September has arrived with a hot-humid Summer Day in Cedar Rapids

We welcome the month of September and my wife's birthday on September 1St. The College Football season is kicking off today in the college ranks and a week from today we will either tune into our President on the issue of Jobs or the kickoff of NFL Football with the Packers vs. the Saints.

How the first eight months of year have flown by this year. The Summer is winding down as we approach Labor Day weekend, with Autumn arriving soon. For the latest weather information in the Cedar Rapids area ... KCRG WxNow - which was just released!

We have some rental properties coming available at the end of September. Can we interest you in a new property? We have had several calls recently from property owners that may be looking to place their properties on the market for rent. You can find our application [PDF} on our web site.

Celebrations during the month of September (help from our local Civil Rights newsletter and other sources):

• Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism), Sept. 1



• World War II Began in 1938, Sept. 1



• V-J Day in 1945, Sept. 2



• Iowa vs. Tennessee State in College Football, Sept. 3



• Labor Day, Sept. 5



• Iowa at Iowa State in College Football, Sept. 10



• Patriot Day, Sept. 11



• 10 year anniversary of 9/11, Sept. 11



• Grandparents Day, Sept. 11



• National Pet Memorial Day, Sept. 11



• Mexican Independence Day, Sept. 16



• POW/MIA Recognition Day, Sept. 16



• Iowa vs. Pittsburgh in College Football, Sept. 17



• Oktoberfest Begins, Sept. 17



• National Women’s Friendship Day, Sept. 18



• International Day of Peace, Sept. 21



• World Gratitude Day, Sept. 21



• Native American Day, Sept. 23



• Autumnal Equinox, Sept. 23



• Iowa vs. Louisiana-Monroe in College Football, Sept. 24



• Rosh Hashanah (Judaism) Sept. 28 (sundown) - Sept. 30



• Durga Puja (Hinduism), Sept. 28 begins a ten-day festival honoring Goddess Durga
  

We want to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable September. Be careful out there, school is back on and children may be tough to see. Let us know, if we can be of service to you. Visit us by e-mail, telephone or by making an appointment and visiting with us face to face!

ttrco

Do you need a House for Rent or can we help in Management your under utilized Real Estate?

Do you need a house to rent?

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. has a couple of two bedroom houses that we are marketing at the present on the NE side. We also have a legal three bedroom coming available soon on the NW side. Details

Do you have a property that could be a home for someone else?

We have a government employee seeking a Government Lease for a four bedroom house, with a market value in the $1200 to 1600 monthly rent range. Would your property fit that price range and and would you be interested in listing your property with us, so we can act as your Authorized Agent in doing business with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers? Tommy Tucker Realty Co. is a registered government contractor, in housing. We currently serve clients with Government leasing.

Please let us know, if we can be of service to you in helping you meet some of your New Year's Resolutions!

ttrco

Update on Housing, Licensing and Registration in the City of Cedar Rapids

We received notice from the City of Cedar Rapids that we have our License for the new Chapter 29 of the Municipal Code, which is requiring all owner / operator /landlord providers for rental housing in Cedar Rapids to obtain. Further, everyone needs to register or re-register all rental properties in the City by the end of the month. Registrations have been a requirement for some time, but the License with the City is new. Regardless, new paperwork is needed and the City's web site has the following message:

NEW LANDLORD LICENSE & REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
All Landlords must apply for a landlord license and re-register all of
their residential rental properties within the city limits by October
31st, 2010. All forms are found on this page. If you have any questions
feel free to give us a call at (319) 286-5197 or stop by our office.

We are working with our property owners to re-register all the properties we manage for various clients here in the City of Cedar Rapids. The process is pretty straight forward, but it does require time.

The Gazette had an article in the Thursday paper titled 'Few of C.R.'s landlords in compliance with new law.'

If you own rental property in the State of Iowa, you should likely check with the municipal authority to determine what your local licensing requirement are. The City of Marion has a different system, for example, than the City of Cedar Rapids.

In other business activity, meet with fellow Brokers with the Cedar Rapids Association of Realtors this morning. Good meeting and everyone was reminded about Chapter 29 in Cedar Rapids.

ttrco

Back in the Saddle, after the Labor Day holiday here in Eastern Iowa

We hope you enjoyed your Labor Day holiday weekend!

