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To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, here we go again. Once more, taxpayers are being told by our political elites that, if we want good roads, we have to have higher taxes. Not long ago, this column exposed the politicians’ plan to hike gas taxes along with vehicle license fees and registration. This plan, by San Jose…

Dear Resident, We Are Not a Bank One property manager was sharing with me that she has several past due residents, who were about to be evicted, were asking for more time to pay. They promised that a check (tax refund, payroll check, etc.) will be coming in the next week or so. The manager…

You have heard it all before.  Some of us have even said it ourselves – “Being a landlord can be a pain.”  Most people in this country will agree that it makes a lot of sense to buy property and invest in real estate.  We also know all the benefits of investing in real estate. …

Hello everybody.  For many years I have cautioned members of the Apartment Owners Association about the insidious automatic renewal and extension clauses which frequently appear in laundry company leases.  In my column this month I will review those and other problematic provisions and make specific recommendations to AOA members as to how to avoid them.

Preface:  It’s interesting what can be done with just flour, water and a touch of salt. A cook can make tortillas, flatbreads, or pasta. A young mother can make finger paint or paper glue. Similarly, it’s fascinating how different business models turn the three elements of need (when, where, how much) into finished sales. This…

Q:  Are Condominiums Exempt from Rent Control? With the plethora of rent control rules and regulations in San Francisco, there is widespread confusion about how condominiums are treated by the Rent Ordinance.

As you determine ways to make your apartment complex more appealing to tenants, you should pay attention to the latest trends when it comes to outdoor spaces.  More specifically, take note of what the American Society of Landscape Architects found when they conducted their Residential Landscape Architecture Trends survey.  Then consider using these findings to…

 Q:  My tenant filed a code compliance complaint with the city and did not notify me of the issues he complained of prior to filing the complaint.  I am frustrated because I subsequently received code violation notices from the city and was not given an opportunity to address the violations.  I am worried the tenant…

Webster defines the word “objection” as “A reason or argument presented in opposition; a feeling or expression of disapproval.”  He makes an objection sound negative. In reality, an objection from a prospective renter is a positive buying signal. It tells the leasing person that he or she is interested, but needs help figuring out “details.” 

It’s no surprise that landlords and property managers have full schedules and endless things to do.  With lots of tasks to juggle and plenty of jobs every day and every week, it’s easy for landlords to get burned out from the business.