few ideas about how you can establish and maintain a harmonious and respectful relationship with the people renting out your property .

Communicate Your Expectations

Tenants cannot be held accountable for the things they don’t know about or understand. Start your relationship on the right foot before they even move in. During the lease-signing process, walk through the terms of your lease agreement so you can be sure they understand their responsibilities and your expectations. Ask if they have any questions, and be willing to listen to their concerns. You don’t know what kind of landlord experiences they’ve had in the past; they might be apprehensive and untrusting. Talk through what you expect in terms of rent payments, maintenance, and communication.

Be Accessible and Responsive

As you’re establishing good communication practices with your tenants, make sure you’re easy to reach. Your tenants will need to know how to get in touch if there’s an emergency or if they’re expecting a financial problem that may result in late rent one month. Be available to them through a number of channels. They should feel comfortable calling or texting. If you’d prefer email, give them your email address. Make sure you’re responsive when they contact you. If you cannot answer their question or solve their problem right away, let them know that you’ve heard them, and you’ll do everything you can to help them in the next few days. Let your tenants know you’re available.

Take Care of Maintenance Issues

The main reason that tenants move out of their rental properties is that their landlords are not responsive when it comes to maintenance. You need to take care of repairs immediately, no matter how small they may seem to you. Show the tenants that you care about their comfort and safety. You also want them to know you care about the condition of your home. Respond to emergencies right away, and respond to routine maintenance as soon as you can. Keep your tenants updated as you’re coordinating with vendors, and make sure you let them know in advance when someone will be coming to the home to make a repair. Follow up after the work is done to make sure your tenants are happy.

Focus on Tenant Retention

If you can establish and maintain a good relationship with your tenants, you’re likely to keep them for longer. Tenant retention is an important part of your ROI . You don’t want to lose money on turnover costs and vacancies, so do everything you can to keep good tenants in place . Let them know you appreciate their on-time rental payments. Send little gifts on birthdays or at lease renewal time. A personal attention to detail will make tenants feel like they’re experiencing great customer care, and they’ll not only stay in your property – they’ll tell others what a great landlord you are.

We love the tenants we work with, and we work hard to show them how much they’re valued. If you’d like some professional help developing a better tenant relationship, contact us at JBL & Associates.

How Much Should I Charge for Rent? California City Landlord Advice

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 20:00:02 GMT

Determining the right rental price for your home depends on a number of factors. Ultimately, the amount you charge will depend on the market. You cannot price your property much higher than what the market demands, otherwise it will remain unoccupied. It’s important to charge as much as you can; you don’t want to leave money on the table or rob yourself of potential cash flow. But, overpricing your home can often be more expensive than underpricing it. Study the market and get to know what homes similar to yours are renting for.

Market influences as well as the size, location, and condition of your property will affect its price.

Property Location Impacts Price

Everyone knows that location is an important factor in real estate. You’ll earn more on your property when it’s located in a desirable location. If you are near good schools, easy commuter routes, and within proximity to shopping, grocery stores, and other types of retailers, you’ll be able to earn more in rent than if your home is more remote. When you’re comparing your home to the competition in order to price it accurately, make sure you’re looking at homes in the same neighborhood as you. Rental prices can change from street to street and block to block.

Consider Your Home’s Size and Layout

If you’re renting out a single-family home, you’ll probably be able to price it higher than you would an apartment. Most renters are looking for three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a garage, and some yard space when they rent a single-family property. You’ll need to lower your price a bit if the property is too small for the area or even if it’s too large. It’s rare to find someone in California City who wants to rent a seven-bedroom property with six bathrooms. Open floor plans, fenced backyards, and amenities make a difference in your price, and can help you earn more.

Property Condition Counts

There’s not much you can do about your property’s location and size. However, you can control its condition. Well-maintained properties will earn more rent than those that are old, worn, and falling apart. Make sure your home is in excellent condition when you’re renting it out. You’ll earn higher rents and attract better tenants.

Pay attention to the work your property needs. Everything should be fixed and in good shape before you rent it out. Consider making a few small and inexpensive upgrades. Fresh paint, new floors, and minor improvements can help you earn more in rent. For example, if you put in ceiling fans or energy efficient appliances, you’ll be able to ask for more, and your tenants will appreciate the lower energy bills. New hardware on the cabinets and drawers can make your kitchen look brand new. Upgrade the lighting and the window blinds. These small things won’t cost you a lot, but they’ll help you earn more money every month.

We can provide you with a free rental analysis and help you establish a good rent for your home. Contact us at JBL & Associates for more information.

Should You Allow Pets in Your California City Rental Property?

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 20:00:02 GMT

Rental property owners often ask whether they must allow tenants with pets to move into their home. It’s not a requirement; if you don’t want to allow pets, you don’t have to. However, we recommend that you consider pets. Most people in the U.S. own at least one pet, and tenants are also likely to have a dog or a cat. If you say no to pets, you’re eliminating a large portion of the tenant pool before you even market your property, and that means you might face a longer vacancy period.

There are several things you can do to ensure your property is protected from the potential damage that animals can cause.

Restrict the Pets You Allow

Place as many restrictions as you would like on the pets you’ll allow. For starters, you don’t want to allow any dangerous dog breeds. Your insurance company is unlikely to cover any damage or injuries that result from the breeds they consider vicious, such as Pit Bulls, Dobermans, and Rottweilers. You can allow adult dogs and cats but deny tenants who have kittens and puppies. You can also place size restrictions on the pets you’ll allow. Perhaps you’ll only allow dogs that are 25 pounds or smaller. You can restrict the number of pets, too. Allow two dogs or one dog and one cat. It’s up to you how you write your pet policy, just make sure you set some consistent standards and include them in your lease agreement .

Charge Pet Rent

To cover the cost of potential damage, you can increase the amount of the security deposit you collect when a tenant has a pet. You can also charge pet rent, which is not a deposit, but an extra rental amount that you collect to cover the risk of having pets in your property. This is not only a great way to welcome tenants who have animals, it also increases your cash flow, especially when you rent to good tenants who take care of their pets. We recommend charging between $25 and $50 per month, per pet.

Screen the Pets

Screen the pets as thoroughly as you screen your tenants . You can ask for vet records and you can talk to former landlords about both the tenant and the pet. Ask if there was any damage left behind, and whether the pet was well-behaved. Meet the animal in person, and make sure you get a photo so you’ll know the pet is approved.

Remember that service and support animals are not to be considered pets. Even if you have a strict no-pet policy, a tenant with a service animal cannot be denied, otherwise you’ll face fair housing claims. You also cannot charge pet deposits or pet rent for service and support animals.

Pet owners usually make good tenants, and to avoid unnecessarily long vacancy times, you should consider allowing pets in your rental property. For help with your pet policy, please contact us at JBL & Associates. We’d be happy to answer any additional questions.

Security Deposit and How to Handle Them in California City

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 20:00:02 GMT

Once you have found and approved a tenant for your California City rental property, you’ll need to collect all the move-in funds before you hand over the keys. A security deposit is an important way to protect yourself and your property. This is a deposit you’ll hold throughout the tenancy. It remains the tenant’s money, and you cannot spend it on repairs or anything else while your tenants are in place. But, once they move out, it can be used to cover the cost of damage or unpaid expenses.

