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We want to make sure you have everything you need to find the perfect rental home for you and your family so that your move is as smooth as possible.

Stop Looking For a Place to Rent and Find a Place to Belong

We know finding the right place to live is hard, so let us help.

We are Belong, and we know that renting is the best option for many people looking for a place to live. We want to make sure you have everything you need to find the perfect rental home for you and your family so that your move is as smooth as possible.

Renting might be better than buying a home

Renting is more affordable than ever before: You don't have to put down a big deposit or pay closing costs on a rental property—all of that is taken care of by your landlord (or in this case, Belong). And if you're still paying off student loans or other debts, renting can be a great way to save money while you focus on building up your credit score (so when it comes time to buy, you'll have an easier time getting approved).

You won't have to worry about maintenance: When it comes time for repairs or updates, we will take care of everything for you! That means less stress for you and more time to focus on what matters most: enjoying life with your family!

When you're looking for a rental home, it's easy to feel like you're in over your head. There are so many things you have to think about—and if you're like me, some of those things are way above your pay grade.

However, there is one thing that we have learned: renting is a great way to save money and live comfortably without having to take on the responsibility of purchasing a property.

You can't put a price on peace of mind—and if you live in an apartment or townhouse instead of owning a house, then you don't have to worry about all the maintenance that goes along with owning a home. You don't have to worry about fixing anything or keeping up with property taxes. You just enjoy your own space and relax whenever possible.

If this sounds appealing to you, check out our webpage! We'll help make renting easy by showing only properties where we know we can get you approved for rent.

If you're looking for a place to rent, you've probably already thought about buying. But did you know that renting can be a better choice?

When you buy a home, you make a lot of sacrifices. You can't move around as much, and you have to pay more taxes and insurance. Plus, there's always the chance that your home could lose value—and even drop by more than half its original value. Not good!

Sometimes is better because it gives you more freedom and flexibility. If you ever decide to move out of town or change jobs, it's much easier when all your stuff is already packed up in boxes or stored away. And if you do decide to sell? You won't have any regrets about what might have been had things gone differently!

If you're like most people, you dream of owning a home. It's that American Dream thing: owning something that is truly yours, where you can plant roots and make memories.

This all sounds great but when you start looking at houses, it became clear that renting was actually a better choice for me right now. Here are just a few reasons why renting is the way to go!

Did you know that the average homeowner spends $1,200 per month on their mortgage? That's $14,400 per year! If you factor in taxes and insurance costs as well, it gets even higher—$23,000 per year! And if you're planning on moving within five years or so (which most people do), then the equity you'll build up in your house may not cover the cost of selling it. So even if it does work out for you financially, the cost of moving and buying again is going to be pretty steep.

Belong is here to help find the perfect rental home for YOU!

If you are ready to find the place you Belong, just visit our website and let’s get started! 

Enjoy the benefits of renting out your home without all the hassle, with guaranteed rent and innovative new services not available from property managers.

What Are The Benefits of Belong Over a Regular Property Management Company?

Getting the most out of your investment is quite important when you buy a house. This is why experienced real estate investors always work with a good management company.  

But what if you don't need to be an experienced real estate investor to start earning money with your property? With Belong, you can have all the benefits of renting out your home without all the hassle that property management implies. Keep reading and discover the advantages of Belong.

With our services, we'll find people who Belong at your home. Our tenant (or as we call them - resident) selection process involves a thorough screening process to find trustworthy residents, so you don't have to worry about it.

Some of the problems of renting out your house if having to go after your tenants and dealing with late payments. With Belong, you will receive your money on time, every time. 

Happy tenants mean longer rentals which means consistent cash flow for you. 

It takes one tricky tenant to cause significant legal headaches. Belong has a qualified team with knowledge of the latest landlord-tenant laws and will make sure you don't have to worry about all the legal parts.  

If you charge too much, you might not rent at all, if it's too low, you are losing money each month. Finding the right price requires experience and access to specific tools that you might have never heard of. With Belong you can forget about all that trouble and just enjoy your extra time (and cash!)

Have you ever put up an ad to sell something? If you have, you know how time-consuming it can be. The good news is you don't have to do that! We will advertise your property with incredible results. 

This is actually the best part: With Belong, you will have guaranteed rental payments, continuous cash flow, maximized rental value, AND free time! 

These results can only be expected from a trustworthy company like Belong. A poor choice of a management company can produce many headaches of its own. So if you are ready to Belong, all you have to do is visit our website and follow a few simple steps. 

What Are The Benefits of Belong Over a Property Management Company?

At Belong, we believe landlords or tenants are outdated. We want to make renting a magical experience for homeowners and residents. Beyond properties, we are renting people love and happiness.

Belong: Disrupting Property Management 

At Belong, we believe landlords or tenants are outdated. We want to make renting a magical experience for homeowners and residents. Beyond properties, we are renting people love and happiness. 

In this article, we will explore Belong: a company that works as the middle person between homeowners and renters. 

Belong is an online platform that connects homeowners and renters so they both can find what they’re looking for in the most simple and convenient way. 

If you are a homeowner looking for passive rental income, Belong makes it easy for you. With our user-friendly platform, putting your property out on the market and finding the perfect renter can be done without all the stress that usually comes with it. All of this happens in one place, at the click of a button on your phone or computer. The Belong App is people-forward and convenient for everyone to use.

You can forget about advertising your property, showing the house, finding the right tenant, doing a throughout screening process, collecting rent and so many other things that landlords usually have to do. 

