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Towson's police precinct gets new commander, as former head is promoted

10/30/2017

In a 30-minute ceremony attended by Baltimore County elected officials and more than 50 Baltimore County police officers, the former commander of Towson’s Precinct 6 was officially declared Maj. Jay Landsman, Jr. Friday.

After three and a half years as Towson’s top police officer, the promotion ends Landsman’s time at Precinct 6, which he has commanded as a captain since April 2014.

Read Baltimore Sun Article

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FALL AND WINTER ARE THE BEST TIMES TO RENT AN APARTMENT- AND HERE'S WHY

10/30/2017

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Looking for a new place to live and wondering when is the best time to rent an apartment? You’ve probably already asked yourself questions about how much you can afford in rent and where you want to live. But when peak moving season ends in September, another question may be top of mind: “Is the apartment I’m looking for out there at all?” If you’re worried about looking for an apartment during the off-season, all hope may not be lost. Although most people move in the Spring and Summer months, the colder months provide opportunity for renters who are looking to save some money. Many apartment hunters don’t realize that the off-season isn’t a rental wasteland; it can often be an ideal time for apartment hunting.

The off-season for apartment renters is between October and April. For renters, peak apartment hunting season usually takes place between May and September. This seasonal shift in renting makes sense: better weather and shifting school schedules can make the spring and summer months a more attractive time to move. Kids are out of school, and recent graduates are moving to new cities or back home after college. But that doesn’t mean you have to postpone your hunt for the place that’s right for you. In fact, moving during the off-season can be a smarter decision if you are trying to find an affordable apartment.

Fewer people moving means less competition. There may be less choices available to you, but you’ll find property managers are more eager to welcome new residents to their properties as the demand slows down.You are likely to be offered better lease terms, waived fees, and lower rents. Off-season deals may be so tempting that some renters wait for the market to cool before looking for a new place. Make sure to check your current lease to be sure you’re able to swing an off-season move before beginning the hunt. Be strategic if you are getting into a new lease. A 9-month or 14-month lease can position you to move at a more ideal time, as opposed to the traditional 12-month lease. If your lease is up in the summer, go month-to month until the Fall. This will allow you more time to look for a place you really like, land the best deal, while having flexibility in your current lease.

Why Fall and Winter are the best times to rent an apartment

To prepare yourself for off-season apartment hunting, make sure you’ve got a solid strategy in place. Now’s the time to identify your apartment priorities, including property type, square footage, location, amenities, and on what you may be willing to compromise. While you may find something within your price range, you might not have the upgraded appliances you wanted. On another hand, you might get the neighborhood and unit type you were looking for, but may have to compromise on price range or move-in date. Be open-minded during the process.

Remember to stay flexible where possible. Since off-season apartment inventory can be more limited, you may determine your original must-haves may be traded in for perks like quicker move-in time or lower rent.

And don’t forget negotiation will likely be a critical part of the process. If you are looking for an apartment during a spike in rental demand, you might not have the ability to ask the property to fix a cosmetic flaw, upgrade an appliance or write off utilities. During the off-season, it may be more possible to make these inquiries, as demand decreases. When negotiating a better deal on an apartment, be ready to present what makes you a great renter, such as paying on time or taking great care of previous apartment rentals. You may wish to consider committing to a longer lease to get what you want.

Approach the leasing agent with confidence and ask for just a bit more than you think you deserve while utilizing your strengths to do so. Support your points with research and documentation in order to get past potential sticking points. Remain confident, calm and optimistic. It’s all part of the off-season game!

You may run into some leasing situations in the off-season that you’d never see during peak months. Don’t be surprised by those who expect quick move-ins or longer/shorter leases than you expect.Residents of property managers may have broken their leases unexpectedly, leaving an apartment vacant suddenly, or the peak-season rush may have never materialized. Property managers may be more willing to work with prospective tenants to get them into vacant properties more quickly.

The great thing about the off-season: there’s less inventory. As a renter, you are therefore more in demand. Use that as a bargaining chip during negotiations with leasing agents, and you may end up with the apartment of your dreams!

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Fall Maintenance Checklist

10/24/2017

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The warm summer breeze fading to crisp fall weather means that it’s time to start prepping for the winter months ahead. Cold, wet weather can take its toll on a property, and the cost of repairs can mount quickly, unless you’re proactive.

Here are 9 helpful tips that should be on everyone’s fall maintenance checklist, from landlords and property managers to homeowners' associations.

