San Francisco lawmakers have introduced a pair of bills to the state legislature that would hamper a property owner’s ability to quit the rental housing business. The pending bill, which would force buyers to own a building for at least five years before they could evict tenants using the Ellis Act, has moved out of… Read More
What is the Ellis Act?
March 21, 2014 by
The Ellis Act has taken center stage in San Francisco real estate media in recent months. While those evoking the Ellis Act or tenants displaced by the Act are well versed in what it is and what it means, bystanders may not. I would like to give a brief overview of the law and current… Read More
Cultivation and Consumption of Cannabis: What You Need To Know
February 19, 2014 by
Walking down the street in San Francisco, it might surprise people that marijuana is not legal. The free-spirit attitude of the 1960’s Haight-Ashbury days has persevered, and indeed, most law enforcement officials turn a blind-eye. However, as a multi-family building landlord, you still need to know your and your tenants’ rights with regards to cannabis… Read More
New Laws for 2014 That Affect Property Owners
January 28, 2014 by
Smoke Detector Compliance: Effective July 1, 2014, a battery-operated smoke alarm will not be legal unless it contains a non-replaceable, non-removable battery capable of powering the smoke alarm for at least 10 years. Until July 1, 2015, an exception to this rule applies to smoke alarms ordered by, or in the inventory of , an… Read More
A Landlord’s Prospective on Leasing
December 12, 2013 by
This is a continuation of last month’s blog post in which I chronicled my apartment hunting experience from a tenant’s prospective. This month, I focus on what I felt landlords and leasing agents could improve. PRICING San Francisco is under rent control, so it is in a landlord’s best interest to rent an apartment for… Read More
A Tenant’s Perspective on Leasing
November 20, 2013 by
I recently found myself on the other side of my business, as I searched for an apartment in San Francisco. I decided I wanted to move back to San Francisco after almost ten years of Peninsula living. I rented out my house and took the plunge into apartment searching. I decided to use this opportunity… Read More
Spooky San Francisco
October 17, 2013 by
Greetings! Owning and renting property in San Francisco can be a scary experience, but not as frightening as these foreboding Fog City abodes. Enjoy these chilling tales in honor of Halloween! Best, Natalie Atherton Mansion, 1990 California Street Believed to be haunted by George Atherton, the feeble son of Faxon D. Atherton and Dominga de… Read More
San Francisco Garbage Rates Rise
September 24, 2013 by
Garbage rates for apartment buildings, single-family homes and commercial buildings will rise over the next few years, after the progressive rate hike was approved by the San Francisco Department of Public Works. The new rate hike does not include a passthrough provision. One of the biggest changes to the new rate structure set by the… Read More
Apartment Code Violations About to Go Public
August 22, 2013 by
The San Francisco Department of Public Health recently unveiled Code for America, a health and safety history of every house and apartment in San Francisco. This uniform, machine-readable data format-authored by Rajiv Bhatia and Cyndy Comerford from the San Francisco Department of Public Health-will show the entire known history of building, everything from code violations… Read More
How To Deal With A Party Animal Tenant
July 30, 2013 by
No matter how well you screen tenants, it is inevitable that you eventually encounter a tenant who lives a party life much to the chagrin of his neighbors. The hard part about managing party animals who are disturbing other tenants is that unless you living on the property yourself, it becomes a game of “he-said-she-said.”… Read More