Owner FAQs

MCRE monitors rent payments diligently to ensure that all rents are collected as scheduled. Our lease agreement requires tenants to pay rent on the 1st of the month; however, there is a grace period that allows tenants to pay as late as the 3rd without incurring a late fee. On the 4th day of the month, tenants will be charged a late fee and issued a “3-day Notice to Pay or Quit.” In most cases, tenants are able to pay and avoid further action. If the tenant still cannot pay the rent, your property manager will contact you to discuss your options.

In most cases, we require a security deposit equal to one month’s rent. California law prohibits security deposits exceeding the equivalent of one month’s rent unless the property owner qualifies for certain exemptions. These include being a natural person or an LLC that owns no more than two properties or four rental units in total. If these criteria are met, a deposit equal to two month's rent may be collected.

Tenants are contractually obligated to complete the term of their lease agreement. However, life happens, and a tenant may need to vacate early. In this case, we continue to charge the tenant rent until the home has been cleaned and re-leased. If MCRE placed the tenant, we guarantee our tenant placements for the term of their lease agreement and will find you a new, well-qualified tenant at no additional leasing fee.

We monitor your home through monthly exterior evaluations and an annual interior evaluation. If we discover a lease violation, we issue a written warning and follow up to ensure the issue is resolved. If the violation continues, we will serve a “Notice to Cure,” typically giving the tenant 3 days to correct the issue or face potential eviction. Your property manager will keep you informed of any unresolved lease violations.

We run a credit and background check for all applicants. To qualify, applicants must meet our strict criteria. In addition to credit and background checks, we verify income and employment, as well as past landlord references. Applicants must have a minimum credit score of 680 (with no collections, evictions, or bankruptcies) and must earn at least 3 times the monthly rent in gross verifiable household income.

Our online ads are syndicated to over 15 major websites, including Zillow, Trulia, Apartments.com, and more. We do not advertise on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

Most rent increases are regulated by state and local laws. In many cases, rent can be increased by 5% plus the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Please contact us for a specific answer based on your property’s location.

Ultimately, the market dictates how much your home will rent for. That’s why MCRE uses up-to-date market data to accurately price your home. We will provide you with a rental market analysis and suggest a rental rate based on that data. Contact us for your free rental market analysis.

Yes, we perform an initial evaluation of your home to identify any necessary repairs or upgrades. We will share our findings with you and provide a quote for completing the recommended work.

We perform an exterior evaluation of your home monthly and an interior evaluation annually.

• During exterior evaluations, we look for: dry or over-saturated landscaping, leaking irrigation lines, roof or fascia issues, broken windows or doors, driveway stains, stucco cracks, peeling paint, unauthorized vehicles or animals, unusual activity, and more.
• During interior evaluations, we look for: unreported maintenance issues, damage, unauthorized occupants or pets, unauthorized modifications, and safety concerns (e.g., smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, water heater straps). We also address any tenant concerns at this time.