We are reviewing paperwork received today by the City of Cedar Rapids, regarding the new registration form for licensing and property permits. The City of Cedar Rapids enacted a new Chapter 29 ordinance this Summer for all property owners in Cedar Rapids. Whether you are big or small, renting multi-family, single-family or one room, you may want to learn more about the Chapter 29, which impacts all property owners who are involved in any form of tenant-landlord (i.e. - charging rent).

We have houses for rent in the Cedar Rapids-Marion, Iowa area.


Current Properties being marketed:

We are currently accepting applications for Houses For Rent in our area:

• Two bedroom Ranch at 886 14Th Street NE for $500.00 per month


• Two Bedroom Ranch at 828 14Th Street NE for $575.00 per month


• Two Bedroom Ranch at 866 14Th Street NE for $525.00 per month


• Three Bedroom Ranch at 2140 Pike Court in Marion for $1,730 to $1,950 per month


• Five bedroom two story at 7806 Thorndale Road NE for $2,200 per month

You can contact Robin Tucker at 1.319.365.6956 or by e-mail at Tommy Tucker Realty Co, if you are interested in one of these properties or have a tenant-landlord question? We may have a couple of new properties in the coming weeks.

ttrco

Cedar Rapids: City’s New Landlord Licensing Program in Effect

Housing News in the City of Cedar Rapids, the week of August 23, 2010:

The City of Cedar Rapids Code Enforcement Division has begun
implementing the new landlord licensing and rental housing registration program
as part of the new Chapter 29 of the Municipal Code. This program includes new
requirements for landlord licenses, rental housing registration and tenant
agreements.

Landlord Licenses
Landlords, property owners and rental property operators
are now required to be licensed in order to rent residential properties in Cedar
Rapids. This license is only required one time per landlord/owner/operator. The
license fee is $50.00. License applications are available at the Code
Enforcement Division’s office in the Public Works building at 1201 6Th Street
SW. In addition, applicants must submit a list of all rental unit housing to be
associated with the license. There is a $1,000 penalty for each month of a
delinquent license or rental unit registrations after October 31, 2010.

Rental Housing Registration
All rental housing must be registered annually. The registration fees range from
$30.00 for single family dwellings or duplexes to $25.00 for multi-family
dwellings plus $8.00 for individual apartments or units. All rental units
transferred or purchased after July 19, 2010 must be registered within 30 days
of the transaction. There is a $1,000 penalty for each month of a delinquent
license or rental unit registrations after October 31, 2010.

Tenant Agreements
All landlords must use a Crime Free Lease Addendum/Agreement with tenants. This addendum must be incorporated into all new and renewal leases and made available for review during the compliance inspection by City inspectors. The addendum is available on the City’s Web site at www.Cedar-Rapids.org and at
the Code Enforcement Division’s office in the Public Works building at 1201 6Th
Street SW.

All aspects of the new program are expected to be implemented by October 2010. For more information about this program, please visit the Housing Inspections section of the City’s Web site at http://www.cedar-rapids.org/government/departments/code-enforcement/housing-inspections/Pages/default.aspx.

PR Date: 8/23/2010 Title: City’s New Landlord Licensing Program
in Effect
City Contact: Cassie Wilils, (319) 286-5055

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. provides property management services in the Linn County area to various clients. We can assist in Tenant-Landlord management services, if you are seeking a Realtor-Property Manager for your single family house or investment property. Please feel free to contact Tommy Tucker Realty Co. to discuss our services in more detail. Tommy Tucker Realty Co. has been serving the greater Cedar Rapids area, since 1958.

ttrco

City of Cedar Rapids replaces Chapter 29 and mandates Crime Free Lease Agreement/Addendium for all housing tenants

If you own a rental property, big or small, the City of Cedar Rapids requires you use a Crime Free Lease Agreement or Addendum, that you become licenced locally, and you register all rental rooms, houses and apartments.

[DOC] Crime Free Lease Addendum / Agreement - CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS
File Format: Microsoft Word - View as HTML
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS. Crime Free Lease Addendum / Agreement ... or any breach of the lease agreement that otherwise jeopardizes the health, safety, ...

Here is a link to the new Chapter 29 approved by the City of Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. The new ordinance will become official on Monday, July 19, according to a phone call with Housing Services Department.

Ordinance for Chapter 29 regarding Licensed Registration ...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, as follows: Section 1. Chapter 29 of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Code is hereby ...

Landlords Now on The Hook to Help Clean Up Cedar Rapids Neighborhoods‎ - KCRG
At the Tuesday evening council meeting, Walter Skovronski, president of Landlords of Davenport, told the Cedar Rapids council that tenant background checks ...

