Warm Weather in Marin = Early Leasing Season?

It's a blustery 71 degrees here in Marin County today--though my parents in New Hampshire don't seem to want to hear about it--and what a joy it is to experience this surprise spring-like weather in mid-January. My leasing team and I are all out enjoying the weather, showing our properties, and surprise! renting them.

Statistically speaking January in Marin Rentals can be hit or miss. It's (usually!) cold and rainy which makes for poor showing conditions the first two months of the year...people tend to want to stay inside and recover from the holidays, rather than spend their weekends viewing rental homes. But some years January can be a great month for rentals. Some years we see large numbers of relocating executives moving here for the first quarter which results in a high number of higher end homes rented.

On the other hand, some years (especially when companies slow their hiring...like, hello, now?) it's very quiet.

But so far, 2009 has been surprisingly busy for us leasing agents, at least in the middle range of about $5000 and under. My partner Joscelyne closed on three of my properties this week alone, and my other partner Christopher closed on two. Our phones are ringing and appointment books filling up.

So what does this mean for Marin's property owners and tenants?

Owners, after a very slow fall and holiday season, the tenants are finally out here looking. So drop your prices to realistic levels and let's fill these vacancies!!

Tenants, there's finally some competition out there, so when you find a home you like don't let that great property pass you by because you think things will get worse....that's not always the case, especially in Marin with our limited inventories and generally well-qualified applicant pool. Snap it up before someone else does.

After watching yet another erratic week of plunging stocks, all my partners and I can surmise about this surprise boost in business is it must be the weather!