Kids in the Apartment Building The kids in the building are restless. It's hard to think about kids running around playing and adults socializing right now. Yet, making your building a more fun place to live has many benefits. After Covid 19 is gone, they'll still be restless and it will be summer. We can't…

Keeping Kids Busy and Having Fun! We're used to thinking of this Corona Virus pandemic as something terrible for us all. However, could there be a silver lining to being in an apartment or house for weeks on end? The break from excessive routine for kids, teens and adults can have some powerful benefits. So…

Corona Virus Safety Tips The Corona Virus lockdown continues in many US, Australian, European and Canadian cities. The latest numbers of cases for Europe and the US are troubling. In Canada, it appears new infections are beginning to level off. In some US cities however, the rate of growth of Covid 19 cases is almost…

Best Cities to Invest in Rental Property 2020 Will rent prices drop in 2020? Will they rebound as current factors recede?  Those are tough questions that investors and property landlords need to consider while they have some extra time. It's sad that during this Corona Virus shutdown period, we will see real estate demand and…

California’s Housing Market Forecast In the midst of the unexpected Corona Virus pandemic and temporary work shut down, buyers are wondering if housing prices will fall and stay lower throughout 2020. Landlords are concerned about vacancies, rental income losses, and further rent payment defaults. Buyers and rental property investors are wondering if the California housing…

Pandemic is Pushing People Online A new article in the Washington Post has the headline: "The new coronavirus economy: A gigantic experiment reshaping how we work and live." The post story says it well, that businesses and consumers are trying out online business at a massive scale. We'll likely here more about this shift in…

Are Rent Prices Going to Drop? The US housing market including the rental market was continuing at a good pace as employment and demographics fed the demand for rental properties. Recent economic events have of course, intervened. Now tenants are landlords are inquiring whether rents will go down and their cash flow stop. Rent prices…

Good Communication Between Tenants and Landlord is Important In the wake of the Corona Virus pandemic, landlords across the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Germany are bracing for rent payment defaults, conflict, and cash flow problems. This might be the worst cash flow issue many landlords have ever faced. The word eviction is high on…

Landlord Tax Tips for Tax Year 2019 Another year has passed and you'll be filing your taxes for the year of 2019. When you consider the current state of the economy and what might transpire for you in terms of cash flow, added work, and possible evictions, it's wise to get your maximum tax deductions…

10 Ways to Make Work at Home a Great Experience The Corona Virus shutdown period is making big changes to how we all work. Tens of millions of people in the US, UK, Australia, Germany and Canada will be working at home. Some of us revel in this change, while others will have trouble adjusting.…

Better Property Management via Strategy For most small business owners, strategy is a mystery. Outside of MBA courses, it isn't taught. And there are almost no articles on the web about property management strategy. Yet with all things being equal, strategy is what will produce an advantage in execution and growth. This is why investigating…

What's Happening in Property Management? A number of trends are sweeping property management, driven primarily by technology and housing regulations. These trends are forcing landlords and property managers to adopt newer, more modern property management solutions. Online rent payments and more powerful bookkeeping software are driving industry changes.  However, managers are realizing that automation, data…

Make Your Rental Apartment Warm and Inviting For a full century, rental apartments were thought of as empty boxes for renters to occupy and adapt to. Apartments were a place to sleep and eat, and not so much as a location for a great lifestyle. In the last 5 years that's changed. Apartments then were…

Best Real Estate Apps for 2020 Software developers are hard at work trying to come up with software apps that are more useful. Some such as ManageCasa have integrated apps and services that make work much easier for those in property management. We've highlighted apps for landlords and apps for property managers, some of which…

Upgrade to Better Property Management Software There's two types of property management companies today: The first group are those who are using property management software.  Research shows these managers aren't all that happy with their solutions. The other group are those straggling property managers (late adopters) who haven't moved to fully automated systems, other than…

Partnering With Stripe Landlords are in need of better payment systems because of cash flow issues, tenant payment problems, slow bank transactions, fraud, lagging bank and accounting reconciliation, and a lack of real-time reporting. In a recent blog post, we listed online payment service providers who have systems which streamline the revenue collection process. Collecting your revenue,…

