Vallejo Goings-On

Knowing local events can help with Vallejo property management

So, what is going on in your Neighborhood? There might be a lot going on actually. Local governments, private companies, and energetic citizens are planning and hosting new events almost daily in your surrounding areas. It is not only good for your local economy and legislator to participate in some of these events, but it might also be very rewarding to meet up and enjoy the festivities with your extended neighbors.

Lets take a closer look at Vallejo and Vallejo property management. Well known for its marina, historic downtown, the desirable Glen Cove area, and the off the beaten path upscale neighborhood in Hiddenbrooke. The rental market in Vallejo is very robust. Not only do you have long standing residents who have called Vallejo home for generations, but you also have families that are getting their first taste of Northern California. A quick look at Visit Vallejo’s website calendar http://www.visitvallejo.com/event-calendar/ you can find Concerts, live comedy, outdoor hiking events, murder mysteries, book shows, etc. And those are all just in this next week!

pirate4hire-at-ncpf-1I have personally lived in Solano County for over 30 years and when it was time to look for something to do, I would look to San Francisco or Sacramento first. There is great fun to be had in those cities, but I was missing so much more in my local area because I just did not know what has going on in my own backyard. Luckily, every city has a local events calendar filled with great events.

These local events are also valuable information for investors to be aware of. The more events that are held in the area where you are investing creates a strong sense of community. When more people are invested in keeping your local neighborhoods safe, clean, and fun this not only reflects positively in your property value, but it also reduces your vacancy rate and gives your tenants a greater sense of care for your home and its surrounding property. If you have a rental property in the Solano County and would like to know more about how local events can positively affect your investment or many other items that a professional Vallejo property management company can assist you with your property please reach out to us at (877) 603-9696.

So take a little bit of time to see what your community is up to. You may not only find a few events that interest you but you may also meet some new friends that share your passions.

Sacramento Home Values on the Rise

Sacramento median home values up 7.4 percent and median rents up 4.6 percent from 2014 to 2015

SACRAMENTO HOME VALUES ARE INCREASING

In January this year the median home value in the Sacramento area was $333,400. According to a report released recently by Seattle-based real estate data tracker Zillow, this is a 7.4 percent increase over the last year. This is wonderful news for investors and homeowners alike.

The U.S. national average of home values in 2014 showed an increase of 5.4 percent. Zillow states that the median value of a U.S. home in January of 2015 was $178,500.

Brevard-County-Property-Values-Climb-1

SACRAMENTO RENTS ARE INCREASING

There is more great news for investors in the Greater Sacramento Area. Sacramento also saw an increase in the median rent for houses from 2014 to 2015. In January, the median rent for houses in Sacramento was $1,629 a month, an increase of 4.6 percent over January 2014. The national average showed an increase of 3.3 percent in the monthly rental median over the same one year period.

Although this is fantastic news for local investors, Sacramento’s numbers are significantly lower than other regions of Northern California. One example of this is the San Francisco market. The median home value in San Francisco is up 7.3 percent from last year at $705,900. However, the median monthly rental cost has gone up nearly 15 percent in the same time period. The average rental cost in San Francisco was $3,055 in January of this year. This is interesting information but it is hardly fair to compare the Sacramento and San Francisco markets. The San Francisco real estate and rental markets are unlike any others in Northern California.

“Rental appreciation has been a freight train these past few years, chugging along without any appreciable slowdown,” according to Zillow Chief Economist Stan Humphries. “Since 2000, rents have grown roughly twice as fast as wages, and you don’t have to be an economist to understand why that is hugely problematic.”

Zillow said it expects growth in rental prices to outpace home values in 2015.

It looks like Sacramento might be a great place to invest right now. With rents increasing well over the national average, investors should be giddy with excitement. Luckily Real Property Management Select serves the Greater Sacramento Area and beyond. Whether you are an experienced investor or a homeowner looking to rent your property RPM Select can help make the most of your investment.

Give us a call at (877) 603-9696 for more information to see what Real Property Management can do for you.

 

Property Management and Landlord Hacks

Tips to save you time, money and frustration.

Do you ever wish you had more time and resources to keep up with the work on your rental property? Maintenance doesn’t stop once you find a tenant, but there are several ways to make your job as a landlord a little easier.

Here are some tips to help you save time and money managing your property.

RE-KEY HACK: Turnover can be costly. You can save a lot of money re-keying your property yourself. Replace locks quickly during turnover using KwikSet SmartKeys, which allow you to easily reset the lock yourself. This way you don’t have to have multiple sets of door knobs and locks lying around and you don’t have to pay a locksmith to re-key. You can find more info here: http://www.kwikset.com/SmartSecurity/default.aspx

kwikset

STANDARDIZE PROPERTY FEATURES HACK: If you have multiple properties it is a great idea to find the exact same faucet fixtures, replacement parts or paint color for repairs. You will quickly find this makes small repairs and touch-ups much easier. This also enables you to buy certain items in bulk, which can save money. You can cut down on the time, money and storage for these items by using the same paint, tile, fixtures and hardware at all of your properties.

PAINTING HACK: Paint is a relatively quick and inexpensive way to cover up years of wear and tear on a property. Freshly painted walls make a great first impression to prospective tenants. You can lower your costs even more by painting the walls and ceiling the same color. Also, in rentals it is a good idea to stay away from flat paint. Use a higher gloss so the walls are easier to clean and you can cut down on touch ups. You can also cut costs on labor by spraying the paint onto the walls instead of using rollers. Sprayers save time and money.

BATHROOM LIGHT AND EXHAUST FAN HACK: The exhaust fan is there, but how do you know if the tenants are actually using it? Control mold and mildew by rewiring the bathroom light switch to also turn on the fan. This is a great hack to ensure the tenants are forced to turn on the exhaust fan every time they turn on the bathroom light.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM LEAKS HACK:  Probably the most common place leaks happen in a home is under the sink. Most of the time it is a tiny leak, but over time these leaks can cause damage to your property. You can protect your cabinets from spills and leaks by lining the area under the sinks with scrap vinyl flooring.

FLOORING HACK:  Carpeted flooring can really increase your turnover costs in a rental property. Reduce the time and money you spend replacing and cleaning carpets with easy-to-clean alternatives like hardwood, vinyl, laminate or porcelain tile. Usually the alternatives to carpet are a bit more expensive. However, in the long run you are going to save money because the alternatives are much more durable and you won’t have to replace them nearly as often.

LOCKBOX HACK:  Installing a lockbox at your properties makes everything more convenient. Sending a handyman or vender out to the property? Has there been a lockout at the property? Showing a prospective tenant the home? No problem!!! Having a key in a lockbox at the property at all times can save you valuable time anytime you send someone out to the property.

lockbox

If you have any landlord hacks feel you would like to share free to let us know in the comment section below.

If you’re looking for Sacramento property management, give us a call at (916) 238-1420.