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Feb 17, 2023East Bay Rental Market
Living trust vs. LLC for a California rental: which problem are you solving?
A living trust keeps a rental out of probate and its fee schedule; an LLC separates liability but costs $800 a year plus formalities. Reassessment, Prop 19, and lender rules decide which one fits your Contra Costa rental.
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Aug 10, 2022Maintenance & Property Care
A vacant rental with continuous break-ins, what’s an owner to do?
A self-managing housing provider named Jennifer came to my office a few years ago. She was frustrated that she couldn’t keep good tenant’s in her rental property. Her rental had been vacant for a few months, and her reserves were dwindling; she needed to get new tenants to lease the property ASAP before she ran
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Aug 1, 2022Maintenance & Property Care
The day my tenant started a fire
Accidents can happen in any rental home. Recently, one of our tenants was frying food when a small kitchen fire quickly escalated. Thanks to fast emergency response and our proactive property management approach, what could have been a disaster was contained and resolved with minimal damage. Immediate Response Matters The apartment building’s owner had hired
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May 7, 2022Maintenance & Property Care
A Renter's Guide: Insurance, Maintenance, and Your Lease in East Contra Costa
Are you covered? Did you know that homeowners’ insurance only covers the dwelling and not your personal property? If you haven’t already done so, reach out to a local insurance agent to discuss the importance of renters’ insurance. Got Maintenance? Your lease should cover what maintenance services are the owners responsibly and what are yours
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Apr 29, 2022Maintenance & Property Care
Should you have your Pittsburg, CA home inspected prior to listing?
When it comes to selling your Pittsburg home, first impressions matter, and so does buyer confidence. One way sellers are gaining an edge in today’s competitive market is by ordering a pre-listing home inspection. While not required, it can make the selling process smoother, faster, and often more profitable. What Is a Pre-Listing Inspection?
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Mar 21, 2022Leasing & Tenant Screening
How tenant screening works in California: what applicants and owners can expect
Tenant screening in California means written criteria applied the same way to every file, verifiable information, and documented decisions. The fee rules in Civil Code 1950.6, the alternative-evidence path for assistance recipients, the adverse-action notice, and the step-by-step process Croskey runs in East Contra Costa, from both chairs.
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Mar 21, 2022California Rental Law
How to Protect Your Pittsburg Home from Tenant Damage
(Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Bay Point, Concord) 1) Start with rock-solid screening (and stick to written criteria) Quality residents cause fewer headaches. We use objective criteria and verify everything: ● Income & employment (with docs you can trust) ● Credit, background, and eviction checks ● Prior housing provider
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Mar 21, 2022East Bay Rental Market
What Property Management Costs in Contra Costa County in 2026
The monthly management fee is only one line item. What property management actually costs in Contra Costa County in 2026: typical ranges, verified public pricing from local companies, the fees to ask about, and how to calculate the real annual cost before you sign.
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Mar 18, 2022Leasing & Tenant Screening
Advance Preparation Will Help Manage Needy Tenants
You may be the lucky person doing Pittsburg residential real estate investing who never has to manage a needy tenant. However, regardless of the care with which you screen tenants, the greater probability is that you’ll run into a needy tenant from time to time. These advanced planning tips will help you manage those tenants….
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Sep 23, 2021For Renters
How do I help my friends get connected?
You’ve made the big move: new home, new city, new adventures. But even with today’s tech, sometimes FaceTime and text messages just don’t bridge the gap. You miss your people. You want to share your new life in person, beyond photos. So, how do you help family and friends visit
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Sep 16, 2021For Renters
Moving Out of California Checklist: DMV, Taxes & Utilities
Moving out of California comes with more than packing boxes. Use this quick paperwork checklist to handle your DMV address change or out-of-state notice, tax records, utilities, mail forwarding, proof of your new residency, and final California account cleanup before you leave. 1. Proving Residency in Your New State Before you can set up utilities
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