Campbell, Calif. - Campbell property manager Jerry Garrity of First Statewide Realty says studies show that good real estate management practices not only pay for themselves, but typically return attractive dividends to property owners.

Garrity, who is an expert in Campbell property management and has been in business for 21 years in the Silicon Valley, says one of the biggest mistakes new investors make is trying to manage their properties themselves.

"The sheer breadth and depth of experience we have in managing income producing properties efficiently for our clients means we know where to save money so our clients can keep a positive cash flow."

Garrity says that 80% of investors who insist on managing their properties themselves make serious mistakes that cost them money month after month. Whether it's inexperienced tenant screening practices or unproductive rent collection techniques, he says that the average investor who tries to save money by eliminating management services ends up costing more money in the long term.

"We have been doing this so long that we have processes for every aspect of managing a rental property that serve to keep the property occupied and the rent paid on time."

Garrity says that his Silicon Valley property management services have saved investors tens of thousands of dollars over the years and saved more than one from foreclosure by keeping the cash flow in the black.

"We have helped our clients weather five recessions by keeping costs low, properties occupied, and rents paid on time. That's precisely why we have clients who have been with us for two decades."

About First Statewide Realty

First Statewide Realty is a professional company specializing in property management in San Jose, and manages quality single family homes, condominiums, town houses and other investment property in the greater San Jose metropolitan area. The Cupertino property management firm has been in business for over 21 years, and is a member of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, Tri-County Apartment Association and National Association of Residential Property Managers.

Contact:

Jerry Garrity
First Statewide Realty
20045 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Suite 2-D
Cupertino, CA 95014
Tel: 408-253-1000
Lic#: 01036982

Email: investments@firststatewiderealty.com
http://www.firststatewiderealty.com

Colorado Springs, CO - Colorado Springs REALTOR® Nicole Lee with the influential Ashford Realty Group in Colorado Springs says that would-be home buyers are getting a gift of historically low interest rates this Christmas season.

Lee says that although the Treasury Department attempts to keep the economy moving with easy lending, it has created an historic opportunity for home buyers to get low payments on already low-priced Colorado Springs real estate. However, time appears to be running out as the 30 year treasury bond yield, which largely determines prevailing mortgage rates, has been rising aggressively in recent weeks.

"Despite efforts at Quantitative Easing by the Federal Reserve, we are definitely seeing the beginning of a weakening bond market, which translates to increased home loan interest rates for home buyers. That means buyers who have been on the fence should act quickly to lock in today's rates and close escrow on the home of their choice."

She says that Colorado Springs mortgage rates play a large role in determining how much home a buyer can qualify for.

"The rule of thumb is that for every percent in interest rate, you can qualify for 10% less house. Anyone who has been watching inventory of Colorado Springs homes for sale can tell you that a 10% price difference gets a significantly different house."

In addition to buying power, Lee says that mortgage rates can dramatically affect supply and demand of homes on the market. She says that when when rates go down, buyers spring into action in order to take advantage of the low rates.

"When rates go up, buyers tend to act quickly to purchase the home they've been wanting before they get priced out of the market by interest rates."

With the historically low real estate prices due to the number of bank owned homes and Colorado Springs foreclosures on the market, along with very low interest rates, Lee is encouraging buyers who are considering buying a home to do so immediately.

"We just don't know how long this combination of low prices and interest rates will last, but Colorado Springs homes are an exception value because of it, in our opinion."

For more information, please contact:

Nicole Lee
Ashford Realty Group
4760 Flintridge Dr, Ste 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: (719) 314-6057
Fax: (888) 631-0062
http://www.coloradospringshomesource.com/
http://www.coloradospringspropertymanagement.net/
http://www.coloradospringsrentals.org/

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Nicole Lee of Ashford Realty Group, part of the Masters Real Estate Group and top performing Colorado Springs real estate agent, says that in the age of online real estate search, e-mail property alerts have become instrumental in helping buyers keep track of changing market conditions.

With markets in a constant state of change, email alerts work by enabling buyers to receive emails alerting them to new properties on the market in a particular neighborhood or price range. The technology allows real estate investors and other potential buyers to keep tabs on price changes and watch trends in the local real estate market.