California law is specific when it comes to how you collect, hold, and return security deposits. We’re sharing some of the most important security deposit information today.

California Security Deposit Limits

Assuming your property is unfurnished, you can only charge up to two times the monthly rent as a security deposit. So, if your rental amount is $1,500, the most you can ask for in a security deposit is $3,000. You can charge three times the monthly rent if your property is furnished. Nonrefundable fees are not allowed in California. When you collect a security deposit, it’s just that – a deposit. The tenants can expect the money to be returned at the end of the lease period if the home is returned in the same condition in which it was provided.

Wear and Tear versus Property Damage

At the end of the lease term, when it’s time to return the deposit, you’ll need to decide whether you have a right to deduct any money to pay for damages left behind by the tenant. Be very careful. Property owners are responsible for wear and tear, so you cannot charge for every imperfection you find after the tenant moves out. Make sure you documented the condition of the home thoroughly before a tenant moved in. There should be pictures and videos that clearly demonstrate how the property looked. Take pictures and videos and notes of the same things during the move-out inspection.

Wear and tear includes things like small nail holes in the walls from where pictures were hung or scuff marks from where furniture pushed up against a wall. You cannot charge the tenants for new paint. Dents in the wall from doors and curtains or blinds faded from sun are additional examples of wear and tear. Damage would include broken tiles, doors off their hinges, large holes in walls, or torn carpet from pets.

California Security Deposit Return Process

Pay attention to detail when you’re returning the security deposit. You have 21 days from the date of move-out to return all or some of the deposit to your tenants. If you have kept any money from the deposit, you’re required to provide an itemized list of those deductions, with explanations. If you have receipts or invoices for the work, include copies of those as well. It’s important to document your deductions and provide advance notice. If a tenant takes you to court over a security deposit dispute and you lose, you’ll have to refund the entire deposit as well as extra fees and penalties. It can be expensive.

Security deposits can be tricky. If you need help collecting or returning them, please don’t hesitate to contact us at JBL & Associates.

First Steps to Take When Your Tenant Doesn't Pay Rent in California City

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 20:56:48 GMT

One of the concerns many new landlords tend to have is that their tenant won’t pay rent. When you do a thorough tenant screening , you can be sure you’re placing a tenant who has a record of on-time rental payments. However, things beyond our control do happen, and if your tenant seems to be slow in paying rent, you need to take immediate action. Collecting rent on time is important for your cash flow.

If you have a tenant who is late, follow these steps to collect the overdue rent.

Set Forth Expectations in Your Lease Agreement

Your rent collection policies must start with your lease agreement . Make sure you clearly state how much rent is due, when it’s due, and how it should be paid. You also want your lease to include the penalties for late rent. So, your lease might state that rent is due on the first of the month. Perhaps you’ll allow a grace period of three or even five days. Make sure your tenants know on which date that grace period ends, and when rent will be considered officially late. When they have all the information they need and they understand your expectations, there can be no excuses for why it has not been paid on time.

Communicate with Your Tenants

A good relationship between landlords and tenants brings many benefits. One of those benefits is that your tenants will feel comfortable letting you know if rent is going to be late one month, and why. If your grace period has passed and you still don’t have your tenant’s rent, get in touch. Send a message or make a phone call just to remind them that you didn’t receive the rent, and to ask them when you can expect it. If they are willing to talk to you, that’s a good sign. Listen to them and be empathetic to their situation. If this is a tenant who usually pays on time, it’s likely that the late rent is simply an oversight or due to an unexpected circumstance. Set up a payment schedule or arrangement, and put the details of that arrangement in writing. Then, enforce it. If your tenant does not pay according to what you agreed upon, you’ll need to take additional steps.

Send a Three Day Notice

If your tenant will not talk to you about the late rent or does not paid according to the agreed-upon terms, you need to send a Three Day Notice to Pay or Quit. This notice effectively lets the tenants know that they are in violation of their lease, and they have three days to either pay the overdue rent or move out of the property. Usually, this formal notice, which is served in-person or posted on the door of the property, will inspire your tenants to get the rent caught up. They know that the next step is an eviction , and they will likely want to avoid that.

Moving Towards Eviction

When you don’t receive your rent after the three business days, it’s time to get the courts involved. This is not an easy process, even for experienced landlords, so we always recommend you work with a good landlord attorney. If you’re not sure where to turn, talk to a property manager for help.

We’d be happy to help you get your rent collected on time. Contact us at JBL & Associates for more information.

Fair Housing Laws & Regulations | Property Management in California City

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 21:34:49 GMT

Renting out property means being aware of and complying with all of the federal, state, and local fair housing laws. This is an area where it’s easy to make a mistake and get into trouble. If you’re not aware of the fair housing laws, make sure you talk to a property manager before you begin leasing your home or looking for tenants.

The Fair Housing Act

Fair housing laws begin with the Fair Housing Act, a federal law that makes it illegal to discriminate against seven classes of people when you’re renting out your property . You cannot deny an otherwise qualified tenant on the basis of:

Race
Color
Religion
National Origin
Sex
Disability
Familial Status

This may seem simple enough; it’s rare that a landlord will intentionally discriminate against anyone, especially if that person has verifiable income and good rental references. However, it’s easy to discriminate unintentionally, especially when you’re marketing your property and screening applications . In your ad, if you say your property is “great for families” or “near churches,” you could be seen as discriminating. You have to be careful with your wording, and you have to be consistent with your screening. Treat every single application exactly the same.

Providing Written Rental Criteria

One of the best ways to protect yourself against claims of discrimination is to provide every applicant with a written list of your rental criteria. This will provide any potential tenant with a set of standards that you use to approve or deny applications. Having your criteria and your process documented will help you remain consistent and demonstrate your compliance with fair housing principles.

California Fair Housing Laws

In the state of California, there are a few other protected classes against whom you cannot discriminate in housing. These go beyond the federal laws and include:

Gender Identity
Creed
Ancestry
Medical Condition
Sexual Orientation
Source of Income

The state fair housing laws are enforced by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). Again, your documented process and enforcement of your own policies and procedures will ensure you don’t discriminate unintentionally and will keep you out of court.

Additional Fair Housing Considerations

If you think you’ve got a good understanding of the protected classes and how not to discriminate against them, that’s a good first step. However, these laws are always changing, and they’re always being interpreted in different ways. You need to keep up with these changes when you’re renting out property in California. For example, disparate impact is a term that’s widely used when landlords are looking at criminal histories during the screening process. Disparate impact can unfavorably affect one group of people more than others, leaving them vulnerable to housing discrimination.

There are also service and support animals, which are treated differently than pets when someone with a disability applies for your property. You’ll need to know how to tell the difference and what kind of documentation you can and cannot ask for.

We are happy to help you navigate the legal waters when it comes to your California City rental property. Please feel free to contact us at JBL & Associates for more information.

