Dear Maintenance Men:

I’m exited about all the electric cars coming into the market starting at end of 2010. I plan on owning one myself!  My question is:  How do I make my apartment building electric car friendly?  I believe this will be the future and I want to have a leg up on the competition.  If I can rent my vacancy faster and for more money, I’m in!   What do I have to think about to convert my existing garages or parking areas to accommodate the electric cars of the future?  George

By Chris Miller

The importance of creating a business plan for investment real estate doesn’t get much press.  I have seen that some people who deal with real estate for a living do not even use them.  Whether you are a sophisticated real estate investor or only own one rental property, spending a little time on a business plan can save a lot of headaches in the future.
I have had this exact conversation with at least two real estate brokers over the past decade:

Chris: “While reviewing this property, I noticed that the lease runs for 75 years, and has no rent increases.  How do you expect to sell this property for a profit?”

Broker: “Real estate always goes up in value, right?”

Wrong!  I have always reminded my investors that real estate’s value is tied to the income it produces.  Rising income is needed to realize rising property values.  At the same time, flat income does not lead to stable value.  In fact, due to the influence of inflation, it leads to declining value over the years.  Why buy real estate that will slowly decline in value over the next 50 years?  People do every day.  These investors don’t mean to do that but, because they lack a business plan; that is exactly what happens.

Upon the wings of Mother Nature’s tropical climate, rides the swarming invaders, “Termites!”

In huge gatherings, they escape the confines of their underground nests (as in the case of the subterranean termites). The queen termite initiates this activity, when the colony can no longer maintain itself, with the large numbers it supports. Thus, new infestations must be created, and the ominous spread of these destructive villains commences.

No over the counter elixir or concoctions will eliminate the onslaught. Professional help is needed to identify the species, and make the proper diagnosis. In some cases, your attempt to treat activity can worsen the situation by driving the termites deeper into their channels or concealing the necessary evidence that a trained professional looks for.

by Michael Hodge

Safety and security of employees, residents, and guests should always be a concern for Apartment Managers.

It’s actually the law! As most Courts find where there is a foreseeable risk of harm, those who control such properties have a duty to place “reasonable” measures to prevent such an occurrence.

Risk Analysis
Risk or threat analysis is the first step in the security process.  This process entails an examination of many factors, and subsequently determines appropriate measures to implement.  Some of these factors include:

• Level of crime in and around an area
• Apartment Industry education and awareness
• Proximity of property to major thoroughfares
• Existing security features

There is a movement in the roofing industry toward what is referred to as “single ply” roofing for flat roofs.

This energy efficient roofing is like a big (usually white) rubber roof. It lasts longer than hot tar roofing and is much superior across the board. This product has been around since the sixties or so and has been upgraded and changed and re-invented. It now is a standard in the industry and becoming more popular as people get introduced to it.

by John Nuzzolese

I always say that “95% of your tenant problems can be eliminated in the screening process.” If you’re like me, you probably find it difficult to relax when you have vacancies. So getting it rented is the main idea, right? Well, from now on, lets say “getting it rented to a properly qualified tenant is the main idea.”

By David Gale

Just as residents in Southern California start adjusting to life with lawn-watering restrictions, there are signs California’s drought may be coming to an end next winter.

Climate scientists say conditions are ripe for the formation of an El Nino over the Pacific Ocean, an intermittent weather condition that brings wet winters to the southern United States.

That means there is a good chance Southern California will get above-normal rainfall next year.

MBA Survey Shows Continued Slowdown of Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Lending in First Quarter 2009

Commercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations continued to drop in the first quarter of 2009, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Quarterly Survey of Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Bankers Originations.  First quarter originations were 70 percent lower than during the same period last year and 26 percent lower than during the fourth quarter of 2008.  The year-over-year decrease was seen across all investor groups and most property types.

By Stephen B. Fainsbert, Esq.

The case of Garcia v. Roberts, decided by the Appellate Court in May 2009 involves a situation where a husband and wife, who could not read English, were taken advantage of by a “business associate” in the acquisition of a parcel of real estate (the “Property”).  The facts were that Johnny Garcia (“Johnny”) and his wife Omega Garcia (“Omega”) had for a number of years rented property in Sanger, California (the “Property”) from the Sasashima Family Trust (the “Trust”).  In 2001, Johnny entered into an agreement to purchase the Property from the Trust for $140,000 pursuant to which agreement Johnny made a $7,500 down payment and was given two years to pay the balance of $132,500.

OBLIGATIONS TO TENANTS – SECTION 8 SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION

QUESTION:  The city where my apartment complex is located has approached me about purchasing the property for a large retail development.  At this time I’m not sure I’ll sell, but would like to know what obligation I have to my tenants if I decide to sell.  Are there any rules I should know about?