Tenant Placement for North County San Diego Landlords
If you'd rather manage your own rental but want a professional to find and sign the tenant, Grey Falcon Properties offers tenant placement only. We price the home, market it, screen applicants and prepare the lease. Then we hand you the keys to a signed tenancy.
We bring 12 years of hands-on experience with tenants, from first inquiry to move-out, across the 144 homes we manage in North County. You get the judgment that comes from doing this every day, without hiring a full-time manager.
12 years
working with North County tenants
144 homes
under management today
No placement, no fee
you pay only when a lease is signed
Licensed broker
CA DRE Corp. #02209432
What we do
These are the same steps we use for the homes we manage full time, refined over 12 years of working with North County tenants.
- Price it right. We set the rent from current local comparables and how long similar homes are taking to rent. Overpricing is the most common reason a rental sits empty.
- Market it. Listing photos, a written description and syndication to the major rental sites.
- Handle the inquiries. We answer calls and emails, schedule showings and send the application to interested renters.
- Screen every applicant the same way. Credit (650 minimum), after-tax income of at least 2× the rent, and two verified government IDs, applied consistently under fair housing law.
- Prepare the lease. California Association of REALTORS® lease forms and required disclosures, signed electronically.
- Collect move-in funds and hand off. We collect the deposit and first month's rent, do a photo-documented move-in inspection, and introduce you to your new tenant.
Pricing
Tenant placement only
50% of one month's rent
$500 minimum. Paid once, when the lease is signed. No placement, no fee.
- Rent analysis and pricing
- Marketing and showings
- Full applicant screening
- California lease and disclosures
- Move-in inspection with photos
Placement only or full service?
Service
Tenant placement
Full-service management
Pricing, marketing, showings
✔
✔
Screening and lease signing
✔
✔
Move-in inspection
✔
✔
Rent collection
You
✔
Repairs and maintenance calls
You
✔
Notices, renewals, move-out and deposit
You
✔
Monthly owner statements
—
✔
See full-service management and fees →
Frequently asked questions
How much does tenant placement cost?
50% of one month's rent, with a $500 minimum, paid once when the lease is signed. If we don't place a tenant, you don't pay.
Why use a professional instead of placing a tenant yourself?
One bad placement can cost months of lost rent and legal fees. We've screened and placed tenants for 12 years, know California's application and fair housing rules, and apply the same written criteria to every applicant, which protects you as well as the renter.
How long does it take to find a tenant?
It depends mostly on price, condition and season. A home that's priced to the current market and fully rent-ready leases much faster than one that isn't. After 12 years of leasing North County rentals, we'll tell you honestly where your home stands on both before we list it.
How do you screen tenants?
Each applicant needs a credit score of at least 650, household income after taxes of at least twice the rent, and two valid government IDs. We apply the same written criteria to everyone. For voucher holders, the income test applies only to their share of the rent, as California law requires.
Can I pick my own tenant?
You can set your own written qualifications before we advertise, as long as they're objective and comply with fair housing law. We then approve the first applicant who meets them. Choosing between qualified applicants on personal preference is one of the fastest ways for a landlord to face a fair housing complaint.
What should I do to get the property rent-ready?
Clean it thoroughly, make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work, fix anything broken, touch up paint, and tidy the landscaping. We'll walk the property with you and give you a short list. Small fixes usually pay for themselves in faster leasing.
Who holds the security deposit?
With placement only, the deposit goes to you, along with the move-in inspection and photos. From then on, you're responsible for returning it under California's 21-day rule.
Can I switch to full-service management later?
Yes. Many owners start with placement and move to full service once they see how much time it saves.
Grey Falcon Properties · 2888 Loker Ave E #316, Carlsbad, CA 92010 · (760) 349-1101 · Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–4 p.m. · CA DRE Corp. #02209432