Rental Property Management with Seasonal Maintenance

Whether you have one rental property to care for, or dozens of buildings, property maintenance is of the utmost importance. A maintained building shows your residents you care for their well-being, that their safety is important, and of course, it safeguards your investment for years to come. Keeping track of everything that needs to be done can be challenging, so…

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Rental Inspections: Protect your property and your residents

How often do you perform inspections of your rental properties? One thing’s for certain, it’s important to balance the number of rental inspections you do—too many, and you create problems with your tenants, and too few could lead to potentially serious and expensive issues. The one thing to remember is that rental inspections are vital for property management. So, here…

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Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program

Whether you’re a homeowner, property manager, or renter, you’re painfully aware of the dangers lead poisoning in water presents. You can’t smell, taste, or see lead in drinking water, which makes it all the more dangerous. Worse yet, the most common sources of lead in drinking water come from lead pipes, faucets, or plumbing fixtures that could be part of…

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Updates to Colorado Renting Laws – Application Fees

In the 2019 Legislative session, Colorado Congress passed several laws relating to rental properties. We’ll cover most of them over the next few months but we’ll start with HB19-1106 (Rental Application Fairness Act). This bill sets regulations on the process of charging application fees. This is a standard practice among landlords and property managers, but the bill seeks to create…

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Ways to Use Technology to Improve the Tenant Experience

Having long-term tenants means you spend less on vacancy, marketing and repairs. The key is to keep your tenants happy to benefit your business. Here are a few simple things to implement now to improve the tenant experience and work towards longer term renters. Accept Rent Online With the rise of peer-to-peer money exchanging apps, online bill pay and the…

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Digital Vendor Reviews and the Importance of Relationships

A recent article in The Denver Post exposed poor business practices regarding the ranking and promotional system at Angie’s List. With Angie’s List being known as a trusted source for quality vendors, this news leaves many landlords scrambling for where to go now. The article explains how the ranking of “top-rated pro” was only given to companies who paid Angie’s…

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Hire a Property Manager to Streamline Property Ownership

As a real estate investor, you have a lot of plates to juggle. Managing rentals can feel overwhelming and hard to keep up with. The many details involved in managing a rental are intricate and best handled by a property manager saving you time, money and stress. Here are 7 reasons to hire a property manager: Keeping you in compliance…

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Continued Increase for Denver Area Rents

Since 2010 national rents have, on the whole, continued to steadily increase. This trend didn’t change in 2018 and we saw a year-over-year increase of 3.1% from December 2017 to December 2018 according to CoreLogic. The Denver area was above this pace. According to Rent Jungle, rents in the area increased by 4.18% year-over-year. In Denver proper, the average rent…

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Ways to Fund the Purchase of Your First Investment Property

If you’re looking to get into the game of real estate investing, you have a few choices for financing. Ideally, purchases are made with cash but that’s not realistic for most first time investors. This means you’ll likely be taking out of a loan of some kind, but what’s the best fit for you? Here are 4 different ways to…

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5 Tips to Help Real Estate Investors to be Successful

It’s easy to enter the world of real estate investing, it really just takes the purchase of one property. However, there is plenty of room for mistakes along the way. It’s important to carefully consider all your expenses, stay organized and plan ahead to truly make this worthwhile. Here are 5 tips all new real estate investors need to know:…

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5 Things You Should Not Have in Your Tenant Lease

We understand that it’s tempting to manage properties on your own. While it can quickly get overwhelming, for many people it’s easy enough to manage maintenance requests and other such tedious tasks associated with being a landlord. One thing we highly encourage you never to do alone is drafting leases. A poorly written lease can leave you empty handed in…

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A Slight Dip in Denver Area Rents + A Suburban Rent Boom

According to Apartment List, there was a .2% decrease in rent prices for 2 bedroom units from September to October 2018. The good news is that even with the drop in prices, rents have still risen 1.2% since the same time last year. As a real estate investor, you’ve invested in the right market. Interestingly, the Denver Metro area has…

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Ways to Use Technology to Improve the Tenant Experience

Having long-term tenants means you spend less on vacancy, marketing and repairs. The key is to keep your tenants happy to benefit your business. Here are a few simple things to implement now to improve the tenant experience and work towards longer term renters. Accept Rent Online With the rise of peer-to-peer money exchanging apps, online bill pay and the…

