All Forum Posts by: Sean Smith

If the landlord seems too eager to rent to you (example: not checking credit) it is likely a scam. Stay safe out there!

@Amit M.

In our office we are seeing a surge of Bay Area residents choosing Sacramento due to its affordability and close proximity to their established NorCal family. This is certainly part of why Sacramento is predicted to be one of the nation's hotter markets. I have noticed, as you pointed out, the younger people moving here are lower income earners; however like @Wes Blackwell said, many boomers are realizing how much equity they've built up and are choosing to cash out asap. We'll see where the market takes us over the next few years!

@Jason D.

Likewise!

Thanks for your comment.

@David Hutson

I believe he raises rent once a year as a rule of thumb, not too often, but enough to keep up with market rent in midtown/downtown.

Thanks for your input!

@Wes Blackwell

No kidding. My sister in law + fiance went looking for a home in San Jose with high hopes (he's a software engineer, she's at a big 4 accounting firm). They had a hard time scraping up enough for a down payment, even on an FHA loan.

Young Bay Area grads are headed our way for sure

@Lois Ginter

I like that mtm allows you to replace bad tenants quickly as opposed to the year lease. And in your scenario, it saved you a lot of headache I'm sure.

@Jim Shepard

Tenant screening is key, I believe he prefers mtm just as a backup just in case. Plus it creates a 2-way street between landlord and tenant. If the tenant isn't happy, they can leave, and if the landlord isn't happy, they can move renters out quickly.

Hey BP

*Sacramento and Bay Area Market* 

I recently had a conversation with a buy-n-hold investor about his rental properties. To my surprise, he prefers month to month agreements over a typically stable 6 month or year lease. 

His reasoning: 

1. Sacramento (and California in general) is a very hot rental market. He has a massive waiting list for all his properties, so almost no vacancy at all. His list contains people from all over Sacramento, and even areas like San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland.

2. If the tenant is troublesome he can serve a 30-day notice to vacate. A year lease, which is typically preferred, actually works against him in the case of bad tenants and strict Californian landlording laws.

What are your thoughts? Which do you prefer in your rentals?

@Kelli D.

Downtown. Request sent.

If the property is zoned R-1, you may be able to build a duplex, or add one additional unit to the SFH. A 10-unit property sounds like it is not zoned Residential Single Family. TO add units you will have to look into how the property is zoned currently.