Category: Real Estate

California attracts visitors from all over the world. From the redwood forests in Northern California to coastal cities in Southern California, there is something for everyone to enjoy. For those who want to savor the beaches and ocean, California has islands all along the coast that each offers a unique experience. Whether you want a romantic getaway, an adventurous day trip or a family vacation, these islands will deliver.

Balboa Island

Balboa Island consists of three small islands connected by bridges. It is in the city of Newport Beach in Orange County, California. This island is small but offers a lot of family fun and relaxation. You can easily make a day trip to the islands, or vacation longer by staying at one of Balboa Island vacation rentals. Balboa is the perfect place to rent a bicycle and explore. There is a paved boardwalk that wraps around the whole island, only two and a half miles long. You can visit the many shops and waterfront restaurants. Or, take the kids to Balboa Fun Zone for a ride on the Ferris wheel. If you visit in the winter, you can catch the spectacular Christmas Boat Parade, where you’ll see everything from yachts to canoes decorated for the holidays cruise through Newport Harbor.

Angel Island

If you are staying in San Fransico and want to get away from the crowds to enjoy nature, then take a short ferry ride to Angel Island. Angel Island is part of the California State Park Service and offers stunning views of the San Francisco Bay. Here, you can hike, bike and kayak around the island for the day or set up camp for the night. It is also home to historic buildings from the Civil War period, including the Immigration Station where self-guided tours are available. You can grab lunch at Angel Island Cafe and Cantina, then hike up to the peak of Mount Livermore to enjoy the rest of your day.

Catalina Island

When you step onto Catalina Island, just southwest of Los Angeles, you will feel like you are in the Mediterranean. European-style homes dot the landscape, along with outstanding restaurants and shops. This island was the secret paradise of film stars in the 1920s, and you can still feel that old Hollywood glamor. Most people explore the island on bicycles or golf carts because the number of cars is limited. Catalina Island is the perfect place to relax by the water and watch bald eagles, dolphins and whales in their natural habitat. You can also kayak, zip line or take a ride on a glass-bottom boat.

Owning a rental property is a great way to make some extra income. Ideally you want tenants that stick around for a long time, but you will occasionally need to get your property ready for new tenants to move in. Below are a few things you should do to prepare your property.

Re-key the Locks

Make sure your rental property and tenants are secure by having the locks re-keyed. You will need to re-key all outside doors, gates, garage doors, sheds and mailboxes. That way if there are old keys floating around, they are unusable. If you have a garage door opener or security system, change the codes for those as well. A locksmith will be able to do the re-keying for you.

Clean the Carpets

House carpets go through a lot of wear and tear and when you have tenants, you can’t control how dirty they get. Professional carpet cleaning Santa Monica will do a deep clean of your carpets. Professional cleaners have access to machinery and cleaning products that will leave your carpet looking as if it was just installed. Doing this level of cleaning is something your new clients will notice and appreciate.

Test the Appliances

As a landlord, you are responsible for making sure your tenants have functioning appliances and fixtures. If there are any repairs that are needed, it is best to catch them before your new tenants move in. Check the stove to make sure all the burners work and the oven to see if the temperature is accurate. Check the pilot light on the water heater. Run a load in the washer and dryer to determine if they are functioning properly and get the dryer vents cleaned out. Doing these tests will ensure you shouldn’t need to do repairs when your tenants are in the house.

Clean Up the Yard

You may not be selling your home but curb appeal matters for rental properties as well. Make sure to clean up the house’s outside spaces. Trim and prune trees and bushes and cut the grass. Remove any garden pots and fixtures the previous client left behind. If you have an irrigation system, make sure the sprinklers are working. Power wash the patio and any walkways. You want your outside areas to be attractive to potential renters.

Preparing your rental property for new tenants takes time but you want to do it right. Making your home clean and attractive will hopefully draw tenants who will want to keep it that way and showing you are looking after it may keep them around for a long time.

For many buyers, a resale property may provide some key advantages, including traditional layouts, established neighborhoods and larger lots. Depending on the state of the building, your money may go further buying a resale. Moreover, there are opportunities to make the place your own as well as more room to negotiate a sale price. The charm of an older house can be quite irresistible, but there are several things to look for as you house hunt.