Rental Home Preventative Maintenance in California City: What to Know

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 20:28:45 GMT

Routine and emergency maintenance issues are always going to be something that landlords need to respond to at their rental homes. However, there’s more you can do to keep your maintenance costs low . To protect the condition of your investment home and keep it well-maintained, you need to implement a strategy of preventative maintenance.

What Does Preventative Maintenance Mean?

When we talk about preventative maintenance, we mean keeping everything in satisfactory operating condition. It means keeping the property safe and habitable for your tenants. We have found that minor repairs and small issues will only become larger, more complicated, and more expensive if they’re left untreated. Preventative maintenance will protect your home and your bottom line. It will also protect your turnover and vacancy rates. When tenants know you care about the property and are responsive to their maintenance needs and requests, they’re more willing to stay and renew their leases year after year.

Preventative Maintenance Example: HVAC Systems

The climate in California City is pretty extreme. With dramatically high temperatures in the summer and winter averages that hover around the freezing mark, your rental property’s heating and cooling system will certainly put in some hard work. This is one of the most expensive systems in your home, so you want to make sure it’s running as efficiently and effectively as it can. Preventative maintenance is critical. Have a technician come out to your property twice a year, between each season, to inspect and clean the HVAC. This will ensure that any problems are detected early. You’ll have the peace of mind that your tenants won’t call to complain about their air conditioning not working in the middle of July. You’ll also know that you won’t have to spend thousands of dollars to replace your system when it’s being inspected regularly.

Schedule Seasonal Maintenance Issues

Cleaning the furnace, inspecting the roof and the gutters, looking for leaks, and winterizing your home should all be part of your seasonal and preventative maintenance plans. Taking care of these things once or twice a year will ensure you don’t suddenly have to make major and expensive repairs. Emergencies are always going to happen; you will need to replace a water heater that explodes in the middle of the night at some point. But, if you are ensuring that your property is looked after by qualified professionals from time to time, you won’t have a large number of those emergencies. You’ll be able to plan for when appliances, systems, and roofs need to be replaced. You can put together a budget to address those maintenance items. Preventative maintenance allows you to be proactive instead of reactive.

Maintenance is one of the most expensive things for property owners to manage when they own a rental home. Working with professional property managers can help you mitigate damage and save money. If you’d like to talk more about the importance of preventative maintenance, please contact us at JBL & Associates. We’d be happy to tell you how we handle all routine, preventative, and emergency repairs at your property.

California City Landlord's Guide to Conducting Rental Property Inspections

Thu, 21 May 2020 20:34:42 GMT

There are several important reasons for conducting rental property inspections. First, they give you the opportunity to document the condition of your home. Inspections also invite you to look for deferred maintenance or issues that need your attention. And, when you’re conducting an inspection while your tenants are in place, you can make sure they are following the terms of your lease. Make sure you’re inspecting your California City rental home regularly.

Move-In and Move-Out Inspections

The most important inspections you’ll conduct are those before a tenant moves in and after a tenant moves out. These inspections will document the condition of your home, and they should include detailed pictures and notes. Before your tenant moves in, conduct a complete inspection of the property. Take pictures of everything; doors, windows, floors, appliances, plumbing fixtures, and the yard. You’ll do the same thing when a tenant moves out, and then you’ll compare the move-in inspection report to the move-out inspection report. This will help you determine whether any money needs to be withheld from the security deposit to pay for damage. The tenant won’t be able to dispute a charge when you have photos that show a clear difference at move-in and move-out.

Inspecting for Maintenance Needs

Tenants don’t always report the repairs that are needed at your property. They might think that the problem is too minor, or they simply might not notice that something isn’t working properly. That’s why it’s so important for landlords to get inside the property at least once during a tenancy to take a look around and make sure there isn’t any work that’s needed. During this inspection, you should check all the systems, functions, and appliances in the house. Look under sinks for signs of leaks. Check the roof for any branches, leaves, or debris that might cause problems. Look at the gutters and if they’re clogged, schedule a time to have them cleaned out. Talk to your tenants about any problems or oddities that they’ve notices. If you see repairs or replacements that are necessary, schedule the work right away. Small maintenance problems rarely get better with age. They only get more complicated and expensive, so take care of them right away.

Look for Lease Violations

While you’re inside looking for maintenance concerns, you should also take the time to make sure your tenants are following the terms of your rental agreement . If your tenant didn’t apply for the home with pets, you shouldn’t see dog beds and cat bowls. Make sure that there aren’t additional people living there who are not on the lease and who have not been screened. If the tenant is responsible for things like yard maintenance and changing the air filters, make sure these things are being done. If you notice a lease violation, put the issue in writing and make sure to address it with the tenant right away.

Conducting rental property inspections is all about detail. Take pictures, make notes, and be sure to stay on top of the way your property is being cared for by your tenants. If you’d like some help with this, contact us at JBL & Associates, and we’ll tell you what we do to inspect as your California City property managers .

Why Invest in California City Real Estate?

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 20:30:44 GMT

Many investors shy away from the state of California because of its notorious home prices and its tenant-friendly landscape. However, California City is a little different from the rest of the state. You can still find investor-friendly properties for reasonable amounts of money, and you can earn a healthy ROI in both the short term and the long term.

Take a look at some of the best reasons to invest in this part of California’s Antelope Valley.

Investment Opportunities in California City

California City is the third-largest metropolitan area in the entire state, when you measure by area. That’s a lot of land with a lot of opportunity for investment real estate. The average home value in California City is around $155,000, and that is an increase of over 16 percent in the last year. With that kind of appreciation, investors can expect to earn a healthy return on any properties they buy in the area right now. Both current inventory and new development are attractive to investors looking to enter the California market at a comfortable price point.

Rental Rates are Stable

Unlike other markets in the state, California City is not affected by rent control. Rents are also fairly stable, with single-family homes in desirable neighborhoods often renting for at least $1,000 per month. Positive cash flow is likely considering the price point for many homes, and you’ll find a well-qualified pool of tenants who are looking to rent well-maintained properties. The market does not fluctuate the way it does in Los Angeles or San Francisco. You can plan on a steady rental income.

Economic Growth is Possible

There’s plenty of opportunity for economic growth in California City. Major employers such as Wind Hub Generation, Edwards Air Force Base, Mojave Air & Space Port, and Golden Queen Mines are within a commutable distance. There’s also a business park at California City Airport that’s busy attracting new businesses, and the city holds a Foreign Trade Zone satellite designation. These opportunities plus the sunshine, warm weather, and proximity to California’s coastal cities provide a high quality of life for California City residents. This impending growth will only feed your investment potential.

Real Estate Investments Create Financial Stability

When you invest in California City real estate , you have a lot of options. You may be considering this part of California as a retirement destination. When you buy a property now, you can rent it out until it’s paid off, and then move into the home yourself when you’re ready to retire. Or, you hold onto the asset for as long as possible and pass it onto your children or heirs. The longer you keep your investment property, the more wealth you build. Rental homes also provide tax breaks for owners who need to reduce their tax liability. You can deduct the cost of property management and other professional fees, as well as depreciation and maintenance. Your long term returns will earn you money in California City.

