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Thinking about purchasing a rental property in Tacoma, WA? Learn how looking at the rental statistics, the demographics, and having a local property manager as a partner can ensure you are looking at real numbers when deciding if the area fits your investment strategy.

Before investing in an area, you will want to look at the demographics, home prices vs rental prices, forecasted economic growth, and other important statistics to see if it fits with your investment strategy to help you reach your goals. Will the area give you the cash flow or appreciation you are looking for?

About Tacoma, WA

Tacoma, WA, one of “America’s Most Livable Cities”, is a port city on the Puget Sound and is known for being one of the most walkable cities in the US. From its beautiful waterfront to its numerous city parks that include the country’s second largest city park (700 acres), the area has seen a 12% population growth since 2010.

Tacoma offers more affordable investment opportunities than the Seattle area which can be expensive.  Cash flow opportunities are better in Tacoma because the prices of homes are not as high.  

Home prices in Tacoma

Median home price: $354,019

Home prices have gone up 9% in the past year.

Diverse types of renters

Commuters – Many choose to work in Seattle but live in Tacoma because it is more affordable.  

Students - Several universities are in the area including the University of Washington’s Tacoma campus, so there are a lot of student renters.  

Military - McChord Air Force Base is South of Tacoma, so there are military families renting in the area as well.  

Between the port, universities, military presence, and proximity to Seattle, Tacoma is a great area for investors looking for an area whose economy is being fueled by a diverse mix of industries.

Economy and industry in the area

Tacoma is the 7th busiest container-handling port and attracts businesses in multiple industries. It is known for its high-tech industry that includes Intel and Expedia which are headquartered there. Agricultural and forest products are also large contributors to the local economy.

• Unemployment rate: 5.3%
• Average income: $75,649

Tacoma has seen steady job growth over the last 10 years and expects 39.9% in future growth. With its strong industry presence and growth record, it is a great place to invest in rental property for less than a home in a Seattle would cost.

If you are considering investing in Tacoma, contact us at Mynd. We can help you determine if this market fits your strategy to reach your goals. If it doesn’t, we have offices in 19 markets and can help you find an area that does.

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How to accurately set rent for my Tacoma, WA rental property

The rental market is cyclical, so you want to make sure you set rent to match today’s prices. Just because you rented your property for a certain amount 3 years ago doesn’t mean it will rent for that amount today. The price could be higher or lower depending on what the market says is the going rate. To avoid extended vacancy time, you will want to accurately price the property, so you are getting the maximum return while also filling the vacancy quickly.

Tacoma rental statistics

• Median rent for a single-family home: $1750
• More single-family homes available since 2007
• 45% Renter Occupied
• 55% Owner Occupied

Steve Rozenberg, Head of Investor Education for Mynd, says he sees this as a good, steady mix of renter/owner occupied homes which makes it a great market to have a rental property. You should always be able to find a renter.

Knowing the trends and statistics for the area is key to your success as an investor.  Consider hiring a local Tacoma property manager like Mynd who can help you determine the correct rent rate.  Mynd has access to proprietary information so you are getting current, accurate numbers to base your decision on. If you want to know what you can expect to rent your home for, Mynd offers a FREE rental analysis.

Why should I hire a property management company in Tacoma, WA?

What does a Tacoma property management company do?

They take care of the day to day operations required when you own a rental property such as:

• Making sure the property complies with Property Code and the tenant is safe
• Lease signing and lease enforcement
• Maintenance issues and knowing who is responsible for paying for certain issues
• Collecting rent

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Do you have the time to manage the property? How valuable is your time to you? If you are managing it yourself, do you know that you are doing it correctly and following the laws?

Landlords must comply with ever-changing laws and regulations

Landlords must comply with Federal, state, and local laws that apply to rental properties. These laws are constantly changing, and as a landlord you are expected to keep up with them.  If you must evict a tenant, there may be new laws in place that limit how you can do that. If managing property isn’t your full-time job, you are more likely not up to speed on current laws such as:

• 120 day notice to purchase property if you intend to change the use of the property
• 60 day notice of no cause termination of a resident
• 60 day notice of rent increase
• Several tenant’s rights laws. For example, tenants can complain to the city of Tacoma about code enforcement violations.