Landlords asked, Cedar Rapids Police Department looking for ... - Eastern Iowa News
The Cedar Rapids Police Department on Wednesday said it is working ... The city of Davenport also uses a crime-free lease addendum and most ...

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. has been using a different Crime Free Lease Addendum, on a voluntary basis, over the past 8-9 years for many of our clients.

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. was founded in 1958 and has specialized in property management services for various clients over the years. We would be happy to visit with people who have questions about the new Chapter 29 in Cedar Rapids or other housing and/or real estate questions ...

• Sales


• Purchasing


• Property Management


• Leasing


• Business Opportunity


• Like-Kind Exchange: 1031


• Chapter 22 questions?


• Chapter 29 questions?


• Chapter 69 questions?

Need housing or real estate assistance, contact a Realtor ...

The City of Cedar Rapids just passed the new Chapter 29 on Tuesday night at the City Council meeting. Later this year, we expect new Chapter 22 and Chapter 69 ordinances to be reviewed and enacted as well. As Realtors, we believe...

The Preamble of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ® ...

Preamble

Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated
ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our
civilization. REALTORS® should recognize that the interests of the nation and
its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest
distribution of land ownership. They require the creation of adequate
housing,the building of functioning cities, the development of productive
industries and farms, and the preservation of a healthful environment.

Such interests impose obligations beyond those of ordinary commerce.
They impose grave social responsibility and a patriotic duty to which
REALTORS®should dedicate themselves, and for which they should be diligent in
preparing themselves. REALTORS®, therefore, are zealous to maintain and improve the standards of their calling and share with their fellow REALTORS® a common responsibility for its integrity and honor...

ttrco

Do you own Rental or owner-occupied real estate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa?

The City of Cedar Rapids is planning to change Chapter 29 of the municipal code on rental real estate. Of course, all property owners will notice an possible impact to individual property rights, due to this change. On June 22, 2010, the City Council is planning to have a first reading on the proposed changes to Chapter 29 of the municipal code.

A fellow Realtor in Cedar Rapids has sent an objection to the City of Cedar Rapids.

OBJECTS TO PROPOSED CH 29 ORDINANCE CHANGES-CRIME - City of Cedear Rapids PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
May 17, 2010 ... I am against the proposed Chapter 29 changes and the mandatory Crime ... for Cedar Rapids tenants which is a valuable asset to growth and ...

The City of Cedar Rapids is changing its web site, so google searches on the subject typically end with a bad link, such as this example. By adding .info, rather than .org, one can get into the City old web site.

More on the subject curtesy of a google search on Chapter 29:

Chapter 29 – Sheryl Jahnel, Member Landlords of Linn County ... - Landlords of Linn County
I have found that there are many difference that set Cedar Rapids Proposed changes over the top. > I am very much opposed to the proposed Chapter 29 ...
Chapter 29 – Dick Rehman‎ - Jun 15, 2010
Chapter 29 Comments: Dick Rehman‎ - May 26, 2010

Chapter 29 of municipal code is a very important public policy issue for the City of Cedar Rapids. Changes can have impacts on affordable housing, housing stock and economic development for our community in the future. The department has been very inefficient throughout the years, including the department's ability to provide data on the customers it serves.

Cedar Rapids Landlords Protest Proposed Fees - KCRG-TV9
Apr 20, 2010 ... CEDAR RAPIDS – Proposed new rules and regulations for Cedar ... The city council is still debating whether to approve all these changes, ...

Right now, the city can't provide a list of problem landlords or even tell
you how many landlords rent property in Cedar Rapids. City staff
admit their record-keeping system needs work and they're trying to replace it. -
KCRG-TV9

Currently, the City of Cedar Rapids has no citizen housing boards or commissions. Communities, like Iowa City, have used citizen boards and commissions to help formulate public policy on housing issued. Despite the City Charter makes recommendations for boards and commissions, but, the police department and housing officials are addressing the ordinance work for our community, rather than elected officials and/or the public.

PREAMBLE
We, the people of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, under the constitution and the
laws of the state of Iowa, in
order to secure the benefits of local
self-government and to provide for the peace, prosperity and security of our
citizens, do hereby adopt this charter. By this charter, we achieve the benefits
of home rule and affirm the values of representative democracy, professional
management, strong political leadership, and citizen participation by
recognizing that our quality of life is based on community and regional
cooperation, innovation, and greater opportunities for all our citizens. - City of Cedar Rapids

ttrco

Rental Housing available in Cedar Rapids-Marion area ...

