by Ron Garcia | Mar 24, 2021 | Investing in Rental Properties, Owner Education, Property Management Education, Rental Housing Trends, Security Deposits, Uncategorized
Reviewing the conditions of the Greater Portland Metro Area market in 2021, the time has come to re-adopt that practice of charging a Last Month’s Rent and eliminate Security Deposits as a risky and non-useful financial placebo.
Vanessa Finley
Operations Manager
(Ext 6)
Vanessa was born and raised in Portland, and she has always enjoyed exploring her hometown. From the art galleries to the cafés and restaurants – she has been to them all. Yet, it wasn’t until she graduated from St. Mary’s Academy that she discovered her true passion. At the age of 18, Vanessa was introduced to property management and has since developed her career within the industry.
Just like her exploration of Portland, she has ventured through many aspects of property management and real estate, but she’s found her favorite role to be in accounting/office administration. In 2017 she became the Office Administrator for The Garcia Group, then in 2021 she was promoted to Operations, and we are extremely fortunate to have her.
Vanessa focuses on the company financials and record-keeping. She approaches and resolves the many and diverse accounting concerns as they arise. Her excellent customer service skills and keen eye for detail makes her a valuable player on our team. With her commitment to personal development, she helps us to succeed in managing properties throughout the Portland Metropolitan and surrounding areas. Her focus on the numbers and commitment to the overall professionalism of The Garcia Group plays a significant part in creating an excellent experience for both owners and tenants.
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Karla Hoffart
Tri City Portfolio Manager
(Ext.1010)
Karla has over 20 years of experience in both the accounting and construction industries. Her extensive knowledge is equaled only by her attention to detail and a “forensic approach” to getting to the bottom of things. Property Management is complex, with multiple layers. Managing workflow, triaging emergencies, keeping detailed records and customer service is a daily balancing act.
“Tenants can be upset at times when they call us. Owners can occasionally get frustrated. I find it rewarding to be the calm in the center of their storm. My husband is in construction, and I worked with him for many years, so I know many of the service vendors well and trust them to provide an accurate evaluation of the cost and timeline.”
Karla’s keen sense of focus and her priority for documenting details are the key to her success and are among her many experienced traits that she generously shares with the entire staff.
Amber Clark
Tri County Resident Coordinator
REALTOR ®, Principal Broker ORL: 20121192
(Ext. 1012)
Amber comes from a family of contractors and has been closely involved with many projects over the years that have allowed her to collect a wealth of knowledge which she has applied to her role as a successful REALTOR. From those charming turn-of-the- century remodels to the ins and outs of new construction, she has a wealth of property experience, and she is eager to share it with clients. She is an excellent communicator; she is fluent in Spanish, with a Linguistics Degree from the University of Oregon.
“I’m very fortunate to have found a career that combines some of my favorite things: people and properties. Being a licensed Real Estate Broker allows me to meet new and exciting people each day. Whether I’m guiding owners through the complex matrix of hiring a professional management company or helping a first-time buyer understand the maze of negotiations, inspections, and escrows – I help them make their real estate goals a reality!
“Communication is everything. I see my role as helping individuals navigate important housing issues in a positive and pro-active manner and to look for ways to make the outcome a great experience.”
Lindsey Pykonen
Portfolio Manager
(Ext. 5)
Lindsey Pykonen has lived in the Portland-Metro area since 1998. Originally from Southern Oregon, Lindsey moved up to Portland to be closer to family. Lindsey is married and a mother of two. She enjoys watching both of her children compete with their hip hop dance team, camping and spending time with her family and friends.
Lindsey began working in the Property Management industry in 2004 where she was a leasing agent at a 608 unit apartment community. From there she went on to manage her own property in North Portland. She then began to specialize in affordable housing. In 2015 Lindsey received her CPM designation while she was working at a project base section 8 community. Lindsey made the change to private rentals in 2016 and has enjoyed all that it brings.
“I enjoy being there for both the tenants and the owners. When an emergency arises, we are typically the first to be called. I find that being able to talk someone through the drama and help them fix the problem is rewarding. As a Portfolio Manager, I never know what the day may bring – but I enjoy knowing that everyday will be different. I believe that you have to do what you love, and love what you do!”