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Important Summer Property Maintenance

Summer is one of the busiest seasons for real estate, rental units included. With kids being out of school and the weather looking nice, it’s a great time to move. With all the business of move-in and move-out inspections, it can be hard to find the time to complete basic summer maintenance on your properties. It’s important to keep your…

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Avoid Design Trends and Save Money When Renovating Rental Property

Home design goes through just as many fads and changes as fashion. Renovations to your rental property are inevitable, but following trends can end up costing you money in the long run. A trendy unit will be highly marketable for a bit but will quickly feel out of date. Here are a few current trends to avoid during your renovations:…

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BuildSmart Regulations in Boulder County

Boulder County implemented BuildSmart regulations a few years ago and since then they have been tightening and perfecting the requirements for new developments. These building regulations are part of Boulder County’s Sustainable Energy Plan. All new developments in unincorporated Boulder County are required to follow BuildSmart regulations. Outside of the actual materials and inspection of the completed building, the BuildSmart…

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5 Simple Tips to Help You Keep Good Tenants

Vacant units are expensive. Not only are you not bringing in rent while a unit is vacant, you also incur costs marketing it and finding new tenants. Instead of losing money to vacant units, work to keep good tenants around. It doesn’t take a lot to keep most tenants happy and it can save you a lot in the long…

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Common Move-In/Move-out Misunderstandings

There are a wide range of expectations when it comes to moving in and out of a rental. From the tenant to the owner to the property manager, there are a lot of people to make happy. So what should these walkthroughs cover and how can you manage the expectations? Here are 3 common misunderstandings for move-in and move-out walkthroughs:…

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Understanding the Common Reasons Tenants Sue

Tenants don’t sue often. Most times a landlord is threatened with court it’s an empty threat. But it does happen and it is rarely expected. Understanding the most common reasons for a lawsuit is the first step to avoiding them. Here are the 4 most common reasons tenants sue: Mishandled Security Deposit Laws about security deposits vary from state to…

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The Implications of Fannie Mae’s Investment in Invitation Homes

Earlier in 2017, Invitation Homes, one of the nation’s largest Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) went public. In addition to gaining billions in the capital market, they received a $1 billion interest-only loan from Fannie Mae. This loan was met with a lot of questions and outrage. People are concerned about Fannie Mae’s involvement in backing a company that buys…

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Reasons to Turn Away a Potential Tenant

When you have a vacancy all you want is to fill it, and filled quickly but that doesn’t mean you should let just anyone in. Of course, you always need to comply with Equal Housing guidelines but there are plenty of reasons to say no to a tenant. It’s not worth having the risk of dealing with an eviction to…

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Tips for Handling Unimaginable Tenant Situations

After a few years of working with tenants it’s likely you’ll have stories to share you never would have imagined. Despite tight screening things with a tenant can go wrong quickly. Maybe they lost a loved one, lost their job or are struggling with their health. Life happens and some tenants aren’t able to manage and start to go off…

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3 Factors to Consider When Setting Your Security Deposit

Security deposits range from $200 to a month of rent and more, but how do you decide how much to charge? A security deposit is an important part of your business as a real estate investor. It protects you from paying for repairs out of pocket and in theory gives your tenants extra motivation to take good care of their…

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What You Need to Know About Landlord Liability

Does the word liability make you cringe? You may be surprised by what you as a landlord can be held accountable for. Luckily, most liabilities can be avoided with good property management and tenant screening. Here are 5 major landlord liabilities to stay on top of: Hazards This is a relatively obvious one and should fall under common sense. The…

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The Pros and Cons of Allowing Your Tenant to Sublease

Subleasing is a subject of much debate in the world of property management, and for good reason. There are many complexities regarding maintenance requests, access to the property and responsibility which deter many landlords. As a landlord you have the power to not allow subleases on your properties, but should you? Here are the pros and cons of allowing a…

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Stagnant Rent in Denver to Close Out 2016 + Demand Still High

According to the Denver Post, the number of units reducing asking prices increased by half a percentage point nationally from the same time last year. While the national change isn’t much to write home about, according to the Denver Business Journal, Denver has experienced a 3.1% drop in one bedroom apartments. Some experts say this is due to an oversupply…

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Is a Condo a Good Investment?

