MORE than a dozen tenants have received eviction notices as their landlord prepares for a large-scale construction project.

Residents at the 39-unit Portofino Riviera complex in Sausalito, California – across the bay from San Francisco – have until October 31 to vacate their homes.

More than a dozen tenants have received eviction notices at an apartment building in Sausalito, CaliforniaCredit: KTVU
That includes Judy Holmes, 94, who has lived there for 11 years and isn’t sure where she’ll be living once the eviction order goes into effect on October 31Credit: KTVU

Judy Holmes, 94, has lived in her unit at the building for 11 years.

“They must have known what they were going to do,” she told The Marin Independent Journal.

“It’s a disgraceful way to behave.”

Holmes, who’s not sure where she’ll go once she has to leave, is one of 21 tenants who received an eviction notice.

The property owners said the move is necessary to make repairs to the building’s electrical, plumbing, and sewage systems, which are in poor shape.

“In the past year, we have operated the property at nearly 50 percent occupancy to avoid overloading these systems while we actively investigated solutions,” management told The U.S. Sun.

“We are now faced with the reality that the critical repairs which are necessary are highly invasive to both resident common areas and unit interiors and cannot be safely performed while the building is occupied.”

They initially thought the apartment could be fixed with the tenants still living there, but later realized that wasn’t the case.

Rent will be waived through October 31, management said.

But it will likely go up once the renovations are complete, said Todd Rothbard, an attorney representing the complex.

“How else will they pay for the repairs?” he said.

Holmes pays $2,000 per month for her studio, up from $1,400 when she first moved in.

A one-bedroom apartment in the building is currently going for nearly $3,700 and two-bedroom units rent for as much as $7,911.

City officials met with the property owners on Wednesday at the behest of Mayor Melissa Blaustein.

“Whether or not these evictions are lawful is beyond the point, the landlord needs to do what is right,” she told The Marin Independent Journal.

“Any time seniors and long-time tenants are evicted, it is alarming. The city is working to do everything possible to provide services and support as we call upon the property owner to chart a reasonable path forward.”

But the property owners said the building will be in much better shape once the work is completed.

“The building will be renovated during the course of the next year with the goal of modernizing systems and preserving critical rental housing stock in Sausalito,” they said.

The post I am 94 and have lived in my rental for 11 years appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

During the summer, I like to work odd jobs to remind myself of the importance of hard work and determination. This way, it helps me not take for granted the things that I have today.

Since starting Financial Samurai in 2009, I’ve been told countless times that I live in a bubble and I’m out of touch with reality. Never mind that I grew up in a middle-class household, went to public grade school and public colleges, and am a minority who came to America at age 14.

To many readers, I come from privilege, which I accept. I believe my wealth is mostly due to luck as opposed to skill and hard work. Because of this, I keep grinding so that one day I can feel like I deserved my good fortune.

Summer Jobs Before And After Children

I’ve taken on a number of summer jobs to remind me about the time I worked at McDonald’s for $4/hour. These odd jobs help me maintain a more grounded tone in my writing.

Before my boy was born in 2017, I gave 500+ Uber rides for three summers that paid between $15-30 an hour. Although the income wasn’t huge, I got to meet a lot of interesting folks. I also learned more about the San Francisco economy and various hot spots.

After my girl was born in 2019, I spent more time at home taking care of her, especially during the pandemic. Instead of working a near-minimum wage service job, I decided to spend time writing my book, Buy This, Not That. When I finished it, the hourly wage was even less than what I made driving for Uber.

It may be too late for me as a privileged person, who is out of touch with reality. But I’m determined not to let my children suffer the same fate!

This post is for people who are:

• Looking for ways to not spoil their children
• Looking to create stronger bonds with their children
• Retirees looking for things to do with their free time
• Real estate investors wondering whether landscaping pays off
• Feeling ungrateful and trying to appreciate more of what they have
• Lacking empathy for others because they’ve gotten too rich

The Decision To Put My Boy To Work At A Young Age

One of my constant fears is to raise spoiled children who do not appreciate what they have. I think many FIRE parents have this fear of screwing up their kids. We’ve only got about fourteen years of parenting before their foundation sets.

As a result, once he turned five in 2022, I decided to make him come pull weeds with me at a rental property. The tenants are supposed to maintain the yard once a month, as written in their lease. But they do not do so regularly. Instead of getting into an awkward conversation with them, I just end up pulling the weeds and trimming the bushes myself.

Once he turned six, I decided to put him to work as a landscaper for the fixer I had bought in 2019. My master plan was to renovate the top two floors in Stage 1, gut the ground floor in Stage 2, and then landscape the front yard in Stage 3.

Manual labor is the best type of labor to help us appreciate mental labor.

Saving $5,000 Or Making $7,000

My neighbor had spent $5,000 landscaping the front of his house, which now looks great. Given my rental property hadn’t been landscaped in over 60 years, I thought about hiring his landscaper for $5,000 as well.

But then I thought, why not “earn” $7,000 before tax by doing the landscaping work ourselves! When I told my boy about the plan, he asked me, “How are we going to remove all those plants and carry all those rocks? It seems impossible!”

I responded, “One plant and rock at a time!” Give most things enough time and eventually, we will succeed. And so, we got to work.

The Landscaping Process

Although the rental property’s front yard is small, the landscaping process still took a lot of time. There’s usually a crew of three adult men doing landscaping work. In our case, it was just me and a six-year-old boy.

Here were the steps we took to eventually turn an overgrown mess into something simple and beautiful.

Landscaping Step #1: Remove all the dead plants.

We used shovels and our hands to dig deep down into the dirt and remove all the plants. We then loaded up a truck and sent everything to the dumpster.

Landscaping Step #2: Dig out all the roots of the dead plants.