With Belong, all you have to do is visit the website, go to the Homeowner section and follow some simple steps that we will list below.

First, you input your address in our search engine to make sure Belong is available in your area. If it’s unavailable, just be patient; we are working hard to expand to more places. You can check out all the cities we’re “coming soon” to on our website!

If you are still living in the property you want to rent out, don’t worry! Belong will handle your move so you can just sit back and relax while we make the magic happen.

Belong will take care of all the reconditioning and renovations needed for your home to be in top shape and ready for showing.

Once your property is ready, Belong will take care of all the marketing, tours, and showings. 

Belong has a trustworthy screening process that allows them to find residents that will care for your home. 

Belong will make sure to do background and credit checks, income verification, identity verification, and reference check. This way we are able to spot the best renters right away and connect them with the right homeowner. 

Belong has a reliable concierge team that will be available 24/7, offering assistance to both homeowners and renters. 

If anything comes up, you will receive notifications straight to your phone and communicate with our team. You will be able to review estimates and approve any work that has to be done in the most simple and convenient way. 

With our guaranteed rent payments, all you have to do is wait for your monthly rent payment. No complex paperwork, no trouble, no stress. One streamlined payment process and online statements are available for maximum ease.

Find out how to assess risk and protect investment property in fire zones

Real Estate Investing in a Fire Risk Zone: What you need to know

Destructive fires are becoming increasingly common, especially in the American West. States like California and Colorado have seen record-setting blazes damage or destroy hundreds of homes in recent years as the effects of climate change seem to worsen. For homeowners and real estate investors, this presents a number of risks and challenges, especially because (unlike with flood zones) there is no national standard for building codes or defining high-risk fire zones. 

Thankfully, there are tools to help home buyers understand their risk and choose appropriate fire insurance.

Fire zone designations and associated building codes vary from state to state. In California, building zones are rated from Low to Very High fire risk, and the state has Realty Disclosure laws that ensure you’ll be informed of the property’s status during the purchase process. For most other states, you’ll need to do research with your realtor to understand the property’s level of risk. 

How to research your property’s fire risk

Local and State Building Codes for that Zip Code

Your first step should be to research the local zoning for the property you are considering purchasing. Because fire risk and regulations vary so much by state and even municipality, going straight to the “horse’s mouth” is the surest way to get the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the official risk designation for the property. 

After understanding official risk designation, you may want to use a tool like this fire risk calculator from First Street Foundation. First Street is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that has mapped flood, fire, and heat risk to nearly every property in the United States. They use several reliable data points (from property tax data to satellite imagery) to assign a risk score that factors in zoning, construction types, weather, and more. 

Executive Director Matthew Eby told CNBC, “We calculate every individual property and structure’s risk across the country, be it a commercial building, or be it an individual’s home. What you’re able to see from that is that one home might have the same probability as another of being in a wildfire, but be much more susceptible to burning down.”

The Fire Maps from the US Forest Service are a bit less user-friendly, but they provide the most up-to-date global data on wildfires. These are an important place to look if you’re seriously concerned about a specific location or property you’d like to purchase.

Protecting your home or investment property from fire risk 

There are things you can do to protect a property that is in a high-fire-risk zone. Cathy Prudhomme, Firewise USA Program Manager for the NFPA’s Wildfire Division, told Homes.com that homeowners should prioritize the following:

Budget for modern, risk-mitigating construction features such as fire-resistant roofs and siding. Your insurance agent can help you decide on the best type of roof for your home. 

Work to implement best practices in the home ignition zones on the property (removing debris, keeping flammable materials at a distance, fire-resistant landscaping, etc). The surrounding property is often even more important than the actual structure, in terms of fire damage prevention. 

Ensure a minimum of two ingress and egress routes from the property — both so that residents can evacuate if needed, and so firefighters can easily defend your property if needed. 

Add a readily available source of water to your property such as a well or pool if possible. 

Choose a home insurance policy with robust fire protection, and carefully consider the recommendations from your insurance agent regarding risk mitigation opportunities. These may also lower your insurance premiums! 

Are homes in high-fire-risk areas a good investment?

It may seem counter-intuitive, but homes in high-fire-risk areas often sell for a higher price. According to Redfin, “the typical home with high fire risk sold for $119,200 (27.6%) more than the typical home with low fire risk.” This is likely partially because homes facing high risk of wildfires are near popular West-Coast metro areas. While homes in burn zones may decrease in value (as much as 23%) in the aftermath of a wildfire, this effect does not seem to be permanent.

Considering these factors, investing in a property that is located in a high-fire-risk zone can be profitable. It really depends on the property itself and the risk-mitigation steps that the owner is willing to take in order to protect the home and its residents. 

Don’t invest in a fire risk zone without expert help 

Only you can determine your level of comfort with the risks involved in a fire risk zone property, but Belong experts can help! Our rental pros bring years of experience and data to the table to help you understand how much you could earn and what property maintenance might look like in the area. Whether you own a property in a risk zone or are looking to purchase one, get in touch and we can help. 

With no national standard for building codes or defining high-risk fire zones, learn more about how to assess risk and protect investment property in fire zones

Belong

Ashleigh Graf

Flora Fiorillo

Lauren Slagter

Jane Allison Gunn

Melanie Kershaw

Ashleigh Graf

Flora Fiorillo

Lauren Slagter

Jane Allison Gunn

Melanie Kershaw