Lee says that the information era, with its proliferation of real estate data on every imaginable website, has caused many buyers to look for ways to cut through the noise and look for simple ways to save money and time.

"A couple can spend hours searching real estate websites browsing MLS listings and Colorado Springs foreclosures, but sometimes the perfect match for their family won't be listed until next week. Our email property alert solves that problem."

She says that automatic email home price alerts essentially leverage a buyer's time spent searching for real estate deals online so their small amount of time spent searching can continue to pay off for days, weeks, and months to come. Buyers on her site can refine their search criteria as their interests change, keeping the email alerts relevant.

"Our typical website visitor is very serious about getting a good deal and closing a transaction, whether it's for a home for his family, or an investment property to rent out."

Lee has noticed that her most serious buyers get the best Colorado Springs real estate bargains because they've been watching the market and know a good bargain when they see it. The deals simply show up in her clients' email inboxes.

She also says that her site, www.ColoradoSpringsHomeSource.com, helps buyers avoid the common problem of getting stale data. Since her site pulls real estate listings directly from the MLS's IDX database, buyers don’t have to worry about wasting valuable time chasing down information on listings that are no longer on the market.

"Our website's advanced email property alert system saves a lot of time for anyone serious about investing in Colorado Springs homes."

About Ashford Real Estate Group

Nicole Lee of Ashford Real Estate Group is a part of the Masters Group and provides a variety of real estate services to Colorado Springs and surrounding military installations such as the Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, Shriever Air Force Base, and Cheyenne Mountain Air Station.

Nicole Lee's passion is finding the right home for military personnel, investors, and other residents looking for Colorado Springs properties for sale or rent, and managing investment properties efficiently for local and out of town investors. She also specializes in helping renters learn how to become first time homebuyers and enjoy the benefits of home ownership.

Nicole Lee can be contacted at:

Ashford Realty Group
4760 Flintridge Dr, Ste 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: (719) 314-6057
Fax: (888) 631-0062

http://www.coloradospringshomesource.com/
http://www.coloradospringspropertymanagement.net/
http://www.coloradospringsrentals.org/

Colorado Springs, CO. - Nicole Lee with the Ashford Real Estate Group, a leading Colorado Springs property management company, says the recession has significantly lessened the margin of error for real estate investors who are feeling squeezed by the economy and can no longer afford inefficient cost controls and inexperienced management of tenants and vacancies.

She says that property managers who don't sufficiently screen tenants for ability to pay the rent and likelihood of paying it on time, and who don't take proactive steps to reduce or eliminate vacancies, can end up permanently destroying their clients' real estate assets. In some cases, they may risk putting their clients' properties into foreclosure.

In one recent case, Lee says that a builder with nine income properties faced catastrophic loss of all assets in foreclosure proceedings because six of the nine tenants stopped paying the rent. According to Lee, this is happening more frequently to inexperienced property managers as the job market continues to underperform, and more renters start getting behind on their rent. She says that her clients haven't suffered that fate because of her quick-response strategy for late payments.

"We protect our clients going into the lease agreement, first of all, by being extremely picky about the tenants we allow into the property. There are plenty of good tenants out there if you know where to look, and we definitely know where to look."

She says that once the lease is signed with a reliable tenant, it's still more important than ever to be diligent in managing every aspect of a property's investment potential. If and when a late payment occurs, her property management company has quick reflex policies to deal with it and keep a small problem from becoming a large one.

"Many Colorado Springs real estate managers don't realize the dramatic impact they have on the bottom lines of their clients' balance sheets each year. We take our clients' assets very seriously, because we want our property owners to stay with us for decades."

Lee says that too many homes are going back to the bank these days, but that foreclosures should present opportunities for investors, not problems.

"By being proactive in our real estate management services, we're generally able to keep our Colorado Springs rentals consistently in a state of positive cash flow. That's why our clients stick with us through all types of markets - they know we're out to fiercely protect their investment."

About Ashford Real Estate Group

Nicole Lee of Ashford Real Estate Group is a part of the Masters Group and provides a variety of real estate services to Colorado Springs and surrounding military installations such as the Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, Shriever Air Force Base, and Cheyenne Mountain Air Station.