It’s not good enough to remove the dead plants, we also had to till the soil and pull out as many large and small roots as possible to prevent the plants from growing back. Then we had to rake the soil.

Landscaping Step #3: Go to the store and decide on the materials.

We drove 20 minutes south to a landscaping company called Broadmoor Landscape Supply to pick our materials. We used a black eco-friendly mulch to cover the dirt and got tri-colored pebbles for the pathway. We also bought a roll of black weed blocker material with stakes.

Landscaping Step #4: Roll out weed blocker and insert stakes.

To reduce the need to constantly pull weeds repeatedly every month, forever, we rolled the weed blocker over as much of the dirt as possible. We then inserted stakes every two-to-free feet.

It was so tempting to skip the weed blocker and dump the mulch on the dirt. But I told my boy the extra effort we put in at the beginning will save us time and money in the end.

Landscaping Step #5: Spread the mulch and rocks.

Dump the 12 bags of mulch on the dirt and spread it around. Then dump the four bags of pebbles on the path and spread them evenly. We didn’t put the weed blocker on the path because I forgot. Darn! But there weren’t any weeds there anyway.

Landscaping Step #6: Get the best succulents we could find.

Instead of paying $30 – $300 for each succulent, we decided to get the succulent pups from our other rental property. In 2017, I planted three succulents to represent my son, my wife, and me. I explained to my boy that since 2017, the succulents have grown and produced pups.

We cut the succulents that were the most accessible. I ended up sawing off succulents that would easily cost between $200 – $300 each if I had gone to the store. The largest ones each weighed between 50 – 80 pounds!

Landscaping Step #7: Plant the succulents.

Once we agreed upon a design, it was time to spread out the mulch, cut a large enough hole in the weed blocker, plant the succulents, and give them a good dose of water to help root. We decided to go with succulents because they are low maintenance. I also know from experience that tenants won’t water and take care of them.

Landscaping Step #8: Make a better border.

Because the house is on a hill, the front yard slopes downward. Over time, the brick border began sinking deeper into the soil. This posed a problem because then the mulch drifts down onto the entranceway and driveway.

The bricks were impossible to pull out. But we discovered that once we dug out one, every other one was much easier to dislodge. We cleaned the bricks, added soil where the bricks were, and placed the bricks back.

Landscaping Step #9: Clean up!

We ended up sweeping up all the dirt and debris in the driveway and entranceway. We filled up both the trash bin and ecology bin to the top and set the bins outside for pickup.

Related: How Landlords Can Create Teachable Moments For Their Kids

How Long Did It Take To Landscape?

All told, the landscaping job took about 11 hours over seven days. We spent one-to-two hours a day working to make the landscaping project manageable. Two of those hours were driving to the supply store, picking out the materials, and driving back thrice.

After each day, we felt a tremendous amount of satisfaction. When it was all done, we gave each other high fives! I told my boy that every time he walks by or drives by the rental house, he will now experience the joy of knowing he helped do the work.

The total cost for all the materials was $240. Gas cost around $12. And then there was the cost of our time. But I didn’t view the 11 hours we worked as a costly expense. Instead, it was a priceless bonding experience between father and son we will never forget.

Instead of paying landscapers $5,000, we did it ourselves. My hope is this laborious experience will help him develop a strong work ethic and realize hard things can be completed with enough time.

Life Lessons From The Landscaping Project

1) Learn to do things yourself.

The more knowledgeable and self-sufficient you are, the easier your life will be. Instead of relying on people to do the simplest things, you can do things yourself to save time and headaches.

One example is learning how to change your own tire in case of a flat. Another example is learning how to invest your money. Once you do, you can save money on a financial advisor and potentially make a lot more money compared to those who are financially illiterate.

2) It’s better to do than to show.

You can tell your children or your students to do something all you want. But unless you are also taking action by doing, your teachings may not be as effective.

As a high school tennis coach for three years, I enjoyed playing against my students in challenge matches during practice. Win or lose, they respected my authority more and tried harder because I was battling against them.

By getting my hands dirty, I showed my boy I’m not too good for any job. In turn, he was also willing to get his hands dirty. If you work until exhaustion, you might be able to get rid of entitlement mentality and better appreciate any other type of work that is less demanding.

3) If the direction is correct, sooner or later you will get there.

This is my favorite Chinese proverb. Big tasks often seem impossible to accomplish in the beginning. But if you keep on working at it, you will eventually succeed in completing your task.

The next time you face a big task, think about tackling it in multiple stages over time. This way, the task won’t feel as daunting. Eventually, you’ll put together something you’re proud of.

When I bought the fixer in 2019, it was in pretty bad shape. But I gave myself three years to make the property beautiful. Although it took one-and-a-half years longer than expected due to the pandemic, it eventually got done.

4) The first impression of your house matters.

A well-landscaped front yard makes a tremendous difference in improving the value of the home. The first impression a buyer has is always from the outside. The stronger the first impression, the better the overall impression of the house.

Now whenever my boy and I go to open houses, we take a moment to appreciate the landscaping. We talk about the type of stones they use, the design, the lighting, and the plants. He’s interested now, whereas, in the past, he never paid landscaping a lick of attention.

5) The work is never-ending

Despite landscaping the front yard, weeds will eventually grow back. As a result, we’ve got to return regularly for maintenance. But hopefully, this realization of the need for constant upkeep will translate to lessons for other areas of my children’s lives, e.g. eating healthy and exercising, continuing education, etc.

Given we finished landscaping the yard, I decided to tackle the next project with my daughter by redoing the sidewalk. I asked her to help me pull the weeds and lay weed blocker with stakes. We then went to get 18 bags of 3/4″ pami stone. Now that was a good workout!

18 bags of rock cost another $270 plus about $20 for gas back and forth.

