Property Management News

LANSING – Michigan lawmakers are considering legislation that would let landlords e-mail eviction notices to tenants or notify them via social media. State law says landlords must deliver eviction notices in writing, either on site or by mail. The bill scheduled for a vote on Wednesday in the state House would permit electronic eviction notices only with tenant consent. The bill would prohibit a landlord from refusing to enter a lease because a prospective tenant declines to consent to an electronic eviction notice. Supporters say not all tenants are requesting a mailbox or they’re checking it infrequently while doing more personal business online. Critics say people change... Read more

The latest data volley in the buying-versus-renting debate suggests that a great migration of renters into homeownership will take place this year. According to the latest Zillow Housing Confidence Index (ZHCI), more than 12 percent of current renters nationwide-roughly 5.2 million-stated they were planning to buy a house in the next year. This level is almost 25 percent above last year’s levels, when 4.2 million renters said they were ready to part ways with their landlords. Among all renters surveyed nationwide by Zillow, 59.7 percent said homeownership was the long-term investment a person can make, compared to 56.9 percent at the same time last year. And even the ubiquitous... Read more