“Pockets of people across the Southland are living like royalty, without it costing them a king’s ransom,” reports the LA Times. To illustrate, they point out Jim and Laura Fisher, who live in a luxurious 5,000 square foot, two-story, four-bedroom Italian house in Huntington Harbor (complete with five bathrooms, a library-study, a Grand room, a cherry-wood kitchen, an outdoor spa, a BBQ and a boat dock)… all for just $2,800/month! So what’s the catch, you ask? Well, the Fishers are “home managers,” meaning that they show up at exquisite $4.25 million houses for rent and live there until someone else opts to buy it. If the house sells, they pack up within 10 days and move on.
To some, it sounds crazy to imagine moving three times in one year, but home managers seeking houses for rent say it’s actually not that stressful once you get the hang of it. Assignments usually last 3 – 7 months and Show homes can quickly accommodate the managers when a home sells, placing them right into one of 25 other contracted houses for rent. Most managers stay on-call for 1-3 years. Some people are new to the area and want to browse neighborhoods before settling down, while others simply like the lifestyle. For the managers, it’s an exciting change of scenery and a way to live like king and queen for a fraction of the price – no bills, no mortgage, no property tax. In some cases, they even get paid a bonus if the house sells quickly.
Cynthia Kayle says she’s moved three times this year – but all within the same condo high-rise in Irvine. She was a federal employee who transferred from another area. She pays $3,800/month to live in the $3.9 million condo with dazzling views of Santa Catalina Island, a home office, a wine patio and 3.5 bathrooms. Sure, she has to keep the place immaculate and ready for showings, but for a self-ascribed “neat freak,” it’s no big deal.
Jim and Laura Fisher work in energy management software consulting and interior design and have four children from 10-16 years of age. They arrange home viewings on Sundays while they’re out and about and they can be out of the houses for rent within two days by throwing everything into big plastic tubs and hiring professional movers. “I’d say we can get everything out of a 4,000 square foot house in seven hours and keep the whole thing under $1,000,” the Fishers report. For more information visit
http://www.househitz.com
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Jom Lynch
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