Checklist for Fall Maintenance:

1. End-of-season yard maintenance. This includes trimming the hedges, fertilizing the grass, trimming unwieldy branches, and removing any weeds or roots that may impact siding, patios, and walkways- in addition to the usual leaf raking.

2. Pack up and store outdoor items. Clean, pack up, and store outdoor furniture, grills, and other items that could be damaged by late fall or winter weather. Take care of this early in the season before truly cold weather sets in.

3. Drain water lines. Now is a good time to turn off the water leading to outdoor spigots, especially if you live in a cold weather climate. Turning off sprinkler systems and draining outdoor hoses will prevent water from freezing and bursting the lines.

4. Clear debris from gutters. Be sure to clear all debris from rain gutters to prevent water from pooling, or even worse, causing roof damage. Changing fall colors are beautiful, but once they fall, they can lead to major headaches if they clog gutters

5. Inspect the roof for damage or other issues. Climbing up a ladder and getting onto the roof may be nerve-wracking, but it’s a worthwhile exercise to ensure that the roof is in good condition when you’re heading into the winter months. Replacing loose shingles in the fall is much easier than completing this task in the dead of winter, plus it will prevent costly damage from rain and snow down the road.

6. Seal windows and install storm doors. Seal drafty windows and doors with caulk, install new windows if necessary, and swap out screens with storm doors and windows. This will prevent heating costs from creeping up due to aging seams and leaky windows and doors which will allow cold air into your home. Taking this simple step will reduce increased heating costs throughout the winter.

7. Prepare your HVAC system and water heater for winter. Routine HVAC maintenance will prevent costly repairs and lack of heating during the season. Make sure that vents are clear and filters are in good working order. Consider draining the water heater to prevent sediment from building up in the tank. AC units should also be stored or covered up for the winter.

8. Insulate pipes. Check all pipes to see if any need to be insulated. Foam insulation may not be sufficient in particularly cold climates. You may want to consider wrapping pipes with heated electric cords that can be switched on during especially cold weather. This will prevent pipes from freezing, and potentially bursting.

9. Make fire safety a priority. House fires spike during the winter months, particularly as residents turn to space heaters to keep warm. Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and be sure that each unit has a working fire extinguisher. All vents of fireplaces and wood stoves should be clear and flues operational. Re-caulking the chimney cap to prevent obstructions will prevent potential fire issues, especially when small animals love burrowing and building nests in the chimney!

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Fall maintenance may be daunting, but a small amount of time and effort spent now to weatherize for the upcoming cold weather will prevent major issues and headaches down the road, and will ensure you and your tenants will have an enjoyable and safe fall season.

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Steep Increases in Rent Lead to Rapid Rise in Lease Renewals

10/18/2017

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Renewing a lease instead of moving to a new apartment can mean major savings for renters. Those who moved in the past year paid an average of $3,946 more in 2015 on rent than renters who stayed in the same unit for the past five or more years, according to a new Zillow analysis of 2015 rent data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey.

Market rate rents – those that are advertised for new renters – increased more than rents did for tenants who renewed leases. The annual market rate increase in rent from 2014 to 2015 was 5.6 percent, compared to a 3.6 percent increase for renewed leases.

Relatively flat wages in combination with skyrocketing rent have caused a rental affordability crisis. Research conducted by Zillow shows rents can save significant money by renewing leases rather than taking out a new one, when rents are rising rapidly. These savings can be used for a down payment, identified as the greatest barrier to owning a home, by current renters.

Renter households have increased across the country to about 43 million, about 4 million more than there were five years ago. This is due in part due to millennials reaching the age to move out but not having enough savings to buy a home, causing most of the growth of newly established households to be on the rental side and not the home ownership side. Young adults are also renting for much longer periods of time before making the decision to buy a home.

"Renters have a decision to make almost every year – do they stay in the same place, or should they look for a new unit?" said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell. "With the country in the middle of an affordability crisis, it's important for renters to understand how much they can save if they renew their lease instead of finding a new rental. Nationally, rental rates have slowed and the savings from renewing are not as significant for renters today. However, in some of the hottest rental markets, where rents are still rising aggressively, continually renewing a lease can mean saving thousands of dollars."

In Boston in particular, renters saved up to 86 percent by staying in the same rental for five or more years, which translated to $8,979 in annual rent payments. They also had the biggest difference between annual market rate rent increases – 10.5 percent – and rent increases for renewing – 4.3 percent.

On the flip side, renters in Las Vegas had the smallest difference between annual market rate rent increases and rent increases for renewing. Renters who have lived in the same unit for five or more years paid on average $842 less per year than renters who moved the year before.

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