Lease Options or "Rent to Own" in Marin's Rental Market - 11/12/08 07:36 PM
My partners and I are frequently asked about lease options or rent-to-own situations. Since we spend 24/7 representing umpteen properties here in Marin County that are listed for sale, and as leasing agents (http://www.marinrentals.blogspot.com)  working with rental clients who are eventually looking to buy, we've come up with two basic hard-and-fast guidelines. But I'd better first offer some groundwork on the mechanics of what we're all talking about: how a lase option contract can work. The explanation taken from http://www.ShowYourHome.com , a website specializing in bringing together motivated buyers and sellers looking for creative solutions like home swaps, owner financing or lease options: 
A lease option or "rent to own" contract … (2 comments)

Quality Properties = Quality Tenants: A Word about the Condition of Your Rental in Marin - 11/05/08 08:25 PM
The phrase, "it's just a rental," doesn't work for me. 
Granted, I'm likely a bit biased since I work only in leasing homes and condos here in Marin County and probably take hearing the phrase a little more seriously than many folks, but still, I couldn't disagree more.  My partners and I often deal in higher end rentals and are accustomed to the pricing and consideration that goes into the rental market, yet those unfamiliar with the Marin housing market would be surprised at how often we'll see a $7,000 a month home in, say, Tiburon, with an aging electric stove and poorly sealed single pane windows.  Now, in a strong rental market … (0 comments)

"I Have 'Renter's Credit'" - Dealing with Bad Credit in Marin - 11/04/08 02:56 PM
"Hi I'm calling about your 3bd in Sausalito," says one twenty-something-sounding voice over the line to me.
"Ok great," I say, "When are you looking to move?"
"Well, I'm flexible," he responds, "I'm really looking for the right place for me and my dogs."
I pause.  "What kind of dogs do you have?"  This is the million-dollar question.  (See yesterday's blog for more on pets.)
"Oh, you know, mixed breeds.  Just normal dogs."
"Well....," I hesitate: he hasn't given me a lot of info.  My clients really don't want pets at this condo, especially larger dogs who wouldn't have any outdoors … (1 comments)

Marin Rentals and the "Very Well Behaved" Pet - 11/03/08 06:02 PM
I think I read somewhere that 60% of Marin households have pets.  As a 2-dog/1-cat household myself, I'll believe that.  Marin is a family-friendly demographic. Families have pets.  Pets have families.  And, of course, every tenant who calls to ask about your pet policy has a "very well behaved" cat.  Or Labradoodle.  Or Cookapoo/Dachshund mix.
So if you're a landlord having just installed brand new hardwood floors/new landscaping/have pet allergies/etc and have decided you want to list your property as "no pets" what can you do?
First, I might ask you to reconsider.
If approx 60% of the households come with pets, … (0 comments)

Overview of the Marin Rental Market - Fall 2008 - 11/01/08 03:42 PM
Marin rentals are in high demand - at least that's what our promotional fliers printed earlier this year say!  But a sagging economy and a dragging housing market have combined within the last four months or so to create--for the first time since the dotcom bust--a relatively flat rental market in Marin.  As a broad generalization there are more homes available for lease, less tenants looking and as a result rental prices are down. 
If you're a long term income property owner, don't panic just yet.  We're still closing lots of deals in our Marin office, and depending on how your price the … (0 comments)

 
Darcy Rainmaker_large

Darcy Alkus Barrow

Kentfield, CA

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Foundation Rentals & Relocation, Inc

Address: 925 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Suite A, Kentfield, CA, 94904

Office Phone: (415) 507-9600

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Market reports, condition, tips and advice for local landlords and tenants interested in Marin County Rental Homes and Relocation.


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