Caitlin Grace Marlow
Assistant Property Manager
(Ext 6)
Caitlin Grace is a native Portlandian. She loves everything about this city form all the unique restaurants, cafes, to all the different trails to explore. She is a mother of two wonderful children and they stay very busy on their off time with a large variety of activities, such as soccer, parkour, swimming, girl scouts, and much more.
Caitlin has been involved in property management since 2016 and is committed and enthusiastic. In her role of Assistant Property Manager, she helps the entire staff with her time from conducting unit inspections and showing vacant properties, installing lock-boxes and taking photographs, to file management and billing issues – all while simultaneously covering frequent “hot topics” assigned by the Portfolio Managers. “The best part about this type of career is, every day is a new day. You never know what you’re going to be walking into, and I love it!”
Liz Rockwood, Broker
Director of Property Management
Broker, ORL # 201220867
(Ext. 4)
management@garciagrp
Liz Rockwood is a licensed Oregon Real Estate Broker and has managed a large portfolio of properties for The Garcia Group since 2015. She has been our Senior Property Manager since 2020.
Liz has a deep background in social services, and she is an excellent communicator – always maintaining a calm voice, no matter what the situation. She is also trained in a multitude of software systems and procedures and her familiarity and knowledge of our vendors helps her get the job done, whatever it is, in a timely manner. When issues arise that need extra attention, Liz is the competent go-to person and a valuable asset to The Garcia Group staff.
Charles Sherwood
Yard-Care Tech
Charles Sherwood comes to the Garcia Group from years with established Portland yard-care firm, Island Landscape. His dedication to hard work and customer service has seen him throughout many changes in his life – from Boston to Florida to California- working at campgrounds and recreation parks as a maintenance helper. Then “I got smart and moved to Portland!” he admits.
His main daily responsibility is yard maintenance for residential properties, including mowing, pruning, and general cleanup. In his spare time, Charles can be found dreaming about restoring another classic muscle car from the ’60s or landscaping his own property. His wife, Michele, and super-dog, Schroeder, keep him busy as well.
Megan Hannah
Licensed Broker
(Ext 1009)
Megan is a licensed Oregon Real Estate Broker and works primarily as a Buyer’s Broker with Garcia Group Real Estate Service. She also works uniquely as our Tenant Placement Specialist; a fee-based service facilitating prospective tenants who want assistance to search vacancies throughout the market. She coordinates with other management firms and landlords to line up potential vacancies and schedules the viewings.
“I place a great deal of importance on helping people find their next home. As a member of the Garcia Group team, I strive to keep vacancy rates low for our owners as well as provide prompt and informational service to potential renters. Meeting new people all over the city every day is a wonderful way to make a living.”
She moved to Portland in 2015 from Eugene where she studied advertising and multimedia at the University of Oregon. Outside of the office, her hobbies include exploring the many activities that Portland has to offer, traveling around the Pacific North West, and hiking with her dog.
Utilities Information Guide – Oregon
Water and Sewer Utilities
Electric and Power
Garbage and Recycling
Gas and Heating Oil
TV, Internet and Phone Service
Ron and Belinda Garcia
Principal Broker and Owner
As business partners, Ron and Belinda Garcia are a complimentary blend of expertise and cordiality. Their success is founded on a mutual commitment to excellence, hard work and an unfailing respect for each other’s strengths. A true partnership, The Garcia’s warmth and sense of family extends to their staff, their clients and their tenants. Inspired by their leadership, The Garcia Group team is extraordinarily dedicated to providing exemplary service and care to every client and tenant.
Ron takes the lead in property management and front office operations, while Belinda manages the complex accounting systems. They guide the helm equally. Between them, any question raised by a client or tenant can be addressed within minutes. They empower their team of Portfolio Managers and Administrative Coordinators to act in the best overall interests of their clients. It is this critical attention to detail and dedication to responsiveness that has earned The Garcia Group its stellar reputation.