Summer Jobs And Teachable Moments

During every summer onwards, I’m looking forward to doing more odd jobs with my children. Eventually, we’ll move on to painting interior walls and trim. Then I’ll teach them how to change fixtures and fix toilets. Finally, I’ll teach them about the online business world.

We’ll be able to get a lot done over the next 12-15 years!

My hope is that after they leave home, they’ll turn into handy people who will appreciate the importance of hard work. If they ever get jobs that pay much more than minimum wage, hopefully, they will appreciate all the odd jobs they did when they were children.

As a Gen Xer who remembers life before the internet, I still can’t believe we can make money typing on a computer from the comfort of our own home! As a result, I have a lot of motivation to keep writing on Financial Samurai.

Eventually, I hope their hard work will translate into financial reward. It would be nice if they turn into financially independent adults with their heads on straight. They might end up even going into the landscaping business, you never know!

What I do know is that once they get to actually make money from work (instead of get rewarded with hugs and popsicles), I’ll encourage them to max out their Roth IRAs. This way, by the time they graduate college, they will have enough saved up to confidently pursue their goals without too much financial worry.

Reader Questions And Suggestions

Anybody do any landscaping work themselves? How satisfying is it once the job is finally done? What are some odd jobs you’re doing with your children to make them better appreciate what they have and teach them work ethic?

Listen and subscribe to The Financial Samurai podcast on Apple or Spotify. I interview experts in their respective fields and discuss some of the most interesting topics on this site. Please share, rate, and review!

For more nuanced personal finance content, join 60,000+ others and sign up for the free Financial Samurai newsletter and posts via e-mail. Financial Samurai is one of the largest independently-owned personal finance sites that started in 2009. 

The post A Summer season Job Landscaping A Rental Property With My Youngsters appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Some short-term renters in the Bay Area are feeling the pressure this summer. Airbnb bookings have been declining in San Francisco, and property owners believe this is happening for a number of reasons.

As tourism picks up again, big companies are still moving out of town, resulting in fewer business leases. And hotels offer better deals.

Some hosts also believe that visitor safety perceptions could be an issue. The head of a host advocacy group says there are ways to address these concerns.

“Hosts also advise on how to ensure that (tenants) do not become victims of crime. So if you’re driving into town in a rental car, make sure you don’t leave any valuables in it,” said Peter Kwan, co-chair of the Home Sharers Democratic Club. “I point out areas that aren’t so safe.”

He also believes San Francisco’s tourist areas are as safe as any other major city.

Kwan recommends hosts entice renters with a new post, new rental pictures, and even discounted prices.

While Airbnb didn’t provide specific details on the bookings, it did say that the typical Airbnb host in San Francisco made about $26,200 in 2022, up from $18,900 in 2019.

The post Quick-term rental considerations in San Francisco – NBC Bay Space appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Market Overview

According to the research report on GCC HVAC Rental MarketAccording to the forecast, the market is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 3.48% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2028. The report offers a comprehensive and strategic analysis of the growth path of the market in the upcoming period. It explains in detail the latest market trends, growth drivers, challenges, opportunities, and ongoing and upcoming developments. The aim of the research study is to enable the key market players to align their strategies accordingly.

• Historical Period: 2018-2021
• Base year: 2022
• Forecast years: 2023-2028

Request a free sample report: https://www.marknteladvisors.com/query/request-sample/gcc-hvac-rental-market.html

The research report includes the following key inclusions

• GCC HVAC Rental Market Size, CAGR, Drivers, Challenges, Opportunities and Restraints.
• Current developments of the leading market participants.
• Key performance indicators that may impact the GCC HVAC Rental Market in 2023-2028 such as: B. Product/service launches, untapped geographies and investment portfolio.
• Key trends and key companies/stakeholders related to the GCC HVAC Rental Market.

Scope of GCC HVAC Rental Market Research Report:

This research report shows how the leading players in the GCC HVAC Rentals market focus on their sales, product portfolio, margins and net income. It also describes their performance on various end-user verticals. Furthermore, the report aims to provide strategic suggestions for new entrants in the market and guide established executives in achieving further business development in the industry.

Read full report: https://www.marknteladvisors.com/research-library/gcc-hvac-rental-market.html

Market Segmentation of GCC HVAC Rental Market

This section of the research report studies in depth various segments and sub-segments of the HVAC Rental GCC market across different regions. It helps readers to identify the key aspects that might impact the growth trajectory of the market over the period 2023-2028. The following segments are taken into account:

-By type

• room air conditioners
• Centralized air conditioning
• Other (heaters, etc.)

-On application

• construction
• events
• Equipment breakdown

-By duration

• Short term (>15 days)
• Long term (15 days or more)

-By countries

• The UAE
• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Bahrain

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the GCC HVAC Rental Market

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 rapidly changed people’s working and living habits. This section of the research report examines the changes in the GCC HVAC Rental market growth trajectory in response to the pandemic. It also offers insights into the various changes in consumer demand, purchasing behavior and other factors that have occurred due to the global crisis.

Talk to our advisor: https://www.marknteladvisors.com/query/talk-to-our-consultant/gcc-hvac-rental-market.html

Our research analysts constantly interact with industry experts to keep track of changing industry dynamics. They offer our readers the latest insights that can help them make informed decisions and prepare for such situations in the future.

competitive landscape

The research report includes current developments of key players in the GCC HVAC Rental Market listed below. It also provides valuable information about strategies such as mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations that these companies are pursuing at different stages.

• Johnson Controls (York)
• Aggreko
• Ingersoll Rand (Trane)
• Byrne Gear Hire
• Andrews Sykes Air Conditioning Rental
• Rental solutions and services
• Foster International
• GAMI
• GEO Rental Solutions
• energy
• Prime Chiller Cooling Systems PLC
• Other

ABOUT US:

MarkNtel Advisors is a leading research, consulting and data analytics firm providing an extensive range of strategic reports across multiple industries. We provide data to an extensive and diverse customer base including, but not limited to, multinational corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals.

