Full Occupancy!

For the first time in a long time we are at 100% occupancy. We don't have a single vacancy! Tenants are renewing their leases and we found tenants for all of our new properties. It's a good feeling!

Thanksgiving Week! We know that many of you may be going out of town next week so we wanted to share a few home security and maintenance tips so that you can fully enjoy your trip. Inside The House: To prevent any unnecessary water leaks, turn off the water at the valves under your sinks and behind your toilets. Set timers on interior lights: This goes a long way in deterring burglars, who often look for crimes of opportunity. Don’t allow your house to appear as if no one is home. Prevent power surges: You never know if a power surge will occur, so be prepared. Disconnect the computer, TV, stereo, and other electronics, or make sure they are plugged safely into a surge protector. No status updates: Never broadcast your location on Facebook or Twitter. Even if you think that it’s only your friends or colleagues viewing your online profiles, it’s safest not to leave any sort of opening for a possible burglar. Alert alarm company: If you have an automatic security system in place, call your representative, announcing you’ll be away from home for an extended period of time. Make sure the alarm is set properly when you leave. You can also call the non-emergency line to your local police or Sheriff's department and ask them to do routine patrol checks of your property while you are gone. Secure valuables: If you don’t already have your jewelry or other valuables in a safe deposit box, now might be the time to do so. Doing this also ensures that you don’t leave out anything valuable in plain sight that a burglar might be able to see from a window. HVAC: Set a programmable thermostat to lower your heat or air conditioning usage. Water Heater: To save on your gas bill, turn down the temperature setting on your water heater. Lock all doors and windows: It might seem obvious, but double-check just to be sure. Outside The House- Arrange for lawn care (if applicable): Have your landscaping tended to by a friendly neighbor or local service. Before you leave, trim tree branches that might allow access to a climbing burglar. Newspaper and mail: Stop mail and newspaper deliveries, or have them regularly picked up by a neighbor. Again, you don’t want to easily clue in a burglar to your absence by the mounting newspapers on your doorstep. Exterior lighting: Set these lights on timers as well, to deter burglars. Don’t leave spare keys outdoors: Collect any hidden spare keys from around the exterior of your home. Remember, burglars know the most popular hiding places, like beneath mats and in potted plants. Lock up garage: Even if there is no entrance to your house from the garage, there’s still a chance for numerous things to be stolen. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you. Have a fantastic Turkey Day!!

Spring Forward!

Black and Decker in Lake Forest hiring!

Know a Veteran needing a job? We've been told that Black and Decker in Lake Forest is hiring a TON of people right now! They are hiring on all levels, from AP to AR to VP. Fastest way to submit a resume is to do so through their parent company, Spectrum Brands, www.spectrumbrands.com.