We’d love to tell you more about why investing in California City real estate makes sense. Please contact us at JBL & Associates.

How to Get Your California City Investment Property Rent Ready

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 22:37:50 GMT

Preparing your California City rental property for the market is an important first step to finding a tenant and earning some rental income. Many landlords make the mistake of listing and showing the home as-is . It pays to make an effort and allow the property to really stand apart from the competition. If you take the time to get your property ready for the rental market, you’ll be able to earn more rent, reduce your vacancy time, and attract better tenants .

First Impressions Matter: Curb Appeal

When prospective tenants drive up or walk up to your property, they need to see a home that’s well-maintained, attractive, and inviting. If you’re renting out a single-family home, make sure the lawn has been cut, the bushes are trimmed, and yard has been cleaned up. There shouldn’t be any broken window blinds or cobwebs on the front door. A pot of fresh flowers will look nice in front of the property. Make sure the trash bins are pulled inside and sweep the front walkway. If you’re renting out a unit in a building, you want to be sure that the exterior is bright, clean, and easily identifiable.

Clean the Interior Thoroughly

A clean rental property is critical. Hire professional cleaners to come in and thoroughly clean the property from top to bottom. You want to have the floors done, which means steam-cleaning the carpets if necessary. Make sure the kitchens and bathrooms shine, and have your cleaners pay attention to every minor detail. Dust the ceiling fans, wipe down the baseboards, and pull the appliances away from walls to sweep and dust behind them. When you provide a perfectly clean home, tenants will be eager to move in, and they’ll also know you have high standards of cleanliness when it’s time to return the property at the end of the lease term.

Check Systems and Functions

Everything in your property needs to work. Check every outlet, turn on every faucet and sink, and flush each toilet. Run the heat and the air conditioning, and turn on the appliances. Check every window and door to ensure the locks work. Change the air filter and any light bulbs that are burnt out. You don’t want to promise prospective tenants that something will be fixed before they move in. Everything needs to be functional and safe before you put the property on the market.

Consider Minor Upgrades

When you have a well-maintained home in a good neighborhood, you rarely have to renovate it. However, when you’re preparing to put it on the rental market, it doesn’t hurt to make a few minor upgrades. Simple things like a fresh coat of paint or updated lighting can make a big difference. Even new hardware on the kitchen cabinets and drawers can make your property look modern and pretty. Consider making these small changes to attract tenants.

When you’re preparing your property for the rental market, feel free to contact us at JBL & Associates. We’d be happy to give you additional tips.

Reducing Vacancies in Your Rental Property | California City Landlord Tips

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 21:07:50 GMT

Vacancies are expensive. When you don’t have a tenant in place paying rent, you’re losing money that you can’t ever recover. If you’re a real estate investor in California City, you want to do everything you can to avoid having an unoccupied rental property. Today, we’re sharing some tips on how to reduce vacancies in your rental property.

Price Your Home Properly

Correct pricing is critical in getting your home rented out quickly by a great tenant . We often work with owners who have a specific idea of how much rent they want to earn. It’s understandable; you’re probably hoping to cover your mortgage and all your expenses and then earn a little bit of cash every month. However, the market dictates what your property will rent for, not the arbitrary value that you try to attach to your home. If you want to rent your property for more than the market will bear, you won’t have any tenants willing to pay that price. Then, you’ll lose money on all those months that tenants aren’t paying rent. Take a close look at what similar properties in your area are renting for. Make sure you’re competitive. Tenants are well-educated, and they know what they’re willing to pay. Don’t over-price your home.

Provide a Well-Maintained Property

Good tenants want to rent good homes. When you’re marketing and showing your property, make sure it’s desirable. Take marketing photos that show off its benefits. Take the time to ensure it’s ready for the rental market before tenants start to see it. You don’t want to present a home that still needs fresh paint, new appliances, or better landscaping. Make sure it’s in good shape, clean, and attractive before you start showing it. Demonstrate that you care about the condition of the home, and you’re committed to keeping it maintained. If you show a property that’s old and not working, good tenants will not be interested, and the tenants you do place will think it’s okay to abuse and neglect the home. Avoid vacancy by providing a home that qualified tenants really want to live in.

Focus on Tenant Retention

One of the best ways to avoid vacancy is by keeping the tenants you currently have in place. When you’re renting out to qualified residents, be responsive and service-oriented. Communicate with them regularly, make sure they’re happy where they’re living, and respond to maintenance and repair requests right away. Show your tenants that you appreciate their on-time rental payments, their care for the home, and their willingness to follow the terms of the lease . Don’t suggest a larger-than-normal rental increase at lease renewal time. Do what you can to keep them in place.

Work with a Professional Property Manager

Professional property management can go a long way in avoiding vacancy. Property managers understand how to find and keep great tenants, and we have strategic marketing plans in place. We also know the local market really well, and we can provide an accurate pricing estimate. Consider working with professionals if it’s a challenge to get your home rented out quickly.

We’d be happy to help you lower your vacancy rate. Contact us at JBL & Associates for more information.

Should I Rent or Sell My Property in California City?

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 04:57:43 GMT

When you have a property that you no longer plan to live in, the natural question to ask is: should I sell it? The other option is to hold onto the asset and rent it out. When you’re making your decision, you have to consider the current market, your plans for the future, and your current financial picture.

Today, we’re talking about the things that we ask our clients to consider when they aren’t sure whether it’s a better idea to sell a home or rent it out.

Do You Plan to Come Back?

If you’re moving out of the area, consider whether you plan to return. You’ll also need to think about whether you’ll have a need for the property in the future. The California real estate market, as you know, can be difficult to enter. Prices are high and down payments need to be at least 20 or 30 percent. So, if you think you might come back to the California City area or you could imagine yourself using the home during retirement or when your children need a place to live, it’s better to hold onto the asset. However, if you’re planning to leave the area and you have no interest in keeping the house for yourself or a family member in the future, selling it might be a good way to tie up all loose ends in the local region.

How Does the Market Look?

When you’re deciding whether to sell or rent, you’ll have to consider both the sales market and the rental market. If it seems like you can sell your home for the price you want, it’s worth considering. However, if the sales market is slow and rents are on the rise, it might be a better idea to hold onto the property and rent it to tenants until the sales market recovers.

Consider Your Financial Situation

Whether you rent or sell your property should depend on the money you have and the money you need.

If you have a lot of equity built up in your property, you can make some money selling the home. This is an attractive idea if you need some cash to do other things, such as pay for college or buy a new home . However, if you aren’t thinking about selling your home in order to access funds, renting it out may make you more in the long term. However, you’ll need to have a bit of financial security already in order to successfully rent out your property. You’ll need to be prepared to pay for expenses and repairs. Maintenance many need to be done before it’s ready for a tenant. There may be vacancy periods where you aren’t collecting any rent. Make sure you can withstand those financial costs if you decide to rent it out.

When you rent your property to tenants , you have someone paying down your debt for you. This means you can keep the asset, allow it to continue growing in value, and collect rental income to help you with things like mortgage payments, taxes, insurance , and investment-related costs. You can also take advantage of tax breaks with a rental home.

