OUR REAL ESTATE BLOG
Stay Up to Date with our Tips, Advice, and Best PracticesBlog
As leaders in the local property management market, we believe it’s our responsibility to provide advice and information to anyone who has an interest in Oakland real estate. Whether you’re an investor, a landlord, or someone who has been thinking about owning rental property, our blog is a place you can come to have your most common questions answered.
We have a lot of experience in the Oakland real estate market at California Pacific Realty. We can help you invest in a home, manage a home, and sell a home. Whatever you need help understanding, you can find a video or a blog that gives you some new ideas and answers some old questions.
Best Tenant Retention Strategies – Oakland Property Management Advice
What efforts are you making to retain your best Oakland tenants? If you’re not doing anything strategic and just hoping for the best, you may be missing a huge opportunity to increase what you earn. Retaining good tenants needs to be part of your investment plan....
Qualities to Look For In an Oakland Property Manager
What qualities make an ideal Oakland property manager? Surely you need someone who is smart and experienced. You need a professional who is detail-oriented, patient, and thorough. You need someone who knows the local rental market. There are a lot of qualities that...
Advertising Your Oakland Rental Property: What to Know
What kind of advertising speaks to you? If you’re like most consumers, you respond to advertising that provides an emotional spark. Something motivates you to look closer at a product or service, even if you’re not ready to make a purchase. Good advertising works...
How to Reduce the Stress of Buying your First Berkeley Investment Property
Buying your first Berkeley investment property can be pretty exciting, especially if you’re planning to grow a successful and profitable investment portfolio. It can be stressful, however. Even experienced real estate investors get anxious when it’s time to find the...
How to Prepare Your Berkeley Rental for a New Tenant
Preparing your Berkeley rental property for a new tenant can take just a few days or more than a month. It depends on the condition your prior tenant left the property in when they vacated.
Apartment Inspections: How Often Can You Inspect an Oakland Rental?
The Tenant Protection Ordinance in Oakland prohibits landlords from substantially and directly interfering with a tenant’s right to quiet use and enjoyment of their apartment. You cannot enter a tenant’s home without proper notice and a lawful purpose.
How Routine Oakland Property Maintenance Minimizes Repair Costs
Prioritizing routine repairs at your Oakland rental property will minimize the emergency repairs you have to make. Preventative and proactive maintenance will always cost less than an emergency response. You’ll pay your vendors less, you’ll reduce the inconvenience imposed on your tenants, and you’ll protect the condition of your investment. Deteriorating rental homes rarely earn top dollar, and they often have high turnover and vacancy rates.
Safety Precautions Oakland Landlords Can Take During the Pandemic
The pandemic is far from over, but optimists all over the country will agree that things are looking up. Vaccines are in distribution, cases in many areas are slowing, and businesses are doing their best to get back to normal.
How to Avoid Long Term Vacancies | Oakland Property Management Tips
Avoiding a long term vacancy in Oakland is important to the financial stability of your entire real estate portfolio. Vacancies are expensive. You don’t have any rent coming in, and you have to spend money out of pocket to pay for things like utilities and...
The Benefits of Owning Multiple Oakland Rental Properties
Real estate investors have a lot of options when they decide to buy a rental property in Oakland. The market has single-family homes in established neighborhoods, new construction multi-family buildings with a lot of units, and everything in between. We always...
Should you Rent or Sell Your Vacant Oakland Home?
If you’re trying to decide whether it’s better to sell or rent your vacant Oakland property, we understand the indecision. A lot of our clients are moving out of state for work or personal reasons, following new passions, or moving from the home they currently live in...
How Does the New Mandatory Section 8 Bill Affect Your Oakland Home?
A number of new laws have gone into effect in 2020, and while the rent control and just cause eviction laws are getting most of the attention, there’s also a Section 8 bill that affects almost every rental property owner in Oakland and throughout California. If...
Rental Prices – How to Determine Rental Price in Berkeley, CA
The rental value of your Berkeley investment property depends on a few key factors, including the strength of the current rental market, the location and size of your property, and its condition. Some of these things you can control, but most of them you...
Renters Insurance Companies and Policies in the Bay Area
When you’re renting out a home in the Bay area, you want to make sure all of your insurance protections are in place. The coverage you need depends on the properties you own and the assets you’re trying to protect.
Rental Prices – How to Determine Rental Price in the Bay Area
Rental prices in the Bay area and throughout California have been getting a lot of attention recently, particularly because of the new rent control laws that went into effect this year.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Bay Area Property Management Company
Deciding to work with a professional property management company in the Bay area is a great way to earn more and spend less on your investment property. A good management company can ensure your leasing process results in the placement of a great tenant. Then, you won’t have to worry about the day-to-day headaches involved in renting out property, such as collecting rent, responding to maintenance, and enforcing the lease agreement.
How to Get the Best ROI – Bay Area Property Management
Most investors buy and rent out property with the intention of making money. Hopefully, that’s why you’re in the Bay area real estate market.