Current properties being marketed for rent by Tommy Tucker Realty Co. in the Cedar Rapids-Marion area:

• Two Bedroom Ranch at 828 14Th Street NE for $575.00 per month


• Two Bedroom Ranch at 870 14Th Street NE for $525.00 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 3420 Falcon View Road SW for $1525 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 1930 39Th Street in Marion for $1650 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 290 Indiandale Road SE for $1600 per month

We invite you to take a closer look at one of these properties for rent. Call and talk to Robin Tucker at 319.365.6956 or e-mail him at rtucker@ttrco.com.

You can follow us on Facebook or Twitter!

Our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment. Our offices will be closed May 29-31 for the Memorial Day holiday, but please leave a message, if service is needed.

ttrco

Real Estate Rental News heading into the Weekend of Friday, May 21, 2010

Current properties being marketed for rent by Tommy Tucker Realty Co. in the Cedar Rapids-Marion area:

• Two Bedroom Ranch at 828 14Th Street NE for $575.00 per month


• Two Bedroom Ranch at 870 14Th Street NE for $525.00 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 3420 Falcon View Road SW for $1525 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 1930 39Th Street in Marion for $1650 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 290 Indiandale Road SE for $1600 per month

We invite you to take a closer look at one of these properties for rent. Call and talk to Robin Tucker at 319.365.6956 or e-mail him at rtucker@ttrco.com.

• We rented 878 14Th Street NE last week and 2753 2Nd Avenue SE has been sold ...

You can follow us on Facebook or Twitter! Tommy Tucker Realty was started in 1958 in Downtown Cedar Rapids. Congratulations to I.L. 'Tommy' Tucker for his 55Th year of service to the real estate industry.

Information to Home Buyers and Seller from NAR.

ttrco

Tuesday Rental news from Tommy Tucker Realty Co.

Current properties being marketed for rent by Tommy Tucker Realty Co. in the Cedar Rapids-Marion area:

• Two Bedroom Ranch at 828 14Th Street NE for $575.00 per month


• Two Bedroom Ranch at 870 14Th Street NE for $525.00 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 3420 Falcon View Road SW for $1525 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 1930 39Th Street in Marion for $1650 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 290 Indiandale Road SE for $1600 per month

We invite you to take a closer look at one of these properties for rent. Call and talk to Robin Tucker at 319.365.6956 or e-mail him at rtucker@ttrco.com.

We rented 878 14Th Street NE last week and 2753 2Nd Avenue SE has been sold ...

ttrco

Can we help you with a Rental House in the Marion-Cedar Rapids area of Iowa?

Current properties being marketed for rent by Tommy Tucker Realty Co. in the Cedar Rapids-Marion area:

• Two Bedroom Ranch at 828 14Th Street NE for $575.00 per month


• Two Bedroom Ranch at 870 14Th Street NE for $525.00 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 3420 Falcon View Road SW for $1525 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 1930 39Th Street in Marion for $1650 per month


• Four bedroom two story at 290 Indiandale Road SE for $1600 per month ***

We invite you to take a closer look at one of these properties for rent. Call and talk to Robin Tucker at 319.365.6956 or e-mail him at rtucker@ttrco.com.

*** Ad in http://gazetteonline.com/ for Saturday, May 15Th

ttrco

Beware of Scams found on the Internet regarding Rental Housing

craigslist

The Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors have issued the following statement to its membership on a scam on Craigslist. There have been recent incidents in the Cedar Rapids area according to fellow Realtors.

There are a number of homes currently listed for sale that are also
being listed for rent on Craigslist by a scammer.

This scammer lists the house for rent, usually for a very low rate. The only information in the ad that is correct is the owner’s name. Everything else is fake including the email address and phone number which is actually for the scammer.

Usually this scammer states that he is a missionary that is out of the Country and is looking for someone to rent and take care of his home.

He has also stated that he is out of the Country on extended business. He says that he has the keys with him and is unable to show the inside of the property.

Each time, he is asking the potential tenant to wire or send a deposit and rent via Western Union.

Please be aware that this is a scam. You can go onto Craigslist
and flag this type of posting to be deleted. - CRRealtors.org

It is similar to the Nigeria Letter Scam that has been out in the market for over 20 years. As a member of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, we are well aware of that common letter, now e-mail.