Nicole Lee's passion is finding the right place to live for military personnel and other residents looking for Colorado Springs homes for sale or rent, and managing investment properties efficiently for local and out of town investors. She also specializes in helping renters learn how to become first time homebuyers and enjoy the benefits of home ownership.

Nicole Lee can be contacted at:

Ashford Real Estate Group
4760 Flintridge Dr, Ste 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: (719) 314-6057
Fax: (888) 631-0062

http://www.coloradospringshomesource.com/
http://www.coloradospringspropertymanagement.net/
http://www.coloradospringsrentals.org/

Hear Nicole Lee discuss real estate management:
http://www.coloradospringspropertymanagement.net/files/nicole-lee-property-management.mp3

San Jose, Calif. - First Statewide Realty, a San Jose property management firm whose focus is serving San Jose, Cupertino, and other Silicon Valley real estate investors, consults with clients to help them retain positive cash flow on their rental properties through the recession.

Many property owners in the Silicon Valley have lost their real estate investments to foreclosure when renters in one or more of their properties moves out or stops paying rent. Jerry Garrity, Owner of First Statewide Realty, says that losing investment properties to the bank can often be avoided through more diligent property management.

He says the true expertise of a property manager shows most during a recession, because that's when it's most important to pinch pennies and squeeze as much cash flow out of an investment property as possible.

"Many San Jose property management companies were formed during good times, and they haven't experienced an extended down market. What that means is that the investor is probably not getting the tight control over costs, pre-vacancy planning, vacancy avoidance, and other services that an experienced PM can provide."

Garrity, whose investment real estate management business of over 21 years has weathered many different market conditions, says that his previous experience with down markets has played a large role in his clients' positive cash flow.

"We pride ourselves on a very high-quality tenant screening process that experience has show gives us better tenants for our clients properties than other firms. As a result, our tenants stay longer, take care of the property better, and make their payments in a more timely manner."

A property manger's attention to detail during a recession becomes even more important than in other markets, because mistakes and inadequate oversight of a property can have serious consequences for the owner.

"We've seen properties go into foreclosure that could likely have been avoided with better property management oversight. So much of this business involves keeping a tight control on costs and being able to keep properties occupied with good tenants."

He says that when property managers are lax in controlling costs, collecting rent, and keeping a property occupied and in good condition, the owner risks losing the investment to the bank when times get tough.

"Our job is to manage our clients' properties to help them weather the uncertain financial storms."

About First Statewide Realty

First Statewide Realty is a professional San Jose property management company specializing in quality single family homes, condominiums, town houses and other investment property in the greater San Jose metropolitan area. The Cupertino property management firm has been in business for over 21 years, and is a member of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, Tri-County Apartment Association and National Association of Residential Property Managers.

Contact:

Jerry Garrity

First Statewide Realty
20045 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Suite 2-D
Cupertino, CA 95014
Tel: 408-253-1000
Lic#: 01036982

Email: investments@firststatewiderealty.com
http://www.firststatewiderealty.com

Colorado Springs, CO - Colorado Springs real estate agent Nicole Lee of the Ashford Real Estate Group, a part of the Masters Group, offers her congratulations to Air Force Academy graduates in advance of commencement ceremonies on May 26, 2010.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be speaking at the commencement, which will take place in Falcon Stadium on the Air Force Academy campus at 10:00 am.

Lee, whose company provides real estate services to military personnel such as home purchases, property management, and help finding suitable Colorado Springs rentals, says that the Ashford Group is immensely proud of the graduates who have worked so hard to earn such a prestigious honor.

"Living in Colorado Springs gives me a big appreciation for the character of the military men and women who serve our country. We're very proud of the graduates from the Air Force Academy, because we know how difficult it is to get into the program, much less complete it."

Lee says that she's helped many graduates in past years to find homes for their families in the community and celebrate a new phase of their lives.

"Having spent many hours with military families showing homes in all sorts of Colorado Springs neighborhoods, I get excited about helping them fulfill another big part of their dream."

She says that graduation is the end of an era, but getting settled into a home, whether it's a Fountain home for sale or a Colorado Springs rental, is another big accomplishment to be proud of.

"We can't help them graduate, but we certainly can help them establish a household after graduation. We consider that to be our small contribution to their life and our way of thanking them for their service."

Lee says that for graduates who already own a home and will be transferred out of town after graduation, herColorado Springs property management services can help them turn their current home into a long term investment in their future.

"We are pretty creative about finding ways for owners to keep properties and turn them into a source of income. We work hard to keep maintenance costs low and screen prospective renters well to make sure their homes are well taken care of."

Directions to Falcon Stadium from the Airport

The directions from the Colorado Springs airport to Falcon Stadium, where the 2010 Air Force Academy commencement ceremony will be held, have been posted to the Ashford Real Estate Group's blog:

http://www.coloradospringshomesource.com/blog/

About Ashford Real Estate Group

Nicole Lee of Ashford Real Estate Group is a part of the Masters Group and provides a variety of real estate services to Colorado Springs and surrounding military installations such as the Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, Shriever Air Force Base, and Cheyenne Mountain Air Station.

Nicole Lee's passion is finding the right place to live for military personnel and other residents looking for Colorado Springs homes for sale or rent, and managing investment properties efficiently for local and out of town investors. She also specializes in helping renters learn how to become first time homebuyers and enjoy the benefits of home ownership.

Nicole Lee can be contacted at:

Ashford Realty Group
4760 Flintridge Dr, Ste 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: (719) 314-6057
Fax: (888) 631-0062

http://www.coloradospringshomesource.com/
http://www.coloradospringspropertymanagement.net/
http://www.coloradospringsrentals.org/

Colorado Springs, CO - Professional real estate property manager Nicole Lee of the Ashford Realty Group, a company specializing in Colorado Springs property management, says that finding quality tenants is one of the keys to keeping low vacancy rates for her real estate investor clients. She says that while many property managers shortcut the tenant screening process to save time, it invariably ends up costing both the manager and the owner more time and money down the road.

"We would much rather put the hard work into finding good tenants who are interested in taking good care of our properties up front than have to do two or three times the work in the long run by having to fill more vacancies."

Lee says that there is a culture of cost-cutting among many management firms because most are only interested in the sales side of their business. That leaves the necessary task of screening tenants and keeping a property occupied underprioritized and understaffed.

"We take the long view with our business. We know that investors who place their properties with us do so to keep their investment property producing positive cash flow. That is impossible to do when you have a high vacancy rate due to insufficient tenant screening."

She says her tenants have been known to go above and beyond the call of duty to leave a property in better condition than they found it.

David Tanaka, President of Rocksolidpower Solutions, says that the Ashford Group has saved him thousands of dollars on his four Colorado Springs investment properties, in part through excellent tenant screening.

"Ashford Realty Group is not only an expert in their field but they have an expert staff and vendors who can service our Colorado Springs rentals at the most efficient cost. I have been a property owner for over 20 years and I know how hard it is to find a fantastic property manager."

While other Colorado Springs property management firms focus on simply adding more properties under management to their rolls, Lee says she works hard to cultivate good relationships with experienced investors who will become lifelong real estate clients.

"Building a relationship based on trust with our investors and renters alike is an essential part of our job description. We've found that produces rewarding business relationships in the long term."

For more information, please contact:

Nicole Lee
Ashford Realty Group
4760 Flintridge Dr, Ste 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Phone: (719) 314-6057
Fax: (888) 631-0062

http://www.coloradospringshomesource.com/
http://www.coloradospringspropertymanagement.net/
http://www.coloradospringsrentals.org/

Cupertino, CA - Leading Silicon Valley property manager, Jerry Garrity of First Statewide Realty, says that companies relocating executives and employees can significantly reduce risks by utilizing a professional property management company to handle their employee relocation and executive relocation programs.

He says there are many pitfalls companies run into when trying to handle relocation efforts in-house, and it pays dividends to avoid them.

"Providing a smooth transition for employees and their families when they are being transferred is critical if you want to get the most productivity out of them as a worker."

He says that finding a home in the Silicon Valley is just one part of the relocation process. Working with a professional San Jose property management company simplifies the operation and ensures that the transferring family stays happy and maintains a positive impression of the parent company.

One thing Garrity tries to impress on companies is that it's in their best interest to make the transition a smooth one.

"We all know instinctively that if home life is not pleasant, work productivity is going to suffer. So it's very important for transferred employees to feel they are being taken care of, and that starts with helping them take care of their new living arrangements."