When you’re trying to decide whether to rent or sell your property, contact us at JBL & Associates. We can walk you through the detailed pros and cons of each scenario, and help you come up with an effective strategy for selling or renting out your home.

What to Know About Owning Rental Property | 10 Important Tips for Landlords

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 13:00:00 GMT

If you’re wondering what to know about owning rental property, we have 10 tips that will provide an overview. Whether you’re a new landlord or experienced investor, these tips are critical to your success as a rental property owner.

These tips for landlords will help you have a better experience with tenants and your property.

Please contact us at JBL & Associates if you’d like to hear more about property management in California City .

How to Advertise Rental Property: Do’s & Don’ts for California City Investors

Fri, 16 Nov 2018 13:00:00 GMT

To find a great tenant , you need to properly advertise rental property. The best place to advertise is online, but yard signs still have a place in your marketing plan. Post a sign at the property so people who are driving or walking through the neighborhood will see it. Make sure it includes your contact information and some general details about the home, such as price and number of bedrooms.

Advertise Rental Property: Do Take Professional Photos

Real estate investors must take high quality photographs for their advertisements. If you have dark or unfocused photos, tenants will not bother reading the description, and they won’t want to visit the property. Hire a professional to take good pictures inside and outside of the home. Your property will really stand out, and you’ll get a larger pool of potential tenants interested in seeing it.

Advertise Rental Property: Do Use Online Listings

Most tenants are looking for rental homes online. If you’re working with a professional property management company , you can expect to see your listing on their website. Your advertisement should also be syndicated out to some of the top rental websites, including Rentals.com, Hotpads, Zillow, and Trulia. Post as many great photos as you can, and write a detailed description that gives viewers accurate, engaging information about the property.

Advertise Rental Property: Don’t Overprice your Property

Be prepared to adjust your price based on the feedback you get from your ad. If you aren’t getting any responses, or you’re only hearing from unqualified renters, you may need to lower your price. You don’t want to overprice your home because it will be vacant on the market longer, and you’ll lose money. If there’s a lot of competition, you may need to offer an incentive like a new appliance or half off the pet fee. Pay attention to the market.

Advertise Rental Property: Don’t Fall Victim to Scams

These are just a few of the ways to advertise your rental property. We can help you with a full-service marketing plan. If you have any questions about advertising or California City property management , please contact us at JBL & Associates. We’d be happy to help you.

How to Be a Successful Landlord – For Kern County Real Estate Investors

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 16:49:00 GMT

Being a landlord is about a lot more than just placing a tenant and collecting rent. You have to maintain your property, hold your tenant accountable to the rental agreement , and stay up to date on all the local, state, and federal laws that pertain to rental housing. Today, we’re sharing a few tips on how to be a successful landlord.

How to Be a Successful Landlord: Marketing and Leasing

Smart real estate investors know that your success as a landlord will depend on the tenant you place. Make sure you market and advertise the property well, putting it in front of highly qualified prospective tenants. Complete simple and inexpensive updates so the property shows well. Make sure it’s priced correctly so you don’t face a long vacancy time. Once tenants apply, screen their credit, criminal, and rental backgrounds. Talk to employers and verify income. Then, make sure you have a solid lease agreement that spells out all of your responsibilities and your tenant’s responsibilities. Follow all fair housing laws while you’re placing a tenant, and make sure you find someone who has a record of paying rent on time and taking care of properties.

How to Be a Successful Landlord: Maintenance

A successful landlord will protect the condition of the property and keep it well-maintained. Your tenants will expect you to respond to their repair needs and keep the home safe and habitable. Good landlords establish positive relationships with vendors and contractors, so you can get good work at affordable prices when you need things fixed or replaced. Get inside the property at least once or twice a year to make sure there isn’t any deferred maintenance, and so you can ensure the tenants are following the lease requirements.

How to Be a Successful Landlord: Tenant Relationships

Some of the most successful landlords work with professional property management companies. A property manager is experienced and understands the local market. We can help you keep your income high and your expenses low. If you have any questions about how to be a successful landlord, or you need help with Kern County property management, please contact us at JBL & Associates.

Do Landlords Have to Have Insurance? Kern County, CA

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 08:20:00 GMT

One of the most common questions we hear from rental property owners is: do landlords have to have insurance? The answer is, yes. As a landlord, you need insurance to cover your investment in case of a fire, flood, or major catastrophe. More importantly, you need to protect yourself against liability. Talk to your insurance agent or your property manager about what you need in a good landlord policy. Today, we’re covering some of the basics.

Switching Policies

Landlord insurance is different from homeowner’s insurance. If you are renting out a property that you once lived in , make sure you switch policies. Your homeowner’s insurance will not cover you when you’re not living in the property. The major difference in a landlord policy is that you’ll have extra liability coverage, and your tenant’s belongings won’t be covered by your policy. Your insurance will cover the building, the potential loss of rent, and any liability.

Structural Coverage and Loss of Rent

Your landlord policy should cover the physical structure of your home. If it burns down or becomes a total loss, you’ll need an insurance policy that can cover the cost of rebuilding. Make sure your policy includes protection against perils such as earthquakes, wind, fire, and flood. In some cases, your policy will cover everything except for specific exclusions. In other cases, you’ll need to buy extra coverage for certain perils. Talk to your agent.

A good landlord insurance policy will include coverage against loss of rent. If your property suffers a loss that prevents your tenants from living there, such as a fire, you will receive reimbursement for the rent that isn’t coming in.

Landlord Liability

If a tenant or a guest of your tenant gets injured on your property, you may be legally responsible. It’s important that your insurance covers you against any potential lawsuit or damages that other parties can claim.

If you have any questions about insurance or Kern County property management , please don’t hesitate to contact us at JBL & Associates.

6 Tenant Screening Tips for Seasoned and Novice Landlords in California City

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 17:36:00 GMT

Tenant screening is one of the most important things a landlord can do to successfully rent a property . Make sure you have a written scree ning process in place, as well as written criteria that establishes your requirements for approval. Follow these six tenant screening tips when you’re placing a tenant.

Application Process

Good screening starts with a good application. Make sure you have a written or online application form that all tenants 18 years of age or older will complete. It should ask for all pertinent information and obtain permission for you to check backgrounds and call references. Before a prospective tenant fills out an application and pays an application fee, make sure you provide your written qualifying criteria. This will tell applicants what’s required to be approved for a property.

Credit Report

You’ll need to look at an applicant’s credit. The credit score doesn’t necessarily have to be perfect, but you want to see a record of paid bills and responsible financial management. Red flags might be prior evictions, late or unpaid utility bills, and judgments or debts owed to former landlords and property management companies.

Criminal Background

Run a tenant background check on your applicants. Check the terrorist watch list and the sexual predator registry. If you won’t rent to people who have a criminal past, make sure you aren’t violating any disparate impact sections of the fair housing laws.

Employment and Income

Talk to employers to verify that the applicants work where they say they work. Ask for pay stubs, bank statements, or tax records to verify income. Ideally, your tenants will earn at least three times the monthly rent. This will tell you they can pay rent on time every month.