There are a lot of laws that have to do with tenant’s rights, and you must be sure you comply. If you aren’t up on the laws, you may find yourself getting in trouble which can cost you $1000s in fines and court costs.

Consider hiring a Tacoma property manager

Our Tacoma property managers can help you make smart decisions and ensure your property is following the laws. Mynd has in-house counsel to help ensure your property is complying with the laws.  Contact us today at Mynd about property management in Tacoma or finding your next investment property in one of the19 markets we serve.

As an investor, you want to know that investing in a rental property in Everett, WA aligns with your strategy and helps you achieve your goals. Identifying the right data and numbers to calculate your return is an important step in making an informed, smart decision.  Having a local partner like a property manager makes this process easier.

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What kind of return do you want from your investment property?

Are you looking for monthly cash flow? Is the property you are looking at going to give you what you need to at least cover your expenses?  Are you only interested in appreciation or debt paydown?  Your strategy must be defined before you start looking for a property.  

About Everett, WA

Everette is a coastal city on the shores of Port Gardner Bay and is located 25 miles north of Seattle. It attracts families with its world class schools, over 30 city parks, and numerous outdoor sports, activities, and art experiences.

Everett population and home prices

• Population: 111,000
• Average age: 33
• Median income: $57,999
• Median home value: $362,000

The median income for the area is about average for the US, but the home prices are significantly higher than average. You might be able to make enough cash flow to cover your expenses, but you are more likely looking at making your money in appreciation.

Many of the homes in the area were built between 1970-2000.  Being older properties, they may require some maintenance or updates to attract a quality tenant and meet Property Code.

Industry and the Economy

• Unemployment rate: 5.8%
• Cost of living index: 116.2  (US average is 100)

Boeing’s 747, 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner airplanes are constructed in the world’s largest building located in Everett, and they offer a popular tour of the facility. Everett’s proximity to Seattle is an advantage because it is going to be fed by the strong industry nearby.

Best neighborhoods in Everett

• Darlington
• Edgewater
• Pinehurst
• Riverside
• Bayside
• South Forest Park

When you buy a property in one of the more popular areas, you are probably going to see more appreciation. With an average age of 33, residents are likely families interested in the quality schools in the area.  They are also more likely looking homes with multiple bedrooms for their growing families.

Talk to an Everett, WA property manager about the local market and what trends they are seeing. They can answer questions like:

• Is the city growing?
• Are rents going up or down?
• What is the average eviction rate?
• What are the average days on market?
• What is the average vacancy?
• What type of homes are rented quickly? What are most people looking for?
• Are there certain features people are looking for in a home?

These are the questions you want answered before purchasing a property, so you have the proper expectations. Contact us at Mynd for more information on the Everett area. They can tell you what types of properties are renting quickly, what renters are looking for, and more.

If Everett doesn’t fit your strategy, we can help you find a market that does. Mynd has offices in over 19 markets. Our local property managers can use Mynd’s proprietary data to help find you properties that match your strategy, whether you want to invest locally or diversify across several markets.

How to Accurately Set Rent for my Everett, WA Rental Property‍ 

It is important to know what the market is dictating when setting rent for your Everett rental property. The goal is to get the right amount of rent while leasing it quickly, so pricing it right is critical.

Leasing has seasons

You might not be able to get the same amount of rent if you lease your property in the Winter (off season) vs the Spring/Summer months (peak season).

The economy can affect rent

If the industries in the area are in a downturn or upturn, that can influence the rent you can expect to receive.

Everett rental statistics

• 42,000 housing units
• 37% Owner Occupied
• 67% Renter Occupied
• 44% single family homes 36% Apartments
• Median rent: 1,990
• 48% of homes were built between 1970-1999

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The rent amount will vary depending on the property type, square footage and number of bedrooms.  When comparing rents, look at properties that are the same as yours. Being that many of the homes are older, you may find you can get a little more money in rent by doing some updates to the property.