Property Management Platforms The word platform is often used loosely by software developers to describe a custom, all inclusive programmed IT solution for customers. It is a comprehensive solution that provides an array of related services customers want. Is a property management platform going to solve your pains in 2020? If you find the right…

Know Your Parking Policy We covered rules and regulations in buildings previously, but what are residents' responsibilities on automobiles and parking? Generally speaking, residents must comply with all parking rules, signs, speed limits (e.g. 5 hours per hour), or other directional instructions implemented by the property management company. Parking policy is normally included in House…

Best Property Management Apps In 2020, property managers are excitedly about new online solutions which include some of these new property management apps. These handy applications are used on desktop and mobile devices. Apps is one of the most searched words on search engines because SMB managers are constantly on the lookout for better productivity…

Useful Property Management Software Property managers and landlords often inquire about which might be the best property management software solution available now?  Software quality relates to simplicity, affordability, and possessing the right services for your business specifically. Studies show many landlords and rental real estate managers are frustrated with their current software, and unable to…

Property Management Financial Statements Monitoring property financial performance and examining the financial statements is one of the most essential tasks for property manager. The building financial performance should be reviewed on a monthly basis by the asset manager, director of property management, regional manager, and property manager.  When reviewing financial documents, the Profit and Loss…

Can Better Digital Bookkeeping Make For Happier Landlords? Friction bedevils pretty much everything in commerce and payments, and that holds especially true for the management of rental property. Not only are there many moving parts and a variety of participants involved —  landlords, tenants, property managers, financial institutions, service providers such as plumbers and electricians…

The Most Common Property Management Pitfalls The outlook for the property management sector is positive, including multifamily management which means a large group of people will jump into it with the expectations of big profits. While huge profits and fast growth are reported in some sectors, particularly Airbnb rentals and the multifamuly rental sector, new…

20 Ways to Raise Your Awesome Factor Is the word awesome just some kids thing, or does it mean you really have become someone special? I think when someone says you're awesome, it means they think you're a cut better than the expected. Other than being professional and using the latest online landlord software, is…

Landlord Software Benefits Landlords are a different breed than in decades past.  You are more aware that you need good software tools, apps , and other services to ease your workload and manage your units and tenants better. As a do-it-yourself or self-managing landlord, you have more pressures on your time and budget.  Complicated enterprise focused…

Housing Market Forecast 2020 The housing market in Australia is attracting a lot of attention.  After the heat, drought, fires, and floods, Australia's focus turns to rebuilding. The Corona Virus problem is the latest hurdle the markets must surmount. Although China's economy is being impacted, these events pass. At some point, perhaps by April, the…

Housing Forecast Berlin One of the most dynamic cities in Europe, Berlin Germany also has one of the world's hottest housing markets. In 2017 and 2018, it was under significant pressure with squeezed supply and exploding demand. Supply issues continue yet the forecast for 2020 is subdued rent price appreciation.  Although rent price controls are being…

A Good Resolution for 2020 Have you already abandoned your 2020 New Year’s resolutions?  That’s actually okay in our books, because we have a better one for you - remind your tenants to take care of their units. As a New Year’s Resolution, in our residential buildings, we encourage tenants to maintain their rental units…

US Property Management Expos 2020 According to CEIR, more owners, property managers, Realtors and contractors will attend trade shows and expos in 2020.  And Statista believes the trade show/expo industry will be worth $16.8 billion by 2021 (up from 13.2 billion in 2017). Lots of growth, interest, careers, and business generated, and what's the attraction? …

Set Your Performance Benchmarks It's one of the most important matters of your property management business, that you set quantifiable standards for performance. Having benchmarks for each aspect of your services can help your company stay on course and grow more profitable. Our own property manager expert Gordon Leung offers some helpful tips on how…

Buying Rental Property in 2020? The real estate market has yet to hit its peak. And the rental property market may have even better underlying fundamentals  — supporting rising home prices and higher rent prices for tenants. Those Fundamentals Are: very high home/apartment prices high employment rates higher wages better jobs coming low mortgage rates…

