News: Posts by Mike Nemeth

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Now that 2014 is here, it’s important that rental housing professionals are familiar with laws that could affect the way they do business. Background In 2013, the California Legislature had 40 freshman lawmakers and a greater number of moderate Democrats – those friendly to business — including 20 in the Assembly and four in the Senate. In 2013, the California Apartment Association reviewed 10,650 bills and took formal positions on 55 of them. By the numbers 2,535: Bills introduced in 2013 4.2: Average amendments to each bill 10,650: Bills reviewed by CAA 121: Bills followed by CAA 55: Bills that… Read More

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SACRAMENTO — Thanks to the generosity of California Apartment Association staff, more than a dozen foster children will experience a merrier Christmas this year. CAA employees from throughout the state donated new gifts to children being served by Sierra Forever Families, an agency that helps place foster kids with permanent families. The toy drive instantly transformed the CAA Christmas tree. Soon, it was trimmed with paper gingerbread men, each listing the name of a child, his or her age and two or three presents that would brighten the child’s holiday. Employees plucked the miniature wish lists from the branches, and… Read More

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The California Apartment Association is now accepting applications for its 2014 committees and subcommittees, incoming President Ron Granville has announced. The association is committed to representing all of its members in the legislative and legal arenas and providing valuable products and services that will contribute to the success of its members’ businesses. One of the ways CAA better serves its members is by encouraging their participation on association committees, particularly those aligned with their experience, knowledge and skills. You are invited to read an overview of the 2014 CAA committees and subcommittees; please review the descriptions to determine what involvement… Read More

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CAA-AAGIE and the Upland Fire Department will host a town hall meeting next month to discuss a pilot program allowing landlords to self-inspect their rental units. Members of AAGIE are encouraged to attend the meeting and to share any questions and concerns. The gathering will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Carnegie Library, 450 N. Euclid Ave. The 12-month pilot program, which began in November, allows building owners and managers to conduct fire safety inspections on their own. The City Council approved the trial inspection program in October. By taking the burden off of the Fire Department,… Read More

Tagged: Greater Inland Empire

In November, the CAA-AAGIE Advisory Board unanimously approved the incoming leadership for 2014. Jennifer Bedford from Western National Property Management was appointed as chairwoman, Kelly Vickers from Sares-Regis Group as chairwoman-elect, Mark Yepez from BRE Properties as treasurer, Bob Wilson from Bluestar Properties as secretary, and Melanie Francis from For Rent Media Solutions as immediate past chairwoman. Bedford joined Western National Property Management in 2001 and is currently a regional manager. She is responsible for communities in the Orange County and Inland Empire submarkets, encompassing approximately 1,600 units, including several lease-up developments. Bedford is a licensed real estate saleswoman in… Read More

Tagged: Greater Inland Empire

Landlords know bedbugs are tough. Heck, they can survive in cracks and crevices for many months without a single blood meal. Turns out that bedbugs can seemingly shrug off seriously frigid conditions, too. Scientists found that the insects’ eggs can withstand temperatures cold as -13 degrees Fahrenheit, at least for a brief period, according to this article from HealthDay News. “Killing bedbugs in all their life stages requires a minimum of 48 hours at -4 degrees Fahrenheit or 80 hours at about 3 degrees Fahrenheit,” says the article, which quotes a study recently published in the Journal of Economic Entomology.… Read More

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Twice this summer, the California Apartment Association’s Inland Empire Division helped low-income renters who’d fallen on particularly hard times, including both fire victims and families facing eviction. To recognize the efforts, San Bernardino County’s housing authority passed a resolution Tuesday thanking CAA-Apartment Association of the Greater Inland Empire. In the first case, CAA-AAGIE launched a donation drive in August for Housing Authority residents who lost their possessions in a fire.  Collected items included clothing, food, household supplies, school supplies and more. “With the help of AAGIE, most of the needs of the affected residents, which included several children, were met… Read More

Tagged: Greater Inland Empire

To succeed in your rental housing business, you need to understand the laws taking effect in January. With this in mind, the California Apartment Association will offer the following webinar: “2014: New Laws Impacting California.” Laws coming on line will govern the way you respond to domestic violence victims, how you screen prospective residents and more. In addition to new laws, the course will cover proposals pending in the Legislature that could move to the governor later in the year. The course, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, is free to CAA members and $45 for non… Read More

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The California Apartment Association and a Los Angeles City Council committee Tuesday backed a proposal to scour the city for “soft story” apartment buildings vulnerable to collapse during a major temblor. The project would identify soft-story structures from roughly 29,000 apartment buildings erected prior to 1978. These types of buildings often have wooden frames and carports at ground level. Without proper reinforcement, they’re prone to significant damage during the intense shaking of an earthquake. Finding soft story buildings is likely a precursor to mandatory retrofitting. San Francisco passed this type of legislation this year, and CAA helped ensure financial help… Read More

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The California Apartment Association on Wednesday honored the Los Angeles area’s best communities and the people who make them so great. At its Signature Awards, CAA’s Los Angeles Division recognized the following: Leasing professional of the year Legacy Partners Nelson Bennett Maintenance supervisor of the year Horace Heidt Estates Hylda Terezon Assistant manager of the year Carmel Partners Alma Eliot Property manager of the year AvalonBay Communities Margarita Wynn Best green practices IMT Residential IMT Magnolia Best new construction IMT Residential IMT Magnolia Best rehabilitation AvalonBay Communities Avalon Marina Bay Property of the year – up to 199 units Carmel… Read More

Tagged: Los Angeles