Foundation, Foundation, Foundation

One of the biggest issues to check for with older homes is the foundation. It is literally the foundation of the structure. Foundation damage can compromise the safety and structural integrity of the house. Settlement cracks are to be expected and a good home inspector can confirm that they pose no problems. Major foundation repair on the other hand, must be addressed and repair can be quite expensive. If you find an older house that you love, consider factoring in the cost to repair when it’s time to negotiate. An expert on concrete slab Tulsa OK can provide guidance on the best solution.

Old Building Materials

Houses that were built before a certain year may have been built with materials that are now banned. Two common examples are lead paint and asbestos. These were commonly used in properties built before the 80’s and 90’s respectively, but have since been found to be the source of serious and even deadly health conditions. It is essential that you pay for a thorough home inspection that includes testing to confirm the presence of lead paint and asbestos, not just for safety but also for compliance.

Pest Infestations

Older buildings are often a gathering place for pests, including rats, mice and bugs. Certain health hazards are posed or exacerbated by the presence of pests, including certain viruses, foodborne illnesses and respiratory conditions. Termites pose a special danger in old houses that are made of wood. Their presence may be an indication of major damage to the structure, requiring significant repairs to avoid dangerous living conditions. An infestation of other types of insects may also be a sign of water damage which may cause mold.

When it’s time to find a new residence, older resale properties can be quite appealing. Often they have character with an interesting history and architecture. These older houses can also include their fair share of issues that may require expensive repairs. A home inspection becomes especially important for assessing the structure’s condition and bringing serious problems to light.

Buying a home is more complicated than just getting your offer accepted. Once your offer has been set the real fun begins; fun meaning work. Here are four things you still need to do when buying a house after the offer has been accepted.

1. Sign all the Documents

You will need to sign a lot of documents, and that doesn’t even count the mountain of paperwork you will sign on closing day. Your lender will ask for employment and income verification, bank statements and many other documents. You want to get those papers turned in as soon as possible so you can hit your closing date.

2. Get a Home Inspection

You want to make sure the bones of your new home look as good as the exterior of the house. This is why home inspections Columbus OH are so important. A professional inspector will check your home for any damage or things that could be dangerous so you are aware of exactly what you are buying before you make your final decision.

3. Turn on Utilities

When you move in you want to be able to take a hot shower and use the electricity, so you need to let the utility companies know you are moving in before you arrive. If you let the companies know in advance you shouldn’t have any lapse of service and should be able to get right into using everything in your new home. 

4. Set up an Appraisal

The bank wants to make sure that they aren’t loaning money for a house that isn’t worth the amount of the loan. You will need to set up an appraisal to get someone to come confirm how much your home is worth so the bank can trust they are making a financially safe decision. 

Many people dream of moving to New York for a wide variety of reasons. There are plenty of restaurants, parks and outdoor courts with good LED lighting, and great nightlife options. However, in such a crowded state it can be difficult to find the right apartment for your needs. Below are some helpful tips that can make finding an apartment in New York a little easier.

Refine Your Search Results

The first thing to do when looking for a new apartment is to run a simple Google search. However, this isn’t always as easy as it might seem. To get results that actually apply to your needs, it is important that your search term is as specific as possible. Because of this, it can be helpful to have some kind of idea of where exactly you want to live in New York and how big of an apartment you need. As an example, if you are looking for a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan, search for east side manhattan 1 bedroom to get specific results.

Know Your Budget

No matter where you are renting, you need to know how much you can afford to pay in rent each month. It should also be noted that rent prices in New York, especially in the city, tend to be more expensive than in other areas of the United States. According to Renthop, between 2017-2019, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in New York was between $300-3250 a month. If you cannot afford this, then it might be best to live outside the city, even if you want to still live in New York state. Also, remember to keep in mind that you may need to pay additional bills, like Wi-Fi, utilities, parking costs, food, and more.

Before you make the move to New York, it’s best to do your research so you can find the right apartment for both your space needs and your budget. Use these two tips and you will have a much easier time finding the right apartment for you.