Craigslist Rental Scam Being Run From Nigeria? : The Real Estate ... - Real Esate Bloggers
Aug 6, 2009 ... The FBI has released a statement that a new Craigslist Rental Scam is being run out of Nigeria. Famous for the Advance Fee Scam, ...

Rental Scam Used Craigslist Ad‎ - KFOX El Paso
Recently, several families have been scammed with one family being conned out of $1000. Police said someone is creating fake posts on Craigslist.org with ...

We suggest that you should always work with a local resource for your rental and real estate needs. The City of Cedar Rapids discourages absent Landlords and encourages a local contact for the public, when dealing with housing, especially Rental Housing.

If you have questions regarding properties for rent in Cedar Rapids-Marion, please let us know, if we can be of service to you. We currently are marketing 2 bedroom and 4 bedroom houses for rent.

ttrco

Realtor® = Member of the National Association of Realtors®

Our real estate brokerage began in 1958, when my father, I.L. "Tommy" Tucker decided to branch out on his own. In 1969, we located to our current location of 613 2Nd Avenue SE in Downtown Cedar Rapids.

On Thursday, April 29Th, the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors® held a brokers' meeting, in which we are a part of. My father, Tommy, has been a broker for 52 years now.

We discussed various topics, as well, as comments were made about City of Cedar Rapids staff's interest in changing Chapter 29 of the Municipal Code (Rental Housing). Many in the real Estate industry have concerns on the proposed change in Chapter 29, as well as the process being used to adopt changes. Not all providers of Rental Housing in Cedar Rapids would be classed as investors, but it can include people facing unemployment and those who have a family home that they need rented, while they are gone.

ttrco

Real Estate Today Show and news on Rental Housing in Cedar Rapids

Attended the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtor's monthly meeting on Wednesday, which covered the subject: Credit, Financing and Underwriting Process. There is a lot of changes that have happened in the mortgage lending process, since 2008.



The City of Cedar Rapids is exploring a change in Municipal Code 29 (current code), which governs rental housing. Unlike the City of Iowa City, Cedar Rapids is not utilizing a citizen board or commission in the review of our current rental housing ordinance. This is disappointing when you consider the language found in our current Local Home Rule City Charter, which embraces the use of citizen boards and commissions.



Cedar Rapids Landlords Protest Proposed Fees‎ - KCRG - Mark Geary
Cedar Rapids' rental fees are, in some cases, as much as four times lower ... out of the general fund or taxes,” Chief Housing Inspector Al Pansegrau said. ...

ttrco

The City of Cedar Rapids City Council meeting for April 6, 2010

"The council now is discussing steering local-option sales tax money to
landlords. Flood Impacted Landlords have helped city staff develop the
guidelines," said Rick Smith of the Gazette, who is reporting with online Live
coverage of the Cedar Rapids City Council meeting.

LIVE COVERAGE: Cedar Rapids City Council, 4:30 p.m.
Posted on Apr 06, 2010 by Rick Smith.

Reporter Rick Smith is providing live coverage of today’s Cedar Rapids City Council meeting, which begins at 4:30 p.m. Among the agenda items:

• A discussion on what to do with the former Cedar Rapids Public Library building on First Street SE;


• Awarding a demolition contract for for the fire-damaged Sinclair site, formerly the Farmstead Foods meatpacking plant; and


• Having flood director Greg Eyerly report to the council rather than to city manager Jim Prosser.

Join the live coverage from The Gazette by following the link above, starting at 4:30 p.m.

In the coming weeks, the City Council will likely hear from City staff on proposed changes to Chapter 29 and Chapter 22 of the Municipal Code for the City of Cedar Rapids. These changes will impact property rights and costs associated with rental housing and affordable housing in the City of Cedar Rapids.

ttrco

Rental Housing in Cedar Rapids and news on Flood Recovery

The Gazette recently published a story on Flood Recovery for rental housing in the Cedar Rapids community. The impact on the of the Flood of 2008 was hard on many owners of rental housing in Cedar Rapids community ...

Flooded rental housing seeing slow progress - The Gazette

Current Properties being marketed:

We are currently accepting applications for Houses For Rent in Cedar Rapids, Iowa... None of these properties were located in areas hit by the Flood of 2008.

• Two Bedroom Ranch at 866 14Th Street NE for $525 per month (call to see)
• Two Bedroom Ranch at 878 14Th Street NE for $575 per month (call to see)
• Four bedroom coming available in Summer of 2010 in College Community ...

ttrco