5 Tips to Boost Interest in Your Seattle Rental Property
Finding tenants for your rental property can be a difficult and even discouraging process. You may have had several potential tenants survey the property and turn it down, or maybe no one has contacted you at all. Whatever the case may be, our goal is to help you find the perfect tenants for your property as soon as possible. Here are 5 tips to help boost interest in your rental property. 1. Target Your Tenant Analyzing and deciding which tenants would be best suited for your property will help you to prepare and furnish the estate accordingly. Consider the property’s
Rental Property Woes a Property Management Company Can Help You Avoid
When considering whether or not you want to become a landlord, there are numerous advantages and disadvantages to consider. Some advantages to owning real estate are the tax advantages, additional monthly income in your pocket, and the potential of your assets to appreciate in value over time. All these areas promise great returns on investment, so long as they are not counteracted by the disadvantages that can come from owning real estate. Let’s take a look at each of the problems individually and consider how a property management company can help you and your real estate avoid harm. 1. Lousy
The Seattle Rental Market Trends and Culture Shifts
If you’re in the rental market for a new Seattle home, you have probably already discovered that rental market prices are climbing—and quickly! Whatever neighborhood you’re looking at, prices are creeping steadily upward, and what with the new changes to minimum wage requirements, we are all bracing ourselves for another leap upward. Supply and Demand: As of May, 2014, the average apartment rent within a 10 mile radius of Seattle, WA, is $1540. One bedrooms go for an average of $1381, and two bedrooms hover at an average of $1846 per month. Normally, supply and demand is a huge factor
4 Renter-Retaining Landlord Policies
The northwest rental market is booming and all of the landlords know it. The critical task of retaining renters has risen to the top of the property manager’s list of priorities. Stop for a moment, and take a step back. Put yourself in your renter’s shoes and look at your rental home or apartment complex through the eyes of your tenants. If you were them, what would you see? By way of raising your credibility, building renter loyalty, and reducing negative reviews, consider the following renter-retaining policies. Disclose all Rules and Regulations Up Front Renters become miffed and frustrated when
Bellevue Attractions: Why Live in Bellevue?
As the home to some of the largest, most influential corporations in the world, Bellevue is a clean, organized, and lively city. Ranked number 4 in the 2010 “100 Best Places to Live” study, Bellevue sports some of the best food, friends, and fun. The city’s high schools consistently rank extremely well, and it is rumored that there are more jobs than residents in this booming city. If you're considering relocating to this great city, listed below are some fantastic attractions that provide fun and relaxation during the day and then transform into a buzzing nightlife scene. Bellevue Square Bellevue
Top 5 Mobile Apps for Moving Renters
Are you planning to move into a new home soon, but aren’t sure where you’d like to go? There are some things that you should be sure to consider about your new location before you commit. Think about what’s important to you—is it being close to a grocery store? Perhaps being right on a good walking trail or near a park for the kids? Maybe you’re more concerned about which school district you’ll land in and need information on the local public school system. We came up with a list of 5 of the most helpful mobile apps for moving
Renting in Seattle: A Guide to Success – Part II
Congratulations! You've learned from Part I in this 2-part series on renting in Seattle, and you've evaluated your rental options based on your needs and compiled a list of your most-preferred options. However, its not all down-hill from here. The next step is to evaluate the hidden costs before you make a final decision and sign a lease. To View Part 1: Click Here Renters be warned! Uninquisitive renters tread on dangerous ground. Without careful analysis, renters can find themselves staring wide-eyed at a much-larger-than-expected bill at the end of their first month. Unfortunately, at that point, you would have
Renting in Seattle: A Guide to Success
Finding proper housing that fits your personal style and preferences is a significant and often daunting decision. Your home will be the focal point in your picture of life in future months and years. On a more practical level, most people spend at least, or over, 30% of their household income on housing costs alone. We have all chuckled over the story of the three little pigs. The first two pigs built their houses and suffered the consequences of the big bad wolf due to slipshod and careless work. Their poor decision making left them in a tumultuous predicament. Only
UPDATE: Renting Statistics Infographic
Our last blog post showed some recent data statistics relating to U.S. renting markets, focusing in on the Seattle area. Recently, we found a helpful infographic summary of some of this rental data. The graphic comes from AppFolio, an online property management software company. We recently switched to their property management software services for our company. AppFolio started developing software with a goal of improving manager’s efficiency and effectiveness. They also creates software for lawyers and CFOs of small to mid-sized businesses.
Renting: Good, Bad, or Indifferent?
When the real estate bubble of 2008 broke, housing prices experienced one of the largest drops in American history. After the initial shock, the millions of foreclosures, and a roller coaster ride of a recovery, housing has emerged once again as a booming market for consumers and investors. The distressed home market (houses that were foreclosed) represented a huge opportunity for a strong rental home market to emerge. Since 2008, investors have converted nearly $10 billion worth of foreclosed houses into rental homes. While this only represents a fraction of the homes foreclosed after 2008, it still has huge implications