Our specialization in niche industries and emerging regions allows our clients to formulate their strategies in a much more informed manner, incorporating parameters such as go-to-market (GTM), product development, feasibility analysis, project scope, market segmentation, competitive benchmarking, market sizing, forecasts and trend analysis among others for 15 different industries.

This information enables our clients to identify attractive investment opportunities and plan their actions to achieve a higher ROI (return of interest) through an early mover advantage with top management approaches.

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Since early June, motorists on State and Highland streets have been treated to a bright splash of color on the east side of the former Mayberry Electric building at 104 State St., but the project goes deeper than the exterior design.

“The mural is part of a larger building renovation project that my family and I have completed over the past two years,” says developer Mackenzie (Westcott) Galli. “The project includes the opening of two short-term rental lofts on the top floor and several retail openings on the ground floor.”

The first inaugural phase of the project will kick off on June 16 between 4pm and 6pm with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony as part of the “Third Friday on the Square” event.

“At this event we will unveil the mural and conduct tours of the renovated 1890 lofts. The lofts are two-bedroom, one-bathroom spaces with exposed brick, natural sunlight, and modern conveniences,” says Galli. Each room suite also has a kitchen, living and dining area.

“Each loft evokes a different era in the history of the building,” she explains. “The Harvester pays homage to the Deering Harvester Company, which operated a small engine and twine dealership on the first floor of the building in the early 20th century. The Mayberry pays tribute to the recent past by honoring Mayberry Electric and its past owners as I knew the building in my life.”

For booking information and photos, visit 1890Lofts.com. The second phase of opening retail space on the ground floor of the building will take place this fall.

Proud of Williamsburg

The mural is an important part of the overall project, says Galli, who currently lives in Clive and works as an actuary. A native of Williamsburg, she graduated from Williamsburg High School in 2008. Her father’s family is from Oxford and her mother’s family from Parnell. With both sides of her family still living in the area, she notes that this project allows her to stay connected to her hometown.

“Williamsburg and its people have been fundamental to me and my family,” she says. “I hope that through the work that my family and I have done in this building, the community can feel the love and gratitude we have for this community and its people.”

“With the beautification of the building and its visible location, I hope that it will be a beacon for access to the town square to bring more business to the square’s small business owners,” she continues. “I hope the mural promotes Iowan pride and encourages local interaction with it. Finally, I hope the redeveloped areas can serve as a springboard for new small business owners to offer more services to both Williamsburg and non-Williamsburg residents.”

project timeline

The completed mural reflects two years of planning and a partnership with the city.

“In the spring of 2021, the City of Williamsburg and I submitted a pre-application for the (Catalyst) grant and were subsequently asked to submit a full application based on the merits of my idea,” Galli explains. “We competed with other initiatives statewide and received the grant in the summer of 2021. The City of Williamsburg provided grant writing and submission assistance to bring the building’s impact to the community to life.”

As grant recipients, the city of Williamsburg and Galli received $100,000 under the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program, she explains. This project was sponsored in part by the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

“The City of Williamsburg provided $5,000 in kind and $5,000 for beautification and directionality,” says Galli. “The city’s support for this project was decisive for the award of the grant as one of the application criteria assesses the city’s support for the project. The level of support from the city was a competitive advantage for this project.”

The result was an even stronger bond between Galli and her hometown.

“I attended several city council meetings to introduce the motion, brief council members on the process, apply for city funding, and gather feedback from the city council on the use of the beautification/signage funds, which led to the selection of the mural,” recalls Galli. “The City Council, City Clerk, City Attorney, City Administrator and City Police have been extremely supportive and helpful throughout the process and I want to thank them for their patience, insight and willingness to work with me.”

“The city is pleased with the completion of this project,” said Williamsburg City Manager Aaron Sandersfeld. “Williamsburg is fortunate to have many local entrepreneurs willing to invest their time, energy and capital in our community. This project is a cornerstone of the square “Attracting people to our business district.”

He noted that this project illustrates the importance of public-private partnerships.

“Bringing government funds with private funds has had a major impact on our ability to preserve Williamsburg Square’s historic aesthetic,” Sandersfeld said. “The addition of the 1890 Lofts is a great addition to Williamsburg. For a community of our size with many business travelers, we lack quality accommodations.”

The mural

The mural on the east side of the building depicts a farm landscape against a colorful sky and is emblazoned with the caption “How Lucky Are We?”.

“At the time of submitting the grant in 2021, I was working with the then-owner of Colorful, an art-focused studio and company in Williamsburg’s Square, to identify a pool of potential muralists for the piece,” says Galli. “In the spring of 2023, when the exterior of the building was complete, I surveyed the work of the provided muralists and was amazed by the use of color and the boldness of the artist’s designs. The artist also had experience of large exterior murals with inscribed lettering. Finally, the artist was based in eastern Iowa, which helped me interpret my goals and ultimately execute on the final mural design.”

The finished product represents three phrases Galli developed from her project goals. They were: locally proud, interactively attractive, and bravely happy. All have been approved by the city council.

Once these were established, Galli and Lauren Gifford, an Iowa native who now lives in San Francisco, California, worked to bring these concepts to life through imagery and wording.

“It took a handful of iterations before we settled on a final draft, which was then presented to the council,” says Galli.

The artist

Lauren Gifford grew up in Cedar Rapids and earned a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship from Iowa State University. An artist since childhood, she opened her own studio after college, creating custom murals for a variety of settings including wedding venues, elementary schools and public beautification projects.

“My goal is for each work of art to resonate with the community in which it lives and be a splash of color and a spark of joy to everyone who walks by,” says Gifford.

She became involved with the Williamsburg project after meeting Galli through an acquaintance at a local business. The two women worked together to develop a design that would capture the cherished aspects of life in Williamsburg.

“‘How lucky are we?’ is a work of art that evokes a feeling of being at home,” says Gifford.

This mural features a cascading gradient created using a varied brushstroke technique to blend one color into the next. Gifford also created a custom hand lettered design with flourishes. One of her specialties is writing as she has led calligraphy workshops in the past.

“This mural is possibly my favorite public work of art I’ve ever created,” she says. “The combination of local input and the freedom to work in my style and color palette has led to exciting breakthroughs in my creative process. I am so grateful that I was the artist chosen for this piece.”

Interior contractor

While Galli and her father, Scott Westcott, did much of the interior work on the building, they hired the following local contractors to help them with the project: Imhoff Electric, Spratt Construction, Day Plumbing and Heating, Jones Painting, MGSI Ltd., Yoder Masonry, L&J Coatings and Weldon Drywall.

Comments: Melinda.Wichmann@southeastiowaunion.com

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A Craigslist rental posting in San Francisco caught our eye this week. What jumped out wasn’t the gorgeous exposed pine ceilings or “luxurious window dressings,” but the explosive price tag and the fact the posting tells folks not to bother applying if they don’t earn $432,000 a year.

The two-bedroom, 2.5-bath corner penthouse at 255 Berry St. in San Francisco’s Mission Bay doesn’t come cheap. Rent is a cool $12,000 a month, and the small print at the bottom of the ad simply states: “REQUIREMENTS: Credit: Good Standing Income: 3x the Rent”

255 Berry St., unit 708

Craigslist

While it’s not unheard of for landlords in San Francisco to demand proof of an income three times that of the rent, in this instance that calculates out as showing receipts for nearly half a million bucks a year, making one wonder whether the price tag is a little steep for a two-bed apartment.

So what can the new tenant expect after handing over $24,000 for the deposit and first month’s rent on the 2,435-square-foot pad? Not one but two fridges; a full home water filtration system; and a view of “water” (though it seems from the photos that the water in question is Mission Creek, not the bay.)

255 Berry St., unit 708

Craigslist

The apartment does offer some luxe finishings in the “impeccably appointed Bulthaup, Gaggenau, and SubZero kitchen,” radiantly heated floors, a “Spa like bathroom” and towel warmers. Redfin estimates that the unit is worth $2,887,899 (that’s $312,000 less than what it last sold for in 2019).

255 Berry St., unit 708

Craigslist

Find the full listing on Craigslist.

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San Francisco has no shortage of luxury apartment buildings. These skyscrapers, usually clad in glass and with an all-white interior accented by stainless steel appliances, are known for their amenities. A 24-hour doorman, extensive roof terraces, dog runs and even work rooms have become everyday perks. And with rental prices in the Bay Area still below pre-pandemic levels, many homes are still offering deals to attract potential tenants – and the perks could get louder.

One amenity that has come up a couple of times lately while following Craigslist rentals is Valet Waste Service – aka someone comes and picks up and cleans your trash for you. No more way to the building’s garbage chute; instead, someone from the management of the building will take care of it for you.

When a building called Potrero Launch, which offers the service, was reached via the automated chat service, no indication could be given of how often it was included or whether you can probably dispose of your trash yourself.

This luxury condo is available for rent in San Francisco on Craigslist.

Craigslist

While someone taking out your trash sounds great, we’ve seen other buildings offer everything from rooftop pools, rock climbing walls, outdoor kitchens, butterfly habitats, music rooms, valet parking, libraries, and wine cellars. NEMA, a luxury apartment building in SOMA, won the San Francisco Apartment Association’s Best Facilities Award two years in a row. In November 2020, it offered three months of free rental plus a bonus offer of your choice – like free personal training sessions or a donation to your favorite charity – to sign a rental agreement.

These buildings often charge above the market price for their units. “Our analysts found that the more amenities a property got, the more expensive it was,” said a Zumper spokesman. “Buildings with more than the average equipment were 16% more expensive than those with less.”

This luxury condo is available for rent in San Francisco on Craigslist.

Craigslist

A two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at Potrero Launch has access to a rooftop lounge, 24-hour gym, yoga studio, and “zen” garden. There is also a “social lounge”, a dog run and a bicycle storage room. Coveted and rare SF in-unit amenities such as in-house laundry and air conditioning are also included.

The Craigslist listing currently has four weeks of free rental, but it’s worth noting that there is no parking available. It’s going for … drum rolls … $ 3,999 a month! Zumper reports the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Potrero Hill is $ 4,188.

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A sunny apartment at a price too good to be true. A text message offering a loan to pay off pandemic rental debts. Or a sudden phone call promising a grant to avoid an eviction – for a small up-front fee.

Welcome to the world of home fraud in the age of COVID-19.

In expensive rental markets like the Bay Area, home fraud with low detail and strong pressure to hand over deposits is nothing new. However, recent warnings from financial watchdogs and data on rental housing systems point to a rapidly changing landscape for California renters trying to navigate the frenzied pandemic housing market, where some tenants struggle to pay off their debts while others experience discounted rents benefit.

A new Apartment Guide report reveals that California was home to three of the five largest cities in the country for reported rental fraud per capita from January 2015 to May 2021: No. 1 Los Angeles, No. 3 San Francisco, and No. 4 San Diego . The report also found that the busy summer moving season tends to be the most expensive when average losses have exceeded $ 19,000 per victim.

The timing couldn’t be worse this year. After a slow start to California’s unprecedented $ 5.2 billion pandemic rental relief program, officials are asking renters to seek assistance before the state’s September 30 eviction moratorium expires. However, tenant attorneys warn that an increasing number of scams could hamper these efforts.

“It’s really brutal to prove that you’re not just trying to get people’s information and take advantage of them,” said Leora Tanjuatco Ross, associate director of San Mateo County’s Housing Leadership Council.

Even before the pandemic, Tanjuatco Ross said her non-profit organization was hearing more skepticism from tenants who were exhausted by years of rising costs and intense competition for housing. And now dozens of community groups have been enlisted across the state to ease rents through a maze of city, county, and state programs funded by the federal government.

According to the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, the state’s primary rent reduction program had paid out $ 282 million in financing to 23,760 households by last week – a fraction of the 807,000 households the National Equity Atlas estimates were lagging behind in rent. With the addition of smaller rent relief programs in the Bay Area and the city, only 10% of the nearly $ 900 million in funds available to the area had been disbursed by mid-July.

Now efforts to speed up those payments clash with recent warnings from watchdog groups that scammers are changing their tactics as rents pandemic protection expires.

“Scammers often take advantage of the confusion and stress surrounding major events,” the Better Business Bureau said in an August 6 warning. “When the eviction moratorium expires, watch out for fraudsters offering loans, selling credit repair services, or promoting government programs.”

The Better Business Bureau scam tracker, which is just a snapshot based on consumer reports, has identified more than 50 rental and moving frauds in the Bay Area and 144 across California since the COVID-19 lockdown began in March 2020. They range from two roommates in Oakland who said they lost $ 4,190 after viewing an apartment by sending a person in Los Angeles money for a deposit via a cash app that was $ 499 for paid an eviction defense service that never came about.

One challenge is that the supply of rental fraud in California has exploded in recent years, well beyond known attempts to trick home applicants into transferring money to unknown recipients. Now scammers can reassure them that they don’t need social security numbers, just a credit report. Or they post photos of homes recently sold or offered for rent on more regulated sites like Zillow, Vrbo, or Airbnb, district attorneys warned in Santa Cruz County and elsewhere.

Last year, the FBI’s cybercrime department reported more than 13,600 confirmed victims of rental and real estate fraud in the United States. This makes them less common than credit card schemes, but more common than healthcare tricks. Overall, real estate fraud cost victims more than $ 213 million.

In the Bay Area, rental fraud has also taken hold in fire-hit areas and, more recently, in locations that have seen an influx of remote workers. Take a three-bedroom, white picket fence Santa Cruz bungalow that was advertised last week on Craigslist for $ 3,600 a month and on Zillow for $ 4,600 a month.

Go to www.housing.ca.gov, text 211211, or call (833) 430-2122 to see if you are eligible for legitimate state, county, or local rent loss programs.

Never agree to pay a fee for assistance with free rental reduction programs, or give your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number to someone who contacts you.

When you hear about an organization offering rental help, search for their name online with the words “scam”, “scam” or “complaint” to see what others have to say.

The California eviction ban for non-payment of rent lasts through September 30th. Tenant attorneys recommend that you follow the “three-S rule” when you receive an eviction notice: stay at home, submit a COVID-19 hardship declaration to your landlord and look for tenant relief.

Report suspected fraud related to rent reduction at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov or to the local public prosecutor.

See morecollapse

“I can’t give you a personal tour right now,” said the Craigslist poster, instead offering an in-depth backstory about cancer treatment out of state and a picture of a driver’s license with the same address in Santa Cruz.

“Yeah, it’s a scam,” said Scott Joly, the real estate agent trying to rent the actual house.

Lauren Hepler is a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: lauren.hepler@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LAHepler

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Landing, a rental company, is moving its headquarters from SF to Birmingham. (Shutterstock)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. Landing, a home rental company founded by Shipt’s founder, is moving its headquarters from San Francisco to Birmingham.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced the move Thursday morning. She said it would create 816 full-time positions.

“Landing is a fast growing company with an innovative business model and we are very excited to have its headquarters in Alabama,” said Ivey in a statement.

Landing uses a membership model to rent furnished and unfurnished apartments across the country. The company offers tenants flexibility by offering “flexible leases, concierge services, first-class furniture, basic equipment in stock and 24/7 support”. Members pay an annual membership of $ 199 and can rent at 81 locations, according to the company’s website.

“As a native of Birmingham, relocating our headquarters and expanding our team in Alabama was a natural transition,” said Bill Smith, Founder and CEO of Landing, in a statement.

Smith previously started Shipt, the app-based delivery service that was later developed by Target Corp.

Car RentalSan Francisco

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Justin Lawrence hat eine Tätowierung seiner Lieblingsbank an der Seite seiner rechten Wade.

Auf den ersten Blick hätte ich es wahrscheinlich nicht bemerkt – seine Arme und Beine sind mit Tinte bedeckt -, aber es ist das erste, was er mir über seinen Auftritt als Mitinhaber von Fayes Video & Espresso Bar, einem von zwei örtlichen Geschäften, erzählt in einer fast vergangenen Ära von Videotheken verlassen.

In den 23 Jahren, in denen Faye’s im Geschäft war, hat sich die ansonsten unauffällige Holzbank vor der Tür zu einer Art Maskottchen in der Nachbarschaft entwickelt, das einen ungewöhnlichen Community-Hub darstellt, der vor dem sich ständig ändernden Hintergrund des Missionsbezirks geschmiedet wurde. Es ist breit genug, um Platz für vier Personen zu bieten und ist ein idealer Ort, um die geschäftigen Aktivitäten in der 18th Street mit einem Eiskaffee-Wirbel in der Hand zu beobachten.

Und wie in einer Szene direkt aus einer Rom-Com haben im Laufe der Jahre mindestens zwei Dutzend Heiratsanträge von Menschen gestellt, die entweder Filme gemietet oder Kaffee gekauft haben und später beschlossen haben, als De auf die Bank zurückzukehren Fakto Samstag Nachmittag Date Spot.

Für Lawrence, der seit 21 Jahren in einer Wohnung nebenan lebt, ist die Bank eine visuelle Erinnerung an den Ort, der sein Leben verändert hat.

