If you're buying an investment property, you'll want to know what the current market is doing.  Rents can be research thru the local MLS, classifieds and even Craigslist.  Asking a property manager or your Realtor, can also be crucial. A neighborhood realtor can be invaluable in helping you set a rental value on your home, as they will know what the market is doing too.

I found an interesting tool that can help rental homeowners to come up with the fair market rent for their unit.   This system derives it's information from the popular Craigslist classified rental ads.  You can get property rental pricing statistics for the entire San Francisco Bay Area.  You can search types of dwellings, bedrooms, bathrooms, condo's, apartments, houses.  You can even research amenities such as number of garage spaces, pools, fireplaces, and more.

Using google's mapping technology you can see right on the map where there are active rental listings.  You can click on each listing to get the full advertisement from Craigslist.  You can also search their archives for even more data.

Check out Walnut Creek Rentals for an example:

http://sf.rentslicer.com/market.html?m=walnut%20creek

Rentslicer shows today (1/25/06) average rents in Walnut Creek right now is $1,439, all types combined.  A single family home average rental is $2,315.  It will even tell you that based on today's average interest rates, that a $1439 a month rental payment is equal to a mortgage on a $228,000 home.

Not only is this a great tool for renters looking for a home, but it is a great place for realtors and property managers to do some research on a very user friendly platform.

So if you want to research rental rates in Contra Costa or in any of the surrounding San Francisco Bay Area neighborhoods - simply go to www.sf.rentslicer.com. 

Thinking of buying an investment property?   Buying an investment property in Walnut Creek, Concord, Lafayette, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Alamo or Danville will require careful research and likely investment strategy for the long term. 

For information investment property purchase, see Catherine Myers website: www.DiabloValley.net and check out her investment pages.

Catherine Myers, REALTOR

Alain Pinel Realtors

www.DiabloValley.net

925-683-2125

Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Lafayette, Alamo, Danville - search the MLS, see homes for sale, research buying or selling a home.