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist - Bob Vila

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist - Bob Vila

Earthquake Preparedness

I thought it was appropriate with the handful of earthquakes that we have experienced in the last week to go over some Earthquake Preparedness Q & A, courtesy of the USGS. Q: During an EQ should you head for the doorway? A: Only if you live in an old, unreinforced adobe house. In modern homes doorways are no stronger than any other parts of the house and usually have doors that will swing and can injure you. YOU ARE SAFER PRACTICING THE DUCK, COVER, AND HOLD under a sturdy piece of furniture. Q: What emergency supplies do I need? A: 1.Fire extinguisher 2.Adequate supplies of medications that you or family members are taking 3.Crescent and pipe wrenches to turn off gas and water supplies 4.First-aid kit and handbook 5. Flashlights with extra bulbs and batteries 6. Portable radio with extra batteries 7.Water for each family member for at least two weeks (allow at least 1 gallon per person per day) and purification tablets or chlorine bleach to purify drinking water from other sources 8.Canned and package foods, enough for several days and MECHANICAL can opener. Extra food for pets if necessary 9.Camp stove or barbecue to cook on outdoors (store fuel out of the reach of children) 10.Waterproof, heavy-duty plastic bags for waste disposal. Q: How can I plan ahead for an EQ? A: 1.Make sure each member of your family knows what to do no matter where they are when EQs occur: ◦Establish a mtg place where you can all reunite afterward ◦Find out about EQ plans developed by children's school or day care ◦ Remember transportation may be disrupted, keep some emergency supplies--food, liquids, and comfortable shoes, for example--at work 2.KNOW where your gas, electric and water main shutoffs are and how to turn them off if there is a leak or electrical short. Make sure older members of the family can shut off utilities 3.LOCATE your nearest fire and police stations and emergency medical facility 4.TALK to your neighbors--how could they help you, or you them after an EQ 5.TAKE Red Cross First Aid and CPR Training Course. Q: What should I do during an EQ? A: 1.If you are INDOORS--STAY THERE! (Get under a desk or table and hang on to it, or move into a hallway or get against an inside wall. STAY CLEAR of windows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances. GET OUT of the kitchen, which is a dangerous place (things can fall on you). DON'T run downstairs or rush outside while the bldg is shaking or while there is danger of falling and hurting yourself or being hit by falling glass or debris. 2.If you are OUTSIDE-- get into the OPEN, away from bldgs, power lines, chimneys, and anything else that might fall on you. 3.If you are DRIVING--stop, but carefully. Move your car as far out of traffic as possible. DO NOT stop on or under a bridge or overpass or under trees, light posts, power lines, or signs. STAY INSIDE your car until the shaking stops. When you RESUME driving watch for breaks in the pavement, fallen rocks, and bumps in the road at bridge approaches. 4.If you are in a MOUNTAINOUS AREA--watch out for falling rock, landslides, trees, and other debris that could be loosened by quakes. Q: Things NOT to do during an EQ? A: 1.DO NOT turn on the gas again if you turned it off; let the gas company do it 2.DO NOT use matches, lighters, camp stoves or barbecues, electrical equipment, appliances UNTIL you are sure there are no gas leaks. They may create a spark that could ignite leaking gas and cause an explosion and fire 3.DO NOT use your telephone, EXCEPT for a medical or fire emergency. You could tie up the lines needed for emergency response. If the phone doesn't work send someone for help 4.DO NOT expect firefighters, police or paramedics to help you. They may not be available. Q: What can I expect in my house when an EQ occurs? How do I identify it? What can be done? A: The contents of your home may be damaged and can be dangerous: 1.Shaking can make light fixtures fall, refrigerators and other large items move across the floor, and bookcases and television sets topple over. IDENTIFY: Look around your house for things that could fall or move 2.Ask yourself if your cupboard doors fly open (allowing dishes to shatter on the floor) 3.Is TV and stereo fastened down and are shelves fastened to wall? Do you have hanging plants or light fixtures that might fall? Is there a heavy picture or mirror on the wall over your bed? WHAT CAN BE DONE: You can install door latches, braces and fasteners to fix most of these hazards yourself. Q: What do I do after an earthquake? A: 1.WEAR STURDY SHOES to avoid injury from broken glass and debris. Expect aftershocks 2.CHECK FOR INJURIES (if a person is bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound, use clean gauze or cloth if available; If a person is not breathing administer CPR; DO NOT attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in further danger of injury; COVER injured persons with blankets to keep warm; SEEK medical help for serious injuries 3.CHECK FOR HAZARDS (Fire hazards--put out fires in your home or neighborhood immediately, call for help; Gas leaks--shut off main gas valve ONLY if you suspect a leak because of broken pipes or odor; Damaged electrical wiring--Shut off power at the control box if there is any danger to house wiring; Downed or damaged utility lines--do not touch downed power lines or any objects in contact with them; SPILLS--clean up any spilled medicines, drugs, or other harmful materials such as bleach, lye, gas; DOWNED OR DAMAGED CHIMNEYS--Approach with caution--don't use damaged chimney (it could start fire or let poisonous gases into your house; FALLEN ITEMS--beware of items tumbling off shelves when you open doors of closets and cupboards; CHECK FOOD AND WATER SUPPLIES--Do not eat or drink anything from open containers near shattered glass; If power is off, plan meals to use up foods that will spoil quickly or frozen foods (food in the freezer should be good for at least a couple of days; Don't light your kitchen stove if you suspect a gas leak; USE BBQ or camp stoves, outdoors only for emergency cooking; If your water is off you can drink supplies from water heaters, melted ice cubes or canned vegetables (AVOID drinking water from swimming pools or especially spas--it may have too many chemicals in it to be safe.) Q: What are the steps to EQ safety/awareness? A: 1.Estimate what EQ of what size are likely to occur (geology) 2.Given the EQ size we then estimate what the shaking will be (seismology) 3.Given the shaking we estimate the response of different types of buildings (EQ engineering). Only with all these steps can we take steps as society to enact bldg. codes and retrofitting programs to make our community safer.

Available May 1st in Lake Forest for $1175/mo.

Property info

Deposit: $1,175.00
Available: 05/01/2012
Min. Lease: 12 Months
Unit Type: Condo
Total Area: 724.00
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Assigned Covered Parking
Cable-ready
Dishwasher
Disposal
Enclosed Patio
Pool
Stovetop
Washer/Dryer Hook-ups

Cookies for Troops!

Operation Help A Hero and returning Marines/Sailors would LOVE some Girl Scout cookies! If you'd like to donate money I will personally deliver your boxes of cookies to Camp Pendleton and place them in the barracks of a returning soldier. I can even provide you with a tax receipt!