5 Benefits of Property Management Technology in Oakland, CA
Available technology in the property management industry has really surged ahead in the last few years. At California Pacific Realty, we invest in the best property management software and the most innovative systems in order to manage your rental homes more effectively and efficiently. Technology saves us time and it saves you money.
What Happens If My Oakland Tenant Breaks Their Lease?
When you place a tenant in your rental property, you expect that tenant to pay rent on time, take care of your property, and follow the terms of your lease agreement.
How Technology has Transformed & Improved the Traditional Open House Process in Oakland
Showing your vacant rental property to tenants is an important part of the rental property marketing process, and a critical component to leasing your home. Today, we are taking some time to talk about showings and how you can minimize the risk of losing a prospect. At California Pacific Realty, we’re using an electronic smart box lock system, and we’ve found a lot of success with this program.
Why You Should Be Using zInspector for Your Oakland Rental Inspections
Moving residents in and out of properties is an important but time-consuming process that all landlords and property managers must complete. At California Pacific Realty, we serve the entire Bay area from our Oakland base, and we have been using a valuable program that makes move-in and move-out inspections a lot easier.
Oakland Property Management: Tenant Damages my Rental Property – What Next?
Tenant damage is something that most landlords fear, but there are a few steps you can take to minimize the risk and ensure your property remains in good condition before, throughout, and after a tenancy. Tenant-Caused Damage: Who Pays? Before you move a tenant into...
Oakland Rent Control: How it Works & What to Expect
Investors and property owners often ask me what I think about rent control, and where I see the future of rent control going. Today, I have some answers. Rent Control and Bay Area Investment Properties Many property managers and investors complain about rent control...
Tenant Screening: How to Find Good Tenants in Oakland
Knowing how to find tenants is important, because the tenant you place will determine what kind of experience you have as a landlord. A good tenant is someone who pays rent on time, takes care of your property, and follows the terms of your lease. A bad tenant can...
The Rules Regarding a Landlord’s Right of Entry in Oakland
A topic that a lot of property owners have asked me about is the landlord right of entry. You do have the right to enter a tenant-occupied property, but it has to be done in the proper way. Landlord’s Right to Enter Property We recommend that you give your tenants a...
Why Every Oakland Property Manager Should Consider Section 8
You may not want to be a Section 8 landlord, but today we’re talking about why, as a property owner, you may want to consider it. What is Section 8? Section 8 is a housing program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It provides vouchers to...
Oakland Property Management Advice: Should I Buy a Home Warranty?
A lot of property owners ask me: should I buy a home warranty? Today, I’m sharing what I think about home warranties and why they may or may not be cost effective for your rental property. Pros and Cons of Home Warranty: Single Family Homes A home warranty is a great...
How Long Does the Renting Process Take? Oakland Property Management
People often ask us how long it will take to rent out their properties. This is a good question, and the right answer is typically between two and three weeks. Today, we’re telling you a little about our marketing and leasing process. How Long Does the Renting Process...
What Happens During a Rental Property Inspection in Oakland?
Conducting a regular rental property inspection is important to every landlord. As the property owner, you are liable for anything that happens at your property. It’s a good idea to inspect annually to make sure everything is in order. Put together an inspection...
Security Deposits 101: Explained by an Oakland Property Manager
Security deposit deductions are sometimes a source of conflict between tenants and landlords. It’s important that you understand what they are, what you can use them for, and how you are required to return them. What is a Security Deposit? A security deposit is an...
The Best Way to Deal with a Tenant Not Paying Rent in Oakland
When a tenant doesn’t pay rent, you need to take some specific steps to collect the late rent and ensure this does not become a pattern. Today, we’re talking about what to do with a delinquent tenant who doesn’t pay on time or doesn’t pay at all. Tenant Doesn’t Pay...
Why Choose California Pacific Realty – Oakland Property Management
California Pacific Realty was started 10 years ago with a simple motto. We want to do the right thing for the property owners and the tenants we work with. We service residential properties from San Francisco to San Jose, and anything in between. Why choose us to be...
Service Animals – What Owners Can and Cannot do in Oakland
A lot of property owners are apprehensive about allowing pets into their rental property. They worry about the potential damage that pets can do, and as a landlord, you’re permitted to have a no pet policy. However, you need to understand that service animals are...
What is the Property Maintenance Process in Oakland?
Rental property repairs will be required at some point in the investment process, even if your home is in great condition. Today, we’re talking a little bit about our maintenance process and how we provide rental property maintenance services. Oakland Property...
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Oakland Office
1901 Harrison Street Suite 1100, Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 757-1265
infocalpacrealty@gmail.com
CaBRE# 01467744
San Ramon Office
Bishop Ranch 3, 2603 Camino Ramon, Suite 200,
San Ramon, CA, 94583
(510) 973-4847
CaBRE# 01467744
Berkeley Office
2901 College Ave, Suite 24, Berkeley, CA 94705
(510) 892-4785
CaBRE# 01467744
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm