Freedom First REIA, Ltd.

As April leaves and May greets us, we are seeing a huge decrease in new lease signings around the country. With a lot of counties and states extending the re-open date to June, are we going to see an even bigger dip in new lease signings?

How can we care for our tenants while staying in business as a landlord?

These are just some questions that may come to mind that you can bring up for discussion at our Landlord Support Group meetings, with the most recent this Thursday, May 14th from 9 AM to 10 AM.

With over 17 million people unemployed during this time, it is making a lot of sense why we are seeing such a decrease in new leases being signed. We are seeing more and more people not being able to pay rent. A survey from the National Multifamily Housing Council shows that around 31% of renters couldn’t pay their rent by April 1st . The council is only expecting the numbers to be worse for the rent due on May 1st . Over 13.4 million housing units were surveyed to collect this data.

Everyone seems to be struggling during this time, some more than others. If you’re a landlord and need advice, guidance, or even j
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Are you a landlord or real estate investor? Are you new to the game and aren’t sure where to begin? Freedom First Real Estate Investors Association (Freedom First REIA) provides many  membership advantages that landlords and real estate investors can benefit from.

Becoming a member of Freedom First REIA can help investors, landlords, and even people considering getting into real estate, gain knowledge about the job, the sacrifices, and how to help handle certain situations. Members have the opportunities to communicate with professionals who are experts in their fields. With the Freedom First REIA membership you automatically get a membership to National REIA that can give you access to even more tools and benefits.

Find the support you need as a landlord at our monthly landlord support meetings, whether you’re having trouble finding the right tenants or just want to connect with other investors. These session topics range from tenant selection, property management, laws and regulations. For investors, landlord or not, another group meets twice a month called Alternative Real Estate Investing Strategies (AREIS), where we discuss various investment strategi
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• Despite the defeat in 2018, the proponents of stricter California rent control have already secured enough signatures to put another initiative in the ballot in 2020. It cost the industry $75 million to defeat the 2018 ballot initiative. Given the expected higher turnout for 2020, a presidential election, not to mention higher advertising costs in a presidential election year, this would suggest that the upcoming initiative will be as expensive or more.

• In Colorado and Illinois, we expect a return of measures that would eliminate their statewide rent control preemptions. In each state, Democrats control both chambers of the legislature as well as the governorship, meaning that rent control could move very quickly from a proposal to a law unless a vigorous defense is mounted. Notably, in Illinois, Chicago teachers included rent control as a demand for settling their recent strike. The Nevada legislature will not convene in 2020, but it is likely that rent control measures will arise in 2021.

• In Massachusetts, a bill to remove the statewide preemption will receive its first hearing in January 2020. While Republican Governor Charlie Baker supports solutions that address the lack of housing supply, rent control amendments to the bill are expected.

• While Washington State maintains a statewide preemption, the Seattle City Council is nonetheless actively pushing for rent control. In the November elections, City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant – an outspoken rent control advocate – defeated a candidate heavily backed by Amazon, which opposed rent control.

• There have long been rent control rumblings in Minnesota. While the state has preemption provisions, the Minneapolis City Council is officially studying rent control as an option to address housing affordability.

• In New Jersey, where some cities already impose rent control, lawmakers introduced a measure in late 2019 that would set a statewide rent cap at five percent plus CPI or 10 percent, whichever is lower. The proposal is likely to receive consideration in this year’s legislative session.

• Florida and Utah lawmakers also introduced measures in 2019 that would remove the state preemption on rent control. The bills are poised for consideration in the new year.

• With Democrats in control of all statewide elected offices and the General Assembly in Virginia, and the pending arrival of Amazon’s HQ2 in Northern Virginia, it is possible that rent control will be raised.

• Though Michigan preempts local municipalities from imposing rent control, the Ann Arbor City Council is pursuing the policy. It remains to be seen how the issue will proceed in the state.

• While Georgia also has a preemption against rent control, Atlanta City Councilman Antonio Brown recently introduced a resolution encouraging the state to allow cities to pass rent control legislation.

For more resources on rent control:
 https://www.underoneroofny.org/

For Immediate Release

February 12, 2020

UNDER ONE ROOF Coalition Urges Lawmakers to Reject
Good Cause Eviction and Universal Rent Control Legislation
Bill would hinder property owners’ ability to make improvements to
apartments and buildings, deter small business ownership, reduce
the availability of quality units throughout the state
ALBANY, NY – The Under One Roof Coalition today called on lawmakers to
reject the Good Cause Eviction and Universal Rent Control proposals that have
been introduced in the legislature.

“If this legislation were enacted into law, it would reduce the housing stock
across the state and deter others from owning property,” said coalition leader
Deborah Pusatere, a local landlord and President of the New York Capital
Region Apartment Association (NYCRAA).

“The Good Cause Eviction Bill creates a universal rent control model that would
be the most restrictive to date in the country. The amended bill caps rent
increases at 3 percent, an amount that would fail to cover tax increases,
inflation, annual operating costs and improvements required to meet
compliance standards of housing codes, ” said coalition leader Jaime Michelle
Cain, a partner at Boyl
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