New property in Rancho Santa Margarita

A warm welcome to our newest property management client Mr. Choi! He owns a 2 bed, 2 bath condo in Rancho Santa Margarita that will be available for rent in January!

New condo in Mission Viejo

A warm welcome to our newest property management client, Mr. Unciano! He owns a 2 bedroom condo in Mission Viejo that is ready for move in ASAP! More details coming soon.

Available now in Lake Forest! $1250/mo.

If you're searching for the perfect 1 bedroom condo in Lake Forest, look no further! This ground level unit is nicely upgraded, with wood and tile flooring, granite counters, and large mirrors. Some furniture included. Refrigerator, washer and dryer included. 1 car garage, LARGE enclosed patio. Close to beautiful association pool/spa, and the complex is very conveniently located with regards to freeway access, Saddleback Church (among others), great restaurants, and excellent schools. Don't miss this one!

Veteran's Day

Thank you to all of the men and women who have served in our Military. We salute you on Veteran's Day and want to thank you for your sacrifice to our country. www.miprops.com

Daylight Saving Time

Don't forget to move your clocks back one hour tonight for Daylight Saving Time. Enjoy the extra hour of sleep!

Happy Halloween!!

We wish everyone a safe and spooktacular evening! Whether you are passing out candy or taking your little goblins and princesses trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, we hope you have a terrific evening!

Christmas joy!

Adopt a Marine, Solider or Sailor this Christmas! Bring a little joy to those serving on the front lines for only $15! Deadline is Nov 1st. Contact us for details.

Renters See Prices Skyrocket.

Sorry renters, but the days of low rents and lenient landlords are over — at least for now.

Nationwide, the average rate for apartment and home rentals is up 6.7% from June 2010, according to a new report from housing search engine HotPads.com. Prices for studio apartments are up 14.3%, and a five-bedroom home is 12.1% more. One- and two-bedrooms got off relatively easy, with average increases of 2.3% and 2%, respectively. Tenants will see the bulk of rent increases this year, predicts listing site Rent.com, but can expect another 3% jump when it’s time to renew in 2012.

At the heart of the increases: vacancy rates have dropped from about 8% to 6.2% nationwide over the past year. “That’s a really steep decline in a 12-month period,” says Christina Aragon, a spokeswoman for Rent.com. The drop indicates pent-up demand from people who made-do with roommates or stayed with family during the recession. Nearly half of property managers say they have also seen an increase in applicants moving from a foreclosed property, according to a recent survey from credit bureau TransUnion. “Landlords have the power right now,” Aragon says.

In past years, renters could negotiate a lower rent or other concessions, like a waived pet fee or free parking. That’s largely disappeared, leaving consumers little recourse but hunting around.

Renters have a glimmer of hope for better deals in coming years. Landlords are so thrilled with the market that they’re starting to take out permits to build new multi-family buildings, Aragon says. Prices may loosen somewhat once those properties come in the market, as early as 2013.

By Kelli B. Grant, Smart Money

http://blogs.smartmoney.com/paydirt/2011/07/05/renters-see-prices-skyrocket/

Average Security Deposit Refund

Have you ever wondered how much of the security deposit your competition is refunding, or what the average refund amount is in your state… wonder no more!

We have compiled a simple list of all 50 states and the average amount of the security deposit refund as it relates to the entire deposit.

You can download the entire Security Deposit Refund PDF (http://www.propertymanagementexecutive.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RefundPercent1.pdf), but some of the notables are below.

Topping the list of most refunded is South Dakota at 97.5% and WV, VT, ME, and VA all refunding over 90% of the initial deposit.

Trailing at the end of the list for least refunded is Hawaii at 64% and MD, OR, WA, and CT all refunding less than 70% on average.

Article posted by Thomas Fanelli, Propertyware News, Industry Statistics

Carbon Monoxide Detector now required in rental properties.

Effective July 1, all single family houses, condos, townhomes and multi-family up to 4 units rentals are required to have a carbon monoxide detector installed in the home. You can purchase the carbon monixide detector at any home improvement store or even Target and Walmart.

New Listing. Available Mid-July. 18 Abrigo, Rancho Santa Margarita, $1695/mo.

Best of Los Portillos! Clean and neat ground level with direct access garage plus a carport. No Neighbors behind! Newer carpet and paint, mirrored wardrobes, tile in entry, kitchen and bathrooms. 2 patios, separate dining area, plenty of windows. Fireplace too. Don't miss this one!

Renters Insurance

Renters Insurance is required on all leases. You can use whoever you choose but we have found that Allstate has great rates and we highly recommend John Andrews who can be reached at 949-589-1114.