Many people consider buying a condo to be a good investment, one you could live in for a while and rent out later or buy outright as a rental property. Are these purchases really all they’re cracked up to be? Let’s take a look at the numbers for the Northern Denver area: 2015 Average Sale Price For Condo October 2015:…

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Make Tenants Happier: Stop Doing These 5 Things

Long-term renters are a landlord’s dream. It means no vacancy costs, no marketing costs and fewer repair costs. Keeping your tenants happy is important to your business. Here are a few things to stop doing to keep your tenants happy and keep your business on the right track. Requiring Check Payments If you’re not set up to take payments digitally,…

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Student Loan Debt, Millennials and Good News for Landlords

You may be a few years removed from the millennial generation or perhaps you’re a millennial landlord with no student debt. Regardless, it can be easy to feel like the issue of student loan debt doesn’t relate to you, but the truth is it does. Millennials make up the primary renter base. 60% of rental applicants from 2011 – 2015…

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7 Ways to Maximize Your Property Showings

Are you tired of showing your rentals and not getting a bite? Even in a busy market with low vacancy rates, renters are often picky about where they are living and who they are giving their money to. Here are 7 simple projects to help your rental properties show well: Start Outside To make a strong first impression, start outside….

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Property Manager Tips: When Do I Need to Replace Appliances in Rental Units?

Property Manager Tips: When Do I Need to Replace Appliances in Rental Units? Unexpectedly having to replace appliances in multiple units can be a huge blow to your cash flow as a property manager. It’s important to keep appliances well maintained to get the most life out of them. During a move-in walk through it is important to explain basic…

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How Much Mold is Too Much?

How Much Mold is Too Much? We often face situations in homes where there is some mold or mildew that needs to be cleaned. The question is if we have to hire a professional to remediate. In most cases if the affected area is less than 10 square feet, you can handle the job yourself. This is per EPA’s documentation….

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Is Deposit a Taxable Income

The question I’ve been frequently asked by owners is whether a security deposit a taxable income. The security deposit or damage deposit you receive from a tenant should not be included in your rental income if you intend to return the funds to your tenant when they leave after the lease expires. However, if the tenant breaks the lease and…

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How Property Taxes are Determined

This post describes how the property taxes are calculated and what are the timelines in order to appeal if your property tax seems too high. Property taxes are determined on odd-numbered years for 2-year tax periods. Property taxes determined in 2013 will be the taxes for 2013 and 2014 State statute requires that each property in the county be re-valued…

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2012 Wrap Up

Well,how did we do in 2012? I have wrapped up the highlights of 2012 in this short report full graphs and numbers. It includes information on the legislation front; rental market in Metro Denver, various vacancy rates by markets & dwellings, rent survey; Unemployment figures; Hiring; Home sales &Prices; new homes; and supply of homes on the market. Enjoy. 2012WrapUp

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3rd Quarter 2012 Foreclosure Report

The Colorado Division of Housing has published it’s 3rd Quarter 2012 Foreclosure Report. After the peak of 2009, the foreclosures have been on a decline. The numbers for the 3rd quarter 2012 is down 23.6% over the same period in 2011. Please refer to the report for details and a quarterly graph of. A lot of factors are lining up…

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Lower Apartment Vacancies, Higher Rents

The construction of mutli-family housing has been on the rise, however, the shortage in rental market is persisting. The Denver posted reported yesterday the vacancies in Metro Denver has dropped to 4.3% in the 3rd quarter in 2012, the lowest since 2000. The average rent is up 5.2% in one year. The full article is at Denver metro apartment vacancies…

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Expiring 2012 Tax Rates – Considerations

With the 2012 tax rates expiring, I thought to recap where the 2012 tax rates, brackets, and capital gains rates are along with an example of how the marginal tax rate is calculated. As the example shows, one in the 28% bracket does not pay 28% of the income for taxes. The tax is calculated in an stair-step manner on…