Washington Utilities Information
VANCOUVER
HAZEL DELL
BATTLEGROUND
CAMAS
WASHOUGAL
RIDGEFIELD
AMBOY/LaCENTER
Josh Viscounte
General Contractor
CCB# 225881
(Ext. 9)
Josh has over 20+ years experience in the building industry, including seven years as a small business owner/ general contractor. He is versed in all phases of remodel and additions, and is known for his creative abilities and resourcefulness in solving problems and finding solutions.
Josh is a father of 5. He is motorcycle enthusiast of both street and dirt bikes. In every way, he is a Dad first. For the Garcia Group Maintenance team, he is an awesome second!
Tenant FAQ’s
Q: What are the policies for paying rent?
Q: How are property condition reports done and how often do you inspect the unit?
Q: How do you handle maintenance and repair requests?
We enjoy working with our tenants and in striving to provide them with a quality housing experience.
Q: Is it possible to add or remove a tenant from the rental agreement?
Q: What is the termination and Move Out process?
Q: Will The Garcia Group review a deposit refund dispute?
It is important to know that there are no incentives for anyone on staff at The Garcia Group to over-charge or under-charge any amounts retained for Tenant Security Deposit refunds.
The Garcia Group does not collect interest on Security Deposits in the bank. By law, any amount not refunded to a Tenant is paid back to the Owner’s account (not kept by the company). We do not profit whatsoever by the amount of money either returned to the Tenant or forfeited to the Owner.
At The Garcia Group, we work diligently to insure that the Final Accounting for Tenant Security Deposits is timely and accurate:
Unfortunately, there are times when a Tenant feels they have been over-charged on their Final Accounting. There are also times when Owners feel they have been under-charged for losses incurred.
For this reason, we have established our Internal Review Panel (IRP) whose primary mission is to provide a fair and objective outlet to help resolve Client/Tenant disputes. Although it has no legal authority, the process receives overall approval for its outcomes. The function is not to negotiate settlements on all claims – but to review issues and/or complaints in order to weigh their merit and offer the best suggested course of action, which may (or may not) include a recommended settlement.
The process is: 1. A claim is submitted on-line in the space provided. 2. It is assigned to a panel within our company to review within 5 business days. 3. A suggested resolution is submitted to the manager for approval. 4. A decision is rendered and subsequently communicated to the parties within 48 hours later. 5. If an additional settlement is recommended a check is sent out within 7 days. 6. If no further action is called for, the matter is considered closed.
If you would like to submit an issue, please use this space to initiate your confidential request:
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Dee Reddy
Realtor, Principal Broker ORL: 200208130,
(Ext. 5)
repairs@garciagrp
Dee was born in India, emigrating to the US at age 2 to be raised in a small college town in central Pennsylvania and attended the east coast version of PSU (the Pennsylvania State University). She arrived in Portland in 1998 for a short detour on the way to San Francisco. What was meant to be a short professional time-out, turned into deep affinity for the people, places and mindset of the Pacific Northwest. One husband, 2 children and a few dogs later, Dee enjoys finding ways to be integral and of service to her community of friends, business associates and clients.
A scientist by education and training, her transition to the world of business was in pursuit of more creative outlets. With 17 years of experience as a landlord and as a real estate broker helping investors identify and acquire the right properties, she has extensive personal experience with the many factors that go into making and sustaining a good real estate investment. Dee truly understands how to be an invaluable resource to any type of investor from a single property landlord to a multi-property portfolio.
“It is literally my dream job to get to apply my breadth of real estate and investment experience to support a group of individuals as dedicated, talented and conscientious as the Garcia Group.”
Andrew Campbell
Lead Maintenance Tech
(Ext. 9)
Colton Roedl
Assistant Property Manager
(Ext. 5)
Colton grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon and attended Lakeridge high school. After getting his Advanced Associates degree he worked at various jobs to learn and pursue what he was interested in. He soon found his passion for real estate. After starting at The Garcia Group as a receptionist, he quickly worked his way up in company assignments, in large part due to his outgoing personality and eagerness to serve others. Colton is now the Assistant Property Manager supporting the Portfolio Managers and he is responsible for the scheduling the showings of all of the available rentals.
