Foothills Sentry April 2021

Foothills Sentry Page 9 April 2021 Today we are going to take a look at the local market, inven- tory and values to see if it is time to sell that rental property you, or someone you know, might own. With inventory hovering around all-time lows and the in- terest rates doing the same, some- thing has to give, right? Let’s talk about that rental property you own and why now might be a great time to sell it. For starters, you might have had that rental for years and always had a pret- ty good idea of the value of that property. Do you know that value now, in today’s market? In most cases, it is valued much higher than you thought. Today there are cash offers on homes selling over the asking price. I recently spoke with a property manager who said that maximum rent increases are at 10% in California, and that Fair Housing Laws govern almost everything they do. With new laws concerning tenants’ rights leaning more favorably toward tenants, it seems to be more and more of a balancing act to be a landlord. When I ask someone who owns rental property if they’re thinking about selling, the answer I sometimes hear is, “No, it makes me money, so why would I sell?” If they knew today’s value, might there be a pause and interest? I ask in return, “Is that rental property something you plan to hold on to? And if so, for how many years?” If you are looking to hold on to your rental property for more than five years, then maybe now is not the time to sell. We can’t predict the future, but property values have always shown resiliency. However, if you’re planning to keep your rental for less than five years, you might want to consider selling now, to take advantage of the high sales prices and low interest rates that are currently happening. As always, it is a good idea to get input from your financial ad- visor and tax consultant. Is it time to sell that rental? Three sorrels, Randi, Levi and Rhett, are 2018 geldings, all available for adoption through Rockin' R Ranch and Rescue. The nonprofit helps equines in need. For information about these horses, or others -- Kristoff the Palomino, Woodrow the buckskin, Maple the beautiful bay -- email rockingrrescuetxca@gmail.com . Looking for love Tustin Dems to feature Dave Min California State Senator Dave Min will join the Tustin Demo- cratic Club’s Zoom meeting on Tuesday, April 27 at 7 p.m. Min will dig deeper into issues affect- ing Tustin citizens, and answer questions. Senator Min will be followed by Tustin licensed clinical so- cial worker Leslie Cox, whose specialty is trauma, abuse and physical pain. Cox will address emotional health in the time of COVID, including self-care, behaviors that support mental health, barriers to seeking mental health treatment and strategies for overcoming them. Meetings will continue to be held via Zoom until the commu- nity is widely vaccinated. In the meantime, footwear is optional, but everyone is encouraged to bring a healthy dose of curiosity and an appetite to strengthen our community. See TustinDemocrat- icClub.org for information. New members and guests are always welcome. Elks donate to rescue mission The veterans committee of the Orange Elks Lodge donated $1,000 to the Orange County Rescue Mission, which serves men, women and children from many walks of life. All are wounded in different ways. Some are highly educated, many are survivors of abuse, ad- diction and abandonment. None ever imagined they’d be home- less, and they all need help. The mission’s goal is to treat each per- son with respect and dignity. (See rescuemission.org. ) In addition, Girl Scout Troop 3634 from Santa Ana/Tustin donated 40 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies with a handwritten thank-you card to mission vets. From left, Elk Brian Fitzpatrick, Rescue Mission Chaplain Houston Ray Johnson; resident Air Force veteran Mark Rock and Elks Exalted Ruler Danny Salas. VPWL is happy to be together again Villa Park Women’s League members are “Happy to Be Together Again” and will celebrate at an outdoor masked meeting on Thursday, April 8. This final general meeting of the year will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at a private residence, and include a vote for next year’s officers, as well as music, games and prizes. See vpwl.org for information.