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Yet Another Bill Introduced

Yet Another Bill Introduced, Senate Bill 12-162. “CONCERNING VERIFICATION OF REMEDIATION PERFORMED ON PROPERTY CONTAMINATED BY AN ILLEGAL DRUG LABORATORY”. Below are excerpts from the bill: (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary…

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SB 70: The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act Passes Senate Judiciary

The Colorado Senate Bill 70 – 2012, creates the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act describing the obligations of both landlords and tenants as it relates to rental property and rental property agreements. The industry stakeholders including the Property Managers community, Colorado Apartment Association and Colorado Association of Realtors are in opposition to the bill. We are involved in and/or…

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Pertaining Laws

Law & Regulations investors and managers should know: Risk-Based Pricing & Credit Score Disclosure HB10-1278 HOA Registration LBP Compliance Guide LBP Pamphlet Renovate Rights Pamphlet HB09-1276 Delayed Foreclosure HB10-1249 Expedited Sale Protecting Tenants in Foreclosure HB08-1356 Warranty of  Habitability HB09-1091 Carbon Monoxide Law  

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Late Fee Policy

How aggressive is your late payment penalty? Opinions vary on this subject. In my practice I have learned to keep the late fees relatively low. Let me explain. I do NOT any make exceptions for anyone. That said, one thing I know for sure I won’t be in trouble with the Fair Housing laws treating people differently. Now, with the…

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New Credit Score Disclosure

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) was enacted in 1970 to promote accuracy, fairness and privacy of the consumer information collected by consumer reporting agencies (CRAs). There has been a number of amendments in using consumer credit reports to make rental decisions, specifically the adverse action notice. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act amends the FCRA to require…

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Housing Shortage Evident in the Supply of Apartments

Taking part in discussions and correspondences  with other property managers nationwide, the shortage of rental housing is not limited the metro Denver area.  Other managers are seeing record low vacancies low vacancies in their respected areas. The metro Denver single-family vacancies are at all time low of 2.% The shortage seems to be evident in the supply of apartments.  The…

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Single Family Home Vacancies @ 2%

The vacancy rate for single-family homes/townhomes and condos  is at all-time low of 2% during the 4th quarter of 2010 according to the Colorado Department of Housing. The average number of days to rent such homes dropped to 38.2 days from 53.9 days in the 4th quarter of 2009. Click here for the full report.  

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2010 Foreclosure Report Now Available

Colorado Department of Housing has published the 2010 Colorado Foreclosure report. The charts below show 2003-2010 stats for Colorado and the metro Denver area. The Denver metro includes the Denver, Arapaho and Adams counties. For other areas please refer to the actual report. The foreclosure filings are down, however, more homes are going to auction.

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HB-1278: HOAs Must Register

HB-1278 – All Homeowners Associations governed by CCIOA (Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act) must, annually, register and pay the required fees, with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Division of Real Estate. This bill is effective 1/1/2011. All registrations must be completed online prior to March 1, 2011. The registrations must be renewed annually. An association is exempt from the…

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Additional 1099 IRS Reporting Requirement for 2011 – Landlords

Additional 1099 Reporting Requirement for 2011 — Landlords HR 5297 includes an expansion of the 1099 reporting related to a trade or business. Currently only the Property Managers are required to file Forms 1099 to reflect payments of $600 or more. Congress has extended the Form 1099 requirement to any person who receives rental income. This requirement would apply to…

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More on Denver’s New Zoning Code

Denver has adopted the new zoning code effective June 25th. The zoning map designates the zoning district for every property. At this link you will find the new zoning code map & the former chapter 59 zoning map, history, case status, and a lot more info. Here is another link to Denver zoning code and more.

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EPA Delays Enforcement of New Lead Paint Rules

Colorado Association of REALTOS®: “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has delayed the enforcement of the new Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule to provide time to get more remodelers and other contractors trained – and for EPA to get the word out to consumers about the importance of hiring a certified remodeler, according to the National Association of Home Builders…

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Fire Safety Code May Ease In Arvada

The Denver Post published an article yesterday (5/23/2010) that the City of Arvada my change or ease a fire safety code that is hindering the resale of some homes. The code is part of the 2006 International Property Maintenance Code adopted by the City of Arvada and other metro-area cities. The code disallows the sale, lease, disposition of non-conforming homes….

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