Anna Colio
Community Resident Manager
REALTOR ®, ORL: 201241242
(Ext. 2)
communities@garciagrp
Anna is known for her good cheer – even after many years of experience in the ever-trying property management field. Originating from Northern California, Anna made her way to the greener pastures of Portland, Oregon during the pandemic of 2020. In a year most people would rather forget, Anna’s self-starting attitude won her a place in The Garcia Group family.
Earning her Residential Broker’s license one year later, in 2021, she is enthusiastically poised and ready to serve our tenants. landlords and house-hunters with her competent professionalism.
Being a Community Manager, Anna focuses on the day-to-day challenge of maintaining a safe, fair and positive living environment for a diverse population of residents.
Marika Adams
Portfolio Manager
(Ext. 8)
Marika has called Portland home for over a decade and wouldn’t have it any other way. She was born and raised in Northern Idaho. In 2008 she moved to Portland for school and earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Concordia University. Marika began with The Garcia Group in the summer of 2019 as a Showing Agent. She has worked for the last 10 years in customer service and has found that her background and training has translated perfectly into promotion to Portfolio Manager. In her free time, Markia likes to do crafts, spend time with her cats and enjoy all the delicious food and drinks Portland has to offer!
Our Team
Assistant PM’s, Admin Support, Leasing Agents & Techs
(Ext. 1)
team@garciagrp
In recent years, the Oregon property management business has changed. New state regulations for tenant protections along with local ordinances that significantly restrict property owners’ rights -while adding extra compliance requirements – have placed increased demands on the entire industry, including greater administrative actions and heightened liabilities. This has resulted in rising operating costs due to the additional required activities, time, along with newer required skill sets. Our Team at The Garcia Group has resiliently met these challenges. We continue to adjust, train, and stay motivated. Honestly, the faces occasionally change, but our Team’s commitment to provide safe, fair, and affordable housing for our Owners and Residents alike will always remain firm.
Ron Garcia
REALTOR®, Principal Broker ORL: 95110050
Washington Designated Broker: 23281
R.M.I. Licensed Contractor CCB: 22581
(Ext. 7)
info@garciagrp
Ron’s real estate career dates back to his first residential investment in 1979. Working with 3 partners, they formed a small syndicate and purchased duplexes, single family homes and a commercial building in Sacramento, CA. He obtained his Real Estate Sales license in 1987 and has been an active Broker, Landlord, Property Manager and Housing Advocate for nearly four decades. He is the past president of Rental Housing Alliance, OR and has been its Executive Director of Public Policy since 2021 where he works with state and local lawmakers, advocating as a voice for Residential Property Providers.
Forming The Garcia Group in 2010 along with his wife Belinda, and with the addition of their son Alec who joined them in 2021, he is proud to be identified with all “mom and pop” businesses in the Greater Portland Metropolitan market.
Belinda Garcia
Principal Broker ORL: 200506145
Owner
(Ext. 0)
As business partners, Ron and Belinda Garcia are a complimentary blend of expertise and cordiality. Their success is founded on a mutual commitment to excellence, hard work and an unfailing respect for each other’s strengths. A true partnership, The Garcia’s warmth and sense of family extends to their staff, their clients and their tenants. Inspired by their leadership, The Garcia Group team is extraordinarily dedicated to providing exemplary service and care to every client and tenant.
Ron takes the lead in property management and front office operations, while Belinda oversees the accounting systems and protocols. They guide the helm equally. They empower their team of Directors, Managers and Administrative Coordinators to act in the best overall interests of their clients. It is this critical attention to detail and dedication to responsiveness that has earned The Garcia Group its stellar reputation.
Alec Garcia
General Manager
(Ext. 3)
rentals@garciagrp
Alec Garcia is a native Oregonian. Growing up in “the family business” he has been thoroughly versed in the complexities of residential property management. Alec graduated from the University of Oregon with his B.S. degree in Business Administration and minor in Legal Studies.
Since 2018, he has worked in the capacities at The Garcia Group as an Admin Assistant, and Leasing / Maintenance Coordinator, and since 2021, as a Portfolio Manager overseeing nearly 200 residential units. He regularly receives accolades for his efforts in providing great customer service.
Alec is an avid Trail Blazers fan and passionate about sports in general. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking throughout the Pacific Northwest, boating, and traveling.