“Ich habe es auf mein Bein tätowieren lassen, bevor ich überhaupt als Angestellter hier angefangen habe, weil ich ein Fan von Faye war”, betont er das letzte Wort. „Es war von Anfang an dabei und oft wird ein Gespräch darüber geführt, was in der Nachbarschaft oder in der Welt los ist. Ich denke, ein kleines Gespräch kann zu einer großen Sache im Leben eines Menschen führen, und das ist ziemlich magisch für mich. “

Geschäfte wie Faye’s gelten als die letzten einer sterbenden Rasse. Seit den späten 1980er Jahren haben allein in der Bay Area über 150 Videotheken ihre Türen endgültig geschlossen.

In der Nähe in der Valencia Street befindet sich heute die nicht mehr existierende Lederzunge, die Berichten zufolge Dr. Martens in der einen Hälfte des Geschäfts verkauft und obskure VHS-Kassetten aus der anderen gemietet hat, der Parkplatz von Flour + Water.

Und als das beliebte Le Video von Inner Sunset im Jahr 2015 geschlossen wurde, wurde es zu Green Apple Books on the Park, während sein Sortiment von 90.000 Videos jetzt in einem Alamo Drafthouse in Raleigh, NC, ausgeliehen wird. Ebenso wurde Lost Weekend von Alamo New aufgekauft Mission zur Bereitstellung einer Videoverleihkomponente für das Theater, obwohl diese bestimmte Filiale seit Beginn der Pandemie geschlossen wurde und die in Austin ansässige Kette letzten Monat Insolvenz angemeldet hat.

Mittlerweile ist das Hollywood-Video in der California Street ein Pet Food Express. An anderen Orten in der Bay Area wurden vor einigen Jahren auch Pacificas Nickelodeon Entertainment und Berkeleys Five Star Video geschlossen. Damit endete eine Ära als letzte der Videotheken in ihren jeweiligen Städten.

Mit Ausnahme von Video Wave im Noe Valley ist Faye’s der einzige Überlebende in San Francisco – einer Stadt, die Videotheken vor einzigartige Herausforderungen stellt.

Justin Lawrence ist seit 2015 einer der Miteigentümer von Faye’s.

Amanda Bartlett / SFGATE

Als Filmstudent an der Kunstakademie Ende der neunziger Jahre hatte Lawrence zunächst Ambitionen, Regisseur zu werden. Tante-Emma-Videotheken waren sein Zufluchtsort; begehrte Taschen der Stadt, die sich wie eine geheime Schatzsuche anfühlten, als er sich an den Nervenkitzel gewöhnte, einen bestimmten Genrefilm zu finden, über den er eine Zeitung für eine seiner Klassen schreiben konnte. Zu dieser Zeit war San Francisco randvoll mit Geschäften wie Fayes, und er verbrachte oft einen Nachmittag damit, auf vier oder fünf verschiedenen Muni-Linien zu hüpfen, die zu jedem seiner Favoriten reisten.

“Man müsste gehen und Verbindungen zu all diesen verschiedenen Geschäften herstellen, um die Filme zu finden, nach denen man gesucht hat, weil eine Person nicht alles hatte”, sagte er.

Schließlich assistierte er bei der 16-mm-Kinematographie für „Piece by Piece“, einen Dokumentarfilm aus dem Jahr 2005, der eine mündliche Geschichte der unterirdischen Graffiti-Szene in San Francisco liefert. Er verbrachte drei Jahre in Irland und arbeitete an einem weiteren Dokumentarfilm über einen Iren, der vorhatte, ein Boot zu bauen und es über den Atlantik von Nova Scotia zurück in sein Heimatland zu rudern. Er hielt alle 10 Meilen entlang der Küste an, um mit den Menschen darüber zu sprechen sprach dort immer noch Gälisch. Wachsende Spannungen mit dem Thema führten jedoch dazu, dass der Film nie das Licht der Welt erblickte.

“Es war wirklich entmutigend, so viel Zeit, Mühe und Geld für ein Projekt aufzuwenden, und es ging einfach nirgendwo hin”, sagte Lawrence.

Er kehrte nach San Francisco zurück und fühlte sich entmutigt. Nicht lange danach erhielt er einige ernste Neuigkeiten: Bei ihm wurde ein komplexes regionales Schmerzsyndrom diagnostiziert, eine seltene neurologische Erkrankung, die dazu führte, dass seine aufstrebende Filmkarriere abrupt zum Erliegen kam.

„Es wurde schlimm genug, dass ich keine Produktionsarbeit mehr machen konnte, was ich wirklich liebte. Also musste ich irgendwie links abbiegen und etwas anderes machen “, sagte Lawrence.

Dann fand er sich wieder bei Faye wieder. Besonders in den Anfangsjahren war der Laden ein Ort, an dem sich Menschen in der Nachbarschaft für Teilzeitschichten anmeldeten, und Lawrence war keine Ausnahme. Obwohl er schon seit einiger Zeit in der Tätowierungsbranche tätig war, fand er immer wieder Ausreden, um ein paar Tage in der Woche in dem Geschäft zu arbeiten, das er bereits jeden Morgen besuchte, um die DVD-Auswahl zu sichten.

„Ich habe diesen Aspekt des Versuchs, Dinge zu finden, immer gemocht – es ist einfach aufregend, nach etwas zu suchen und zu wissen, dass es da draußen ist, aber nicht genau zu wissen, wo es ist. Und diese Freude, diese Neugier… es ist etwas, das uns immer weniger zur Verfügung steht. “

Es sollte nicht überraschen, dass er 2015 zusammen mit Mike McConnell, der das Geschäft im Jahr 2002 kaufte, Miteigentümer von Faye’s wurde. Jetzt kämpfen sie darum, einen erhaltenen Außenposten der Nostalgie am Leben zu erhalten, den seine engagierte Kundschaft möglicherweise nicht hat in der Lage sein, irgendwo anders zu finden.