Buy vs Rent? This year, hundreds of thousands of people will be using a rent vs buy calculator to help them decide whether to buy a home or rent one. The dream of having one's own home, building equity, and enjoying stability is alluring. Yet a number of factors can make owning a home a painful…

Hawaii Housing Market 2020 It's not just American buyers who want a slice of Hawaiian paradise during these good times. Foreign buyers too are pouring billions more into the 2020 Hawaiian housing market. Hot Oahu, Kauai and Maui It’s not just American buyers who want a slice of Hawaiian paradise during these good times. Billions of…

Job Opportunities Rising in Lucrative Property Rental Management Are you stuck in a dead end job, looking for a new career, or perhaps to switch to something that's using leading edge technology? In a competitive world where many occupations are becoming redundant, you must be looking ahead. AI and technology are forcing a shift in…

30 Handy Apps for Modern Landlords If you're not quite ready to commit to a full fledged, professional landlord software solution, you could sample some of these 30 landlord apps below. A landlord app is a specialized software program designed to help you with your specific challenges, work processes, and time saving needs. The specialized services…

Which are the best California Cities for Investment Property? Looking for an investment condo in the Golden State. A lot of property investors still are.  California will be one of the top housing markets in 2020.  Another year has passed and new communities are drawing the attention of buyers. But after you see the high…

Social Media for Property Management Social media represents a great, unexplored opportunity for Realtors, property managers, and yes Landlords.  But how many property pros do social marketing well enough to make it produce bottom line results? Companies are investing in their Facebook and Twitter presence. However, most are doing paid clicks to get their results.  It's…

How to Foresee Tenant Departures Why is it that good things must come to an end? Your tenants have worked out so well, they enjoyed living in your home or apartment, yet despite that bliss, they will decide to move on. Yes, it's so nice when people stay put, but everyone's life evolves. Young couples…

Filing for Tenant Eviction We previously mentioned an eviction process which could begin once proper documentation has been prepared.  These eviction documents include lease violation notices and other important correspondences. In some cases, tenants may respond and voluntarily work with the landlord to address their lease violations in order to avoid eviction. However, when tenants…

15 Key Property Management Trends for 2020 How will property owners and property managers improve business operations and revenue in 2020? By keeping a close and persistent eye on the housing market and major trends affecting future business performance. Property management is a booming multidimensional business worth Billions. Improvements and threats will come from many…

How ManageCasa Compares In 2020, property manager's busy work schedule will only get busier to the point of exhaustion.  What's needed and is actually available now, is a property management solution designed for SMB property managers and landlords. Keeping owners happy, completing maintenance, processing leases and documents, ensuring payments, helping staff learn new property management…

Never Forget to Document Before Legal Proceedings In previous articles, we talked about the eviction process and the importance of documenting properly. While non-payment of rent is the cause of most evictions, other lease violations whether minor or major, can also lead to tenancy termination and eventually with legal proceedings.  Serving lease violations to tenants…

Lease Agreement 101 – Evictions Tenants are often fearful to hear the word of “lease termination” or “eviction’. Yet a landlord can indeed terminate the lease agreement if tenant materially breaches the lease terms. Tenants should pay extra attention to the lease terms, timeline on written notice to vacate the units, as well as the…

Apartment Rent Prices Rise Amidst a market where affordability and rent controls are the subject of activist pro rent control protests, rent prices appear to rising fast in 2019. Zumper reports that rents are growing strongly again in September while new construction starts at their lowest in several years. Multifamily starts have plummeted according to…

Hacking Your Way to ROI Growth and Success With the cooler fall season coming, we'll all be feeling a lot fresher and invigorated soon. The fall colors and kids back at school makes us realize the seasons are changing. It's at these positive times that your confidence and optimism will be peaking too. It's a…

Choose the Best Software For Multifamily Housing Management The multifamily housing market continues to be a great place for investors. National Multifamily Housing Council’s most recent quarterly survey of the national apartment market showed indexes continuing above the breakeven level. The NMHC reported that markets were tightening, sales volumes were up, debt financing was better,…

Understanding Lease Agreements 101 – Part 1 How often do tenants read lease agreements and understand them? Likely not very often or thoroughly, which means potential renters don’t often know what they’re signing. That could lead to misunderstandings, legal battles, and conflict. If a tenant understands the lease they’re signing, it might actually create a…