Mynd’s Everett Property Management company offers a FREE rental analysis so you can see what your property can expect to rent for.

Why Should I Hire a Property Management Company in Everett, WA 

When you own a rental property there are a lot of day to day operations to take care or not to mention all the ever-changing laws you must follow.  Should you continue to do this yourself or does it make sense to hire an Everett property management company?

Treat your investment like a business.

If you own multiple rental properties or plan to in the future, the tasks required increasingly take up more of your time.  Keeping up with all the laws you must comply with can become a heavy burden.  Maybe you got into investing because you wanted a safe, secure retirement investment or passive income, but you did not realize the amount of time that was involved in managing it yourself.  You thought you were gaining free time and ended up having a second job.

It is entirely possible that you will not end up where you hoped because you may not be doing something right. Not complying with a law could result in your ending up in court owing $1,000s in fines.  

Getting that great deal when you buy the property is only the first step in the process that leads to your success. Steve Rozenberg, Head of Investor Education for Mynd, thinks it is important to have a team to help you maximize your return.

What does an Everett property management company do?

They take care of the day to day operations required when you own a rental property such as:

• Get a property rent ready
• Market the property
• Screen applications
• Lease signing and enforcement
• Maintenance - preventative and emergency repair
• Collect rent
• Eviction procedures if ever necessary
• Lease renewals

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They know the laws and regulations

You must follow Federal, state, and local Property Code that dictate how a property must be maintained. When it comes to fixing things in the property, who is responsible for them? The tenant or the landlord?  There are things you can’t ask on an application or during the screening process.

Landlords must comply with Federal, state, and local laws that apply to rental properties. These laws are constantly changing, and as a landlord you are expected to keep up with them.  If you have to evict a tenant, there may be new laws in place that limit if or how you can do that.

Maintenance issues

Mold can be a problem in the Everett area due to the amount of rain it gets. You will need to make sure the roof, ventilation, and plumbing is in good shape to prevent mold.  There are laws that protect the tenant to ensure they have a safe home to live in. Property managers know what you have to do to comply with any laws in regards to Property Codes.

If you don’t have the time or desire to keep up with the laws and regulations, it might be a smart decision to hire a knowledgeable property manager.  Mynd has local property managers that know the laws to ensure you are following them as well as in house legal counsel.

A good property manager helps you make smart decisions and ensures your property is following the laws. Contact us today at Mynd about property management in Everett or for help in finding your next investment property in one of the 19 markets we serve.

On August 31, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed AB 3088 into law, providing state-wide protections for tenants and landlords in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The safeguards extended to tenants worrying about evictions and to landlords concerned about foreclosures. 

Moratorium Eviction Extended

AB 3088 limits a landlord’s ability to evict a tenant for non-payment of rent. To make use of this protection, the tenant must submit a declaration signed under oath of financial hardship due to the financial burden experienced between March 4 – August 31. A valid declaration will prevent evictions from occurring before February 1, 2021. 

For hardship stemming from the coronavirus pandemic between September 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021, tenants are expected to pay 25% of expected rent to avoid eviction by January 31, 2021. 

Do Tenants Pay Rent?

The expectation of rent has not been eliminated. Instead, unpaid rent cannot be the reason for eviction for tenants that have experienced financial hardship and submitted a valid declaration. Tenants will still be responsible for paying back rent to landlords, who can begin to recover their debts through a civil small claims lawsuit on March 1, 2021. 

The jurisdiction of small claims courts will be temporarily expanded to allow landlords to recover unpaid rents. 

Unpaid rent isn't waived under AB 3088. Instead, it's converted into consumer debt collected in small claims court as early as March 1, 2021. If a tenant cannot meet the 25% rent minimum, AB 3088 would only provide eviction protection until February 1, 2021. If a landlord attempts to use extrajudicial self-help, such as shutting off utilities, threats, or coercion, to generate an eviction, then the landlord may face penalties as high as $1,000 to $2,500. 