Relocations are often relegated to the expense column, but Garrity says it's more properly thought of as an investment in the company's bottom line. He says that companies wouldn't be relocating an employee if they didn't see the financial benefit. Failing to ensure a pleasant transition for the transferee serves to reduce that financial benefit, because employees facing a lot of inconveniences during their transition will not be giving 100% in the workplace.

"What we do is reduce the stress on employees associated with corporate relocations. We know the areas, the homes available, the owners, and the expectations of the company. Our goal is to make the parent company look good by avoiding the pitfalls that can happen when selecting a new home."

Garrity says that a good property manager becomes an extension of the Human Resources team, delivering quality executive homes, and taking care of problems when they arise. Renee Smith, Manager in charge of relocation atLitepoint Corporation agrees, saying "First Statewide Realty is our number one source when it comes to finding a house for our transfers."

First Statewide Realty is a professional Santa Clara County property management company specializing in quality single family homes, condominiums, town houses and other investment property in the greater San Jose metropolitan area. The Cupertino property management firm has been in business for over 20 years, and is a member of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, Tri-County Apartment Association and National Association of Residential Property Managers.

Contact:

Jerry Garrity

First Statewide Realty
20045 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Suite 2-D
Cupertino, CA 95014
Tel: 408-253-1000
Lic#: 01036982
http://www.firststatewiderealty.com

San Jose, Calif. - Jerry Garrity of First Statewide Realty, one of Santa Clara County's leading property management companies is releasing a statement noting that year over year residential vacancy rates decreased in March 2010 compared to March 2009.

This has been a benefit to the firm's clientele of successful real estate investors who rely on the company's San Jose property management services to keep costs low and cash flow positive.

"We are pleased to see that the vacancy factor is very low for our San Jose property management clients due in part to our unique expertise. Our focus from day one is to keep a tight reign on expenses and to aggressively market properties the minute we know a renter is moving out."

Garrity's property management company has been providing corporate and private investors alike with expert management of their real estate portfolio. First Statewide clients like Attorney Walter B. Stone have trusted First Statewide Realty for over 20 years to keep vacancy rates low for their properties.

Walter B. Stone, Attorney at Law, says that First Statewide Realty has been instrumental in managing its income properties so that their balance sheet stays in the black.

"First Statewide runs a tight ship with all of our properties. They've not only saved us money, but helped us to make money on our investments."

Garrity believes that vacancy rates will continue to go down in 2010 as more former homeowners find themselves in the position of needing to rent. This bodes well for property managers like First Statewide that have a large portfolio of properties.

"I've been providing San Jose property management services since 1988 and have seen all kinds of up and down markets. With the high number of people unwilling to sell their home at today's discount prices, it's hard to think of a better time to turn your last home into a cash flow investment."

Colorado Springs, Col. - Nicole Lee of the Ashford Group, a real estate team with the Masters Real Estate Group in Colorado Springs, has launched a new website with powerful search features for Colorado Springs homebuyers and renters.

She says the Ashford Group, which handles both real estate sales and rentals as part of its Colorado Springs property management business, wanted to greatly simplify the home search process.

"We've tried to drastically reduce the number of clicks for users to search for Colorado Springs homes for sale. With our front page quick search box, it's possible to search by city and price range in one click."

Another advanced feature of the site is that it focuses on each of the major cities in the Colorado Springs area right on the front page, providing one-click access to real estate searches for specific types of listings. She says buyers love the short cuts to find the exact type of Colorado Springs homes they are looking for.

"Our clients tell us that they love being able to quickly browse property listings right from the front page of our site in various categories. They can find real estate searches for homes by city, luxury homes, foreclosure and distressed properties, and even Colorado Springs homes for rent."

Lee says that the easy home search tools are particularly useful for military families who are moving to the Colorado Springs area and who may not be familiar yet with all of the neighborhoods.

The map search is just one example of that, according to Lee. She says that military families from out of the area can find where their base is and search for homes in their price range - whether they are buying or renting - right on a Google map in real time.

"A big part of our business is from the many military personnel stationed here because we understand their unique needs and provide real estate tools and expertise to make their lives easier."