Rental References

Get an accurate rental history by talking to current and former landlords. Ask if rent was paid on time, if any property damage was left behind, and whether you received enough notice before they moved out. Tenants who had trouble following a lease agreement previously will probably have trouble following your lease requirements as well.

Fair Housing Laws

It’s very important that you follow all state, federal, and local fair housing laws. Even the appearance of discrimination in your advertising, screening, or leasing procedures can lead to big trouble for you. Remember that fair housing laws are changing all the time, so you have to keep up with new legislation and requirements.

How to Rent my House: A Complete Guide for New Kern County Landlords

Tue, 24 Jul 2018 21:59:00 GMT

Often, we hear from landlords and property managers who are asking – how to rent my house? The key is preparation and planning. You also need to educate yourself on best practices, your local market, and all the laws and regulations that pertain to rental properties. Today, we’re sharing the five most important things you need to do when you’re renting out your property.

Preparing it for the Market

A house that looks great will rent quickly and earn you more money. Prepare the property by ensuring that all repairs are made . The property must be clean, functional, and inviting. If you have been living in the home, clean out all of your own items and remove all trash and debris from the house, garage, and yard. Put a fresh coat of paint on the walls, replace the carpets, and make it ready for tenants. Price it competitively and advertise it aggressively.

Finding a Tenant

You’ll find a great tenant by marketing the property online, responding to all inquiries, and being available to show the home. When you have people who are interested in applying, make sure they understand your requirements. Screen all applications fairly and consistently. Check credit and criminal backgrounds, and verify employment and income. Talk to past landlords and ask if rent was paid on time and if any damage was left behind. Collect a security deposit and sign a lease that protects your interests and tells the tenant what is expected during the tenancy.

Maintenance

Make sure your tenants know how to report maintenance and submit repair requests . When something is needed at the property, be responsive. Emergencies need to be handled right away. Establish relationships with local vendors who can do good work for reasonable prices. If a tenant calls in the middle of the night because the water heater is leaking, you’ll want to have a plumber ready to help you.

Laws and Liability

It’s easy to make expensive mistakes when you’re renting out a home. Educate yourself on all laws and regulations. You need to understand fair housing, habitability standards, and how a service animal differs from a pet. Being a landlord comes with a lot of liability, so make sure you’re insured.

Vacancies and Turnover

Prepare yourself for periods when the property is vacant and you aren’t earning any rent. Turnover is undesirable because it decreases your ROI , but it’s a good time to take care of deferred maintenance and cosmetic updates. Work quickly between tenants so you don’t lose too much money on the vacancy.

This introductory landlord guide can get you started when you have a house to rent out. There’s a lot more to share. If you need any help with Kern County property management, please contact us at JBL & Associates.

What Are the Responsibilities of a Kern County Landlord?

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 18:35:00 GMT

What are the responsibilities of a landlord? We hear this question all the time, and today, we’re talking about some of the things you need to provide in order to successfully rent out a property .

What Are the Responsibilities of a Landlord? Safe and Habitable Housing

Your first responsibility as a landlord is to provide safe and habitable housing to your tenants. Before you even begin to advertise your home, you need to make sure everything in it is functional. Look for safety concerns and fix or replace anything that’s broken. During the tenancy, you need to keep the property in good condition .

What Are the Responsibilities of a Landlord? Responsiveness and Accessibility

When a tenant makes a maintenance or repair request , you should respond to it as soon as you can. Issues that affect a home’s habitability need to be taken care of immediately. If there’s no heat in the winter, or a leak that’s causing flooding, or an electrical problem that presents a fire hazard, you cannot wait to make the necessary repairs. Be sure that you have a team of vendors available to help you keep the property in good condition. You may need a plumber in the middle of the night or a roofer over a holiday weekend. Your relationships with vendors are important.

Tenants need to know how to reach you, especially if there’s an emergency. Make sure you’re available to take calls and respond to problems. If you cannot dedicate the time and be accessible, make sure you work with a professional property manager who can take care of these things for you. The tenant needs a reliable point of contact.

What Are the Responsibilities of a Landlord? Following the Lease

These are just a few of the things you need to do to be a good landlord. If you have any questions about your landlord responsibilities, or you’d like to learn more about Kern County property management , please contact us at JBL & Associates.

How to Buy an Investment Property: Real Estate Investing for Beginners

Tue, 22 May 2018 22:52:00 GMT

If you want to successfully invest in real estate, you need to know how to buy rental property. Many property owners fall into the trap of looking for a home that appeals to them. Remember, you won’t be living in this property – tenants will. So, the stainless steel appliances and deluxe master bathroom suite may not be necessary when you’re looking for an investment property.

How to Buy Rental Property: Do Your Math

You don’t want to pay too much for a rental property, and you want to have some idea of what your cash on cash return will be. Consider how much rent you think you’ll be able to earn from a property, and measure that against your expenses. In addition to your mortgage payment, landlord insurance, property taxes, and HOA fees, remember that you’ll also have to budget for vacancies and repairs. There will be turnover costs, landscaping bills, and other costs associated with your rental property. Make sure your property will earn enough to make you comfortable with your ROI.

How to Buy Rental Property: Location and Condition

When you’re buying a house to rent out, make sure you consider the location. Tenants are going to want a good school district and proximity to, work, shopping, and recreation. The condition of the property also matters. You want to get a good deal, but be careful of investing in a property that needs a lot of work before you can even put it on the market. You’ll have to pay for the renovations, and you’ll also lose rental income while it’s vacant and not on the market.

How to Buy Rental Property: Professional Help

When you’re buying a house to rent, you have a lot to gain from working with a professional property manager . A good manager will advise you on which properties will make the most lucrative rentals. They’ll be able to help you price your home correctly, develop an advertising strategy, and find the best tenants. You will also need to talk to vendors, insurance agents, attorneys, and lenders.

Buying a rental property can seem a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re not an experienced real estate investor. If you need help buying your first rental property or you’d like to talk about property management in California City , please contact us at JBL & Associates.

Basics of a Rental Lease Agreement: Tips for a First Time Landlord in California City

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 20:11:00 GMT

If you’re a California landlord, you need to understand the basic rental agreement required by state law. In order to be legally compliant and enforceable, it must include specific elements. We’re talking about those things today.

Basic Rental Agreement: Contact and Property Information

Your rental lease agreement needs to include the name and contact information of the landlord or property manager, as well as the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all the tenants. The address of the property must be listed, and the term of the lease. Make sure the lease includes information on how much notice should be given before the lease is renewed or terminated.

Basic Rental Agreement: Rent and Security Deposits

Basic Rental Agreement: Requirements and Expectations

Your lease agreement should include everything that your tenant needs to understand about your property and what you expect from the tenancy. If you’re allowing pets, make sure your lease addresses what kinds of pets are allowed, as well as any restrictions. Include information on maintenance and utilities, and be sure to state who is responsible for things like utilities, landscaping, and pool care. Indicate the circumstances under which a landlord or property manager might enter the property, and what kind of notice the tenants are entitled to before that occurs. If something goes wrong during the tenancy, the lease is the first place you and your tenant will look.