Housing in the UK The UK property market is complex and made more complicated by the UK's situation with Brexit and Global trade changes. Even the best experts are challenged to forecast the market in 2020, but let's take a look at some of the factors and trends. Remainers and Brexiteers both are a little…

SAN FRANCISCO, July 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ManageCasa, the leading intuitive, interactive and automated property management software for DIY landlords and property managers, today announced a partnership with Stripe, the leading platform for online payment processing, to launch a new digital payments solution for the property management industry. Landlords and property managers will now be able to…

Operational Success: Always Starts with People Whether you’re an experienced Property Manager, or are new to the property management industry, you’ll encounter both expected and unexpected challenges in your daily operations. Those challenges are usually related to occupancy, rent collection, maintenance, tenant issues, and more. Your staff will be responding to and resolving maintenance tickets,…

Metro Denver's Housing Market Coming Alive Rebounding from 2018.  The 2019 housing market in Denver, Colorado is one of the hottest housing markets going, looking good for home buyers and apartment rental investors alike. All areas of the Denver housing and multifamily market are forecast to perform well this year. With Millennial renters and buyers making…

Property Owners Want Better ROI With all the new technology, they know they can get it.  It might seem unfair to ask you the property management company to grow ROI, yet their request for more is your opportunity to ask for more from them. There are 8 areas that you have control over and below you'll…

Renting Continues to Be More Affordable Than Buying Smart investment property owners keep their eye on the road ahead for signs that their asset values and rental income might be in danger. Looks like investors can relax. According to a recent study, the outlook seems positive for rental demand along with slowly rising asset values…

Multifamily Housing Looking Very Good into 2019 If you're one of the smart property investors in the last 2 years, you're probably smiling given reports on rising apartment stock, and rising rents with a monster customer base. This spring is a time to grow! Given the stock market looks to be beyond its peak, rental…

Is Chicago's Housing Market Worth Investing In? Chicago's Housing market like a few other housing markets, is recovering from the last recession, yet the political uncertainties of 2019 and the upcoming 2020 election hang heavily on the city's future. The windy city is plagued with high taxes, shaky financials, and restrictive government regulation. Up until a…

How To Generate More Property Management Leads 2020 is already providing plenty of challenges for professional landlords and property managers. As profits go up and down through this period of the Corona Virus, accounts will be won and some lost.  That's why it's important to have a lead pipeline to continuously attract leads. Keeping cost…

San Jose's Housing Market 2019/2020 In what is the Valley of Heart's Delight, is perhaps the heart of the new Silicon Valley. With exceptional growth, comes changes in the character, business focus, and location of residents. San Jose seems to be where everyone wants to live in 2019 and beyond according to predictions. As local…

Bring Your Property Accounting into the Modern Era It's not often an accountant or auditor gives you the thumbs up unless you've managed your accounting accurately. And with all those bills, spreadsheets, invoices, and calculators, you're in for the usual arduous year end and tax time pain. Is now the time to upgrade a much…

Sydney Home Prices Fall most in 30 Years Sydney and the New South Wales district is beautiful, a destination of dreams for global travelers wishing to sample the lifestyle and unique economy of Southeast Australia. Change creates opportunities. And for investors and property managers, it's these times of change that create buying and management opportunities…

Top Landlord/Developer Concessions Landlords and property managers in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Denver, Phoenix, and Las Vegas are pulling out the stops to fill their rising vacancies and keep tenants in 2019. When vacancy rates rise, we all have to be more creative. In these markets, business as usual doesn't…

Managing Property Maintenance In the business of property management, the service of property maintenance is vital to keeping property assets in good condition and to keep tenants leased. For the public and for many landlords, property maintenance is property management. Yet, these are actually two separate activities. Property maintenance is multifaceted services which we discuss below. …

Will Rent Prices Go Down in 2020? We're entering the spring season in the rental housing market. Millions of people will be looking for apartments for rent. Some are near the end of their leases and are wondering if their income will allow them to stay where they are. Will the recent economic and pandemic…