California’s COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act Tenant Protections

The following legal and financial protections will be extended to tenants: 

• The notice period for nonpayment of rent will increase from three days to 15 court days so that tenants have more time to respond to the landlord's notice to pay rent or leave. 
• Hardship declaration forms must be provided with any eviction notices for a failure to pay rent. 
• The hardship declaration forms provided by landlords must be provided in the language in which the rental agreement was negotiated. 
• Landlords are also required to provide tenants with a disclosure explaining their rights under AB 3088. 
• Expands the "just cause" protections described in AB 1482 to all tenancies, including tenancies less than one year, affordable housing, new construction, and single-family homes.  
• Local ordinances that were in effect as of August 19, 2020, will remain in effect until their expiration, while future ordinances cannot undermine AB 3088. 

AB 3088's protections are extended to most tenants if they sign a declaration that they've been financially impacted due to the pandemic. What constitutes "COVID-19-related financial distress" includes:

• Increased expenses due to the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Increased childcare or eldercare responsibilities directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Loss of Income caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Higher-income tenants (those whose household income is over $100,000 or with over 130% of median household income) must provide documented proof of financial loss related to COVID-19.

California’s COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act Eviction Notices

When a landlord delivers an eviction notice for failure to pay rent, a financial distress form must be provided. The tenant has 15 days to sign and return the financial distress form. The economic distress form does not cover months to come, so that the process may be repeated on a month to month basis. The declaration is signed under "penalty of perjury,” so if a tenant provides knowingly false information, they can be charged with perjury. 

Lawful eviction that has nothing to do with unpaid rent caused by the coronavirus pandemic can move forward as early as September 2, 2020.  That means landlords will be able to pursue:

• Eviction against nonresidential tenants
• Evictions for lease defaults stemming from reasons other than nonpayment of rent.
• Evictions for missed rent payments before March 2020 
• Evictions for nonpayment of rent unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Evictions against tenants willfully damaging property.
• Evictions against tenants engaged in criminal activity. 
• Evictions against tenants who violate the lease or rental agreement in other ways.

Evictions for unpaid rent will resume on October 5, 2020, for tenants that do not submit a financial distress declaration.

Evictions for reasons other than nonpayment of rent cannot be performed as retaliation against nonpayment of rent due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Individual cities may have their own eviction moratoriums, and tenant and landlord protections that may be more robust than that provided by AB 3088. For this reason, it's critical to consult both the stipulations outlined by AB 3088 and the stipulations, if any, of one's local jurisdiction. 

If a locality passed a new moratorium after August 19, 2020, then it cannot take effect until February 1, 2021. Ordinances that expire before February 1, 2021, cannot be extended until February 1, 2021. Finally, if a local jurisdiction establishes its repayment period, it must begin on or before March 1, 2021.

Given the complicated nature of the law, it's advised that tenants contact an attorney if a landlord provides notice of eviction. There are many free legal aid foundations to reach out to. The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, for example, offers free legal services to over 100,000 residents of the greater Los Angeles area. 

California’s COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act Landlord Protections

AB 3088 does not protect landlords from foreclosures, nor does it require banks to provide forbearance. Instead, mortgage servicers must contact borrowers before pursuing foreclosure proceedings with forbearance options. 

Dual tracking, when a provider initiates foreclosure proceedings while considering loan modifications with the borrower, is also forbidden. 

If forbearance is not an option for a small landlord, then the mortgage servicer must provide a written explanation. These protections extend to January 1, 2023.

Bottom Line on AB 3088

Due to AB 3088, California will keep a dramatic increase in residential evictions at bay through the early part of 2021. Although, further action by the federal government is required to ward off the true extent of the pandemic's effects. 

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If you have rental properties, your property manager should be able to support you in navigating the changing regulations around tenant protections. To learn more about Mynd Management's services, contact getstarted@mynd.co