Basic Rental Agreement: Stipulations and Disclosures

Whether you’re a first-time landlord who is not sure how to get started with a rental lease agreement, or you’re an experienced investor looking for landlord tips, we can help. Contact us at JBL & Associates, and we’d be happy to tell you more about California City property management.

6 Ways to Avoid Landlord-Tenant Disputes | Kern County Property Management Advice

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 16:17:00 GMT

Landlord-tenant disputes are often the result of poor communication or one party not understanding their responsibilities. The worst disputes can lead to court appearances, and those rarely work out well for landlords. These six tips will help avoid these disputes, and develop and maintain a positive working relationship with your tenants.

Avoiding Landlord-Tenant Disputes: Strong Lease Agreement

A strong lease agreement is your best defense against landlord-tenant disputes. All of your responsibilities and your tenant’s responsibilities should be spelled out clearly in the rental agreement. It’s a contract that both of you sign and agree to follow. Make sure you have a strong lease that protects your interests and treats your tenant fairly.

Avoiding Landlord-Tenant Disputes: Discuss Expectations

Make sure your tenant knows what you expect from the tenancy. You’ll want rent to be paid on time, you’ll want your property to be cared for, and you’ll want any problems or repair needs to be brought to your attention immediately. Discuss the elements of the lease with your tenant before the move-in date so everyone understands their responsibilities and a tenant’s questions can be answered.

Avoiding Landlord-Tenant Disputes: Communication

Communication is critical to maintaining a good relationship with your tenant. Make sure they know how to reach you, and let them feel comfortable talking to you about things that might be of concern. Be fair and consistent so they know what to expect. You’ll be much better off if your tenants feel like they can come to you when rent is going to be late or damage has occurred at the home.

Avoiding Landlord-Tenant Disputes: Maintenance and Repairs

Be responsive when it comes to repairs. Tenants want to live in a home that’s well-maintained and in good condition. Even if you cannot repair something right away, let your tenants know that you’re aware of the problem and you have a plan to take care of it. Educate your tenants on how to care for your property. If they know how to reset a garbage disposal and change the air filters, they won’t bother you for these small things.

Avoiding Landlord-Tenant Disputes: Documentation

Sometimes, situations escalate no matter how hard you try to communicate with and be responsive to your tenants. You need to be prepared. Document everything pertaining to your property and your tenants. Track all maintenance requests and repairs, and keep a log of phone calls and other correspondence. Take pictures when you inspect the home and make detailed reports when a tenant complains about something. If you find yourself in court, your careful documentation will help.

Avoiding Landlord-Tenant Disputes: Kern County Property Management

If you have any questions about California City property management , please don’t hesitate to contact us at JBL & Associates.

Should I Buy a Rental Investment Property? California City, CA

Tue, 03 Apr 2018 17:49:00 GMT

You may be asking yourself, should I buy a rental investment property? If this is something you’ve thought about, you probably know that real estate can be a very lucrative investment. To be successful as an investor, you have to consider a few things.

Should I Buy a Rental Investment Property? Selecting a Property

First, you need to know what real estate to invest in. There are lots of options when it comes to rental property. You can buy a single family home, a small apartment building, or a condo. You can buy one property or invest in an entire portfolio. Look for homes that will attract a good pool of tenants. You also want to know how much rent you’ll be able to expect from your property before you buy it. When you’re shopping for investment properties, be sure to consider location, property condition, and potential tenants.

Should I Buy a Rental Investment Property? Financial Planning

A successful rental property will generate monthly income, however you’ll need to plan for other expenses. Maintenance and repairs will be needed, even if it’s a brand new home in great condition. You’ll have expenses such as taxes, insurance, and potentially HOA fees. You need to budget for vacancy periods and turnover costs. Make sure you understand your projected income and expenses before you invest.

Should I Buy a Rental Investment Property? Becoming a Landlord

Buying a house is a good investment, especially if you’re planning to rent it out. You’ll have tenants contributing to your mortgage, and your asset will appreciate in value over time. You’ll also be able to take advantage of several good tax deductions. However, you’ll also have to be a landlord. That means you’ll need to advertise for a tenant, screen tenants, come up with a lease, and follow all fair housing laws in the process. You’ll need to take care of maintenance , inspections, and rent collection. You’ll need to hold a security deposit and make sure your tenant is following the terms of your rental agreement.

It’s time consuming, and the laws are constantly changing. If you know you’d like to invest in property but you’re not sure you can manage it on a day-to-day basis, you’ll want to work with a good property manager. Professional management can save you time and money, and help you avoid costly errors.

Should I invest in property? This is an excellent question, and if you’re still wondering – we can tell you more. If you have any questions about investing or California City property management , please be sure to contact us at JBL & Associates.

What is Considered Normal Wear and Tear in California? Landlord Tips

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 16:42:00 GMT

Normal wear and tear in California is not always easy to define. Everyone has a subjective opinion on what constitutes tenant damage and what is actually wear and tear. This is an important distinction, especially when it comes to returning a security deposit.

Normal Wear and Tear in California: Inspection Reports

Conducting move-in and move-out inspections will help you determine what kind of damage or wear and tear was left behind by your tenant. Before someone moves in, do a thorough inspection and document everything with photographs and video. You’ll want to capture how the floors look, the walls, the ceilings, and the appliances. Take pictures of the countertops and the cabinets. After a tenant moves out, you can take the same pictures and video and compare the condition of the home to its condition at move-in. This gives you proof of any damage for which the tenant should be held responsible.

Normal Wear and Tear in California vs. Property Damage

Normal wear and tear is any deterioration that is due to the age of the property and the fact that someone is living there. For example, small holes in the walls from where paintings were hung are normal. A few light scratches on a floor is normal, and faded carpet in high traffic areas over the course of a few years is also normal wear and tear. However, large holes in the walls or broken floor tiles and torn carpet are examples of damage.

Normal Wear and Tear in California: Communicating with Tenants

It’s important that your tenants also understand the difference between wear and tear and damage. When you’re going over the lease agreement or discussing move-out procedures, make sure your tenants understand what they’ll be responsible for after they move out. Talk about your documentation process so they know what to expect. Remember that tenants are entitled to do a move-out walk through with you before they vacate the home so they have a chance to repair or rectify anything that might impact their security deposit.

How Much Does Property Management Cost in Rosamond, CA?

Wed, 24 Aug 2016 17:35:00 GMT

If you’re a landlord struggling with finding a tenant, collecting rent, or keeping your property in good condition, you might have wondered – how much does property management cost? Hiring a professional Rosamond property management company is actually not very expensive. In many cases, you end up saving money rather than losing money. You have the benefit of legal and experienced protection, and you turn over all your headaches and worries to people with the knowledge, experience, and talents to keep your rental property occupied and maintained. In addition to the day to day operations of your home, a great property manager can optimize your investment and increase both your rental income and your long term property values.

