Your Local Community Rental Guide

We are excited to announce that version two of 562ForRent.com is in progress with expectations to release the new version of the website by mid March.    Our initial launch has been a great success and we have seen traffic double each month since inception.     Based on feedback from renters, property owners and our community partners our second release will include a revised home page with featured property banners for apartment communities and property management firms, a special offers section for local businesses and a community news section for local events and articles.   The new release will also include upgraded Craigslist templates and additional advertising opportunities on various pages throughout the website.   

As part of our effort to make the release of version two an even bigger success we would like to reach out to the apartment communities, property managers and real estate agents in the area and encourage them to participate by listing their properties with us at no charge.   In order to provide an even greater service to renters, we would like to have as many available rentals as possible in our database by our March.  Please feel free to contact us if you are a property manager or property owner interested in listing your property for free on 562ForRent.com!  You may also sign up for your free account here.

THIS SAT., FEB. 21, 10 a.m.; hosted by Justin Rudd!
1 Granada Ave., Belmont Shore in Long Beach, 90803.  Free parking, bags, gloves, refreshments, door prizes, and volunteer credit forms.  Be sure to show up and be signed-in by 10 a.m. to get your raffle ticket for the door prizes.  More than 150 volunteers, on average, each month.  Free parking.  WE MEET on the 3rd Sat. of each month.  Volunteers are asked to wear shoes and sunscreen. We will meet RAIN OR SHINE.

In a recent story featured in Businessweek it seems that rents are dropping in some areas of the country.  The economic crisis has opened up opportunities for apartment tenants. The inventory of vacant apartments is expanding, and rents are dropping quickly in major metros across the country.   For renters with leases about to expire, it’s time to negotiate. Landlords are working extra hard these days to keep units filled. 

Is your neighborhood one of them?   While Southern California is not specifically mentioned in the article above there are deals to be had in finding your next rental property.   Many large apartment buildings, condo communities and loft buildings are offering incentives to renters to move to their properties.   A period of free rent (usually a month), cash incentives and even TV’s are not uncommon to see in rental ads these days.  

Area is still king it seems when looking at the rental trends.  In highly desirable or congested areas such as communities near the beach or near a college, you will find that rents still remain fairly stable or perhaps have even risen with more people turning away from home ownership and looking to rent until the market shows signs of recovery.  

So what does that mean if you’re looking for a rental.   It means shop wisely, do your homework and if you have the luxury of a bit of time….shop around.   With more units available it means you have more to choose from and a better chance of finding that rental that you might actually be excited to move in to! Check rental websites daily…compare similar unit types.  If a unit or home has been vacant for a longer period of time then don’t be afraid to ask for specific incentives or discounts that might be available.    

Good luck and happy hunting!

Sunday’s 9am - 2pm. 

This weekly Certified Farmers Market is held in the parking lot of the Alamitos Bay Marina, on E. Marina Dr one quarter mile southe of E 2nd St just west of Pacific Coast Highway.   Shop for fresh produce, flowers from local growers, bakery items and more!  Parking is always free!

For more info about this or other area farmers markets click here!

The City of Long Beach continues to come up with creative ways to involve the community in the local art scene.  The East Village Art District has long drawn local crowds to the 2nd Saturday Art Walks and the new Goods Gallery is just one more reason to head to the Village if you haven’t been there before!  The gallery space seems temporary for now in that the website lists January 31st as the last day for exhibition.  We love the idea and hope to see an extension or at least more unique ideas like this!

Office Press Release for Debauchery exhibit below:

Red Hands Media presents “Debauchery” a festival of art, music and performance. The show will explore sexual and sensual temptations, desires and fantasies. The event will begin on a mellow note with live music that continues throughout the day. Artwork by Red Hands artists will be exhibited inside the gallery, ending with a special performance by burlesque dancer Voodoo Dahlia.

This event will musical performers and bands: Alyssandra Nighswonger, Joy Shannon and the Beauty Marks, Peg Leg Love, Bad Parents, The Crystells, Arrow Down, UV Lights, Gestapo Khazi, Discipline, Walking Wrecks, and special guest Voodoo Dahlia.

Exhibiting artists in this show are Cait A., Zara Kand, Art Martinez, Cyndee Barber, Michelle Pardew, Jonathon Hornedo, Jonathan Bueno, Amy Sundahl, Suzanne Justice, and Joy Shannon.

Red Hands Media is a Long Beach based collective of artists and performers. Its mission is to present quality but approachable exhibits and events.

The Goods Gallery is Long Beach’s newest community art space created from three repurposed cargo-shipping containers. Goods Gallery partnered with numerous community advocates of Long Beach including but not exclusive to: Port of Long Beach, Long Beach Redevelopment Agency and the Downtown Long Beach Associates. More information can be found at GoodsGalleryLB.com.

DATE/TIME:
Saturday, January 17
2:00pm-10:00pm

LOCATION:
Goods Gallery
200 Long Beach Blvd (Corner of LB Blvd and Broadway)
Long Beach, CA, 90802
562-822-6071
goodsgallerylb.com