Standard Property Management Fees

There are two standard property management fees that you will likely have to pay no matter who you choose as your Rosamond property manager. That first is the leasing fee, which is what you pay to procure a high quality tenant. It usually covers the marketing, showings, tenant screening process, lease signing, and the ultimate placement of a tenant in your rental property. This is a one-time fee, and it’s usually a percentage of your first month’s rent. The second standard fee is the management fee. This is what you’ll pay every month to cover things like maintenance scheduling, rent collection, tenant management, inspections, and keeping your property compliant with all laws and regulations. It can be a flat fee or a percentage of your rental income.

Additional Management Fees

Some property management companies will charge just those two fees, and others will charge additional fees for specific services. You might have to pay an advertising fee to cover all the marketing that’s done when your property is vacant. Some companies will charge a lease renewal fee when your tenant renews for another rental period. Just make sure you understand the full cost of property management when you’re talking to companies. Everything should be transparent so you aren’t surprised when you receive your monthly statement.

Professional Management as a Cost Effective Choice

If you have any questions about property management in Rosamond, please contact us at JBL & Associates . We are happy to answer your questions.

How to Find a Property Management Company in Tehachapi, CA

Tue, 09 Aug 2016 20:35:00 GMT

Finding a property management company can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Take the time to research Tehachapi property management companies and interview those who have the knowledge, experience, and talents that will meet the needs of your investment property. You’re looking for a company that provides high quality services and exceeds your expectations.

Find Referrals and Check Reviews

Talk to people who are familiar with property management in Tehachapi, CA . You can also go online and look at the reviews that current and former customers have published about property managers. A management company’s online reputation can tell you a lot about how they protect their owners and maintain good relationships with tenants and vendors. Spend some time on property management websites, and see if they are providing answers to the questions you have about managing a rental property.

Interview Tehachapi Property Managers

Once you find a few companies that look good, schedule interviews. It’s important to note how quickly someone returns your call or responds to your email. When you choose a residential property management company, you want one that is accessible and available. If you have to wait a day or two before you hear back from anyone, that’s probably indicative of the type of service they regularly provide to owners and tenants. Ask questions about procedures, as well as successes and challenges. Find out about what kind of technology the management company uses, and whether rent can be deposited online. You’ll also want to know what kind of maintenance the management company provides and how they communicate with you. A good management company will provide monthly statements and set you up with an online portal so you always know how your property is performing.

Take a Look at the Management Contract

If you have any questions about what to look for in a Tehachapi property manager, please contact us at JBL & Associates . We’d be happy to tell you about what we have to offer and how we can help you maximize your investment.

How to Limit Maintenance Costs for Your Rental Property | Tehachapi Property Management Advice

Thu, 26 May 2016 18:30:00 GMT

All rental properties are going to need regular and emergency maintenance from time to time, and the way you approach these repairs can have a major impact on your success as a landlord. It’s important to have a maintenance plan in place and to establish a budget. If you can do those two things, you’ll be able to limit the maintenance costs associated with your rental property.

Maximize Efficiencies

Take a look at ways that you can update your home so that it runs more efficiently. Use energy efficient light bulbs and appliances. Switch out your shower heads and toilets to systems that use less water. Modernizing your home does not cost a lot of money, and it will increase the lifespan of your property’s functions. Make sure that you’re scheduling regular inspections of your air conditioning unit, roof, gutters, heating system and electrical and plumbing systems.

Trimming Costs

Be strategic when you’re hiring professional vendors and contractors. You don’t want to overpay for service that isn’t going to get the job done. Establish a list of qualified, reliable professionals who will be willing to do great work for affordable prices. Working with a Tehachapi area property management company can help you keep these costs low because they usually receive a volume discount from their vendors. Have a plan in place for when emergencies occur, and take care of those issues right away. Otherwise, you risk paying more for the repairs and upsetting your tenant , who isn’t going to want to stay in your property if you’re ignoring necessary maintenance.

Embrace Preventative Maintenance

Talk to a professional property management company about how you can save money on maintenance. Repairs are necessary to preserve the value and condition of your home. However, they don’t have to bankrupt you. If you need help managing your maintenance costs, please contact us at JBL Associates , where we serve the Tehachapi, Rosamond and California City communities as well as their surrounding areas.

How to Maximize Rental Property ROI | Tehachapi Property Management Education

Wed, 18 May 2016 21:58:00 GMT

The cash flow that landlords earn from rental properties can help minimize expenses and pay for maintenance, but the real goal for property investors is to maximize the return that they earn on their property investment. To meet and exceed long term goals, you need to understand your market, keep your home in excellent condition and put together an experienced and talented management team.

Understand the Market

Pricing your home properly will have an impact on the return you’re able to earn and the income you’re able to produce. Take a look at what similar properties are renting for and if the market will bear it, adjust your price to a level that is profitable for you but still competitive to high quality renters. You also need to understand what tenants in your market are looking for. If homes with upgraded appliances are renting quickly for higher prices, consider making similar updates to your own rental property. The goal is to avoid vacancy because nothing will eat into your ROI like a vacant home that isn’t earning you any money.

Property Maintenance

You need to protect the value of your asset by responding to necessary maintenance and repairs immediately. If you let your home fall into a less than appealing condition, you’re not going to attract good tenants. You won’t be able to maximize your rental income either, and when it comes time to sell, you won’t earn as much on that house as you could have if you paid attention to preventative maintenance. Take care of problems while they are small instead of waiting until they become larger, more expensive issues.

Get Professional Help

If you need help maximizing the return on your investment, please contact us at JBL Associates , where we serve the Tehachapi, Rosamond and California City communities as well as their surrounding areas.

How to Evict a Tenant in CA | Professional Property Management in Tehachapi

Wed, 04 May 2016 22:26:00 GMT

The most common reason that landlords evict tenants in California is nonpayment of rent. If you have people living in your home and they aren’t paying the rent, you need to take whatever action is necessary to get their payments caught up or to remove them from the property. The longer you wait to collect the rent; the more financial risk you face. California has a specific legal process that must be followed when you’re evicting a tenant. If you’re not sure of the proper requirements, get help from an attorney or a California City / Tehachapi property management company.

Three Day Notice

When rent has not been paid and the tenant has not responded to your attempts to reach them and talk about the late rent, you need to file a Three Day Notice. This sets the eviction process in motion and lets the tenants know that they have three days to catch up with the rent or vacate the property. This notice must include how much is due and how the tenant should pay. Hopefully, you will receive the rent within the three days. If not, you need to take the next step.

Summons & Complaint

If the three days pass and you have not received the rent payment from your tenant, you’ll need to go to the court and file a Complaint with the clerk. Before anything else can happen, you’ll need to serve the tenants with the Complaint. Have a registered process server take care of this for you so that the service is documented and legally binding. The tenants will have the opportunity to respond to the Complaint, but many times they do not. In these cases, a default judgment is awarded to the landlord. You’ll need to file an Entry of Default and prepare to take back possession of your home. If the tenants do respond to the complaint, the judge will set a date for a court hearing and recommend mediation. At this point, you and the tenants can agree to a payment plan or decide which day the tenants will move out of the property.

Writ of Possession

Evictions can be costly and time consuming, especially if you’re not sure what you’re doing. If you need help evicting a tenant, please contact us at JBL Associates , where we serve the Tehachapi, Rosamond and California City communities as well as their surrounding areas.