Faye’s, der freundliche Kaffee- und Filmverleih der Mission in der Nachbarschaft.

Camille Cohen / Special zu SFGATE

Obwohl Faye’s einst als Coffeeshop in einem Videogeschäft bezeichnet werden konnte, hat es ihnen geholfen, das Geschäft in die umgekehrte Richtung zu verwandeln, erklärte McConnell. Während die meisten Videotheken während der Umstellung auf DVD ihre gesamten VHS-Bestände liquidierten, bot Faye’s beide Formate mehrere Jahre lang an. Jetzt haben sie die Sammlung auf etwas mehr als 10.000 Titel in der Ecke des Geschäfts reduziert.

Wenn ich sie an einem letzten Freitagmorgen selbst durchschaue, fühlt es sich komisch an, jede Scheibe als Anomalie zu betrachten. Während ein Song von Dashboard Confessional über die Lautsprecher spielt (wie angemessen), tauschen McConnell und ich Geschichten über Freitagabende aus, die wir vor nicht allzu langer Zeit in Videotheken verbracht haben: Wir haben uns mit unseren Geschwistern oder Freunden darüber gestritten, was wir sehen wollten und schließlich Genießen Sie unsere Auswahl bei Pizza.

„Ich habe lange genug hier gearbeitet, um ein bisschen auszuflippen“, erzählt er mir mit weit aufgerissenen Augen. „Weil ich gesehen habe, wie Kinder geboren wurden und dann die High School abgeschlossen haben, und im Laufe der Jahre habe ich gesehen, wie sich ihre Filmauswahl geändert hat. Ein paar von ihnen fragten uns nach Empfehlungen, und es machte Spaß, mit ihnen darüber zu sprechen, wie „Goonies“ das Beste waren. In gewisser Weise war es, als würde ich meine Kindheit noch einmal erleben. Jetzt wissen Kinder nicht einmal, was DVDs sind. Es ist wirklich traurig.”

Faye’s Video, der freundliche Kaffee- und Filmverleih der Mission in der Nachbarschaft.

Camille Cohen / Special zu SFGATE

Mit dem Aufkommen von Streaming-Diensten und dem sich ändernden Geschmack der Verbraucher sind Videotheken mit alarmierender Geschwindigkeit so gut wie verschwunden. Es gibt sogar eine neue Dokumentation über den letzten existierenden Blockbuster, der auf (was noch?) Netflix gestreamt wird. Im Laufe der Jahre haben steigende Mieten in San Francisco dazu geführt, dass viele Menschen, die Wohnzimmer haben, diese als provisorische Schlafzimmer umfunktionierten, wodurch der Gemeinschaftsraum, in dem sie früher Filme schauten, wegfiel, erklärte Lawrence. Jetzt ist das Seherlebnis auf Telefone oder Laptops beschränkt, von denen die meisten zunächst keine Laufwerke haben.

“Es wird immer schwieriger für die Leute, uns als eine wirklich tragfähige Sache und nicht nur als Neuheit zu sehen”, sagte Lawrence. “Und wir wollen nicht nur ein Instagram-Foto sein, wissen Sie? Wir wollen, dass die Leute tatsächlich kommen.” In und leihen Sie Filme aus, sprechen Sie mit uns über Filme und sprechen Sie mit ihren Freunden über Filme. Es ändert sich nur bis zu dem Punkt, an dem sie nicht wissen, dass wir existieren. Ich denke, es ist herzzerreißend. Und ich denke, viele Leute erkennen nicht jeden Wenn sich das Format ändert, verlieren wir so viel Filmgeschichte. ”

Trotzdem gibt McConnell zu, dass sie nicht unbedingt gut fürs Geschäft sind.

“Sie nehmen viel Platz ein, ohne viel Umsatz zu machen”, sagte er. „Es gab Zeiten, in denen ich die Bücher machte und sagte:‚ Oh, wir haben diesen Monat 50 US-Dollar mit Videos verdient ‘, aber die Leute, die hereinkommen, um die Filme zu leihen, sind einige unserer interessantesten Kunden und wollen es tatsächlich Rede mit dir.”

Es ist eine Mischung aus eingefleischten Filmfans, die die Filmografie eines ganzen Regisseurs durchgehen wollen, oder Leuten, die nach neueren Veröffentlichungen suchen, obwohl es im letzten Jahr nur wenige gab. Zu den beliebtesten Titeln bei Faye gehört heutzutage der Marvel-Blockbuster-Hit „Dr. Seltsam “, einige der frühen Werke des spanischen Filmemachers Pedro Almodóvar wie„ Matador “sowie der weniger bekannte„ Tampopo “, ein Schläferhit einer Komödie über Liebe und Ramen, die Eater als„ einen der besten Food-Filme von “bezeichnet hat alle Zeit. “

Es ist auch das am häufigsten gestohlene.

“Jahrelang konnte man für weniger als 125 US-Dollar keine Kopie finden, und die Leute haben ein neues Konto bei uns eingerichtet und es gemietet und nie zurückgebracht”, sagte Lawrence. “Es kommt jetzt seltener vor, aber es ist immer noch einer unserer gefragtesten Filme.”

Faye’s, der freundliche Kaffee- und Filmverleih der Mission in der Nachbarschaft.

Camille Cohen / Special zu SFGATE

Heute erzielt Faye’s den größten Teil seines Umsatzes mit Getränkeverkäufen und schafft es dennoch, 1 US-Dollar Kaffee auf der Speisekarte zu halten. Als die nahe gelegenen Bäckereien infolge der Pandemie geschlossen wurden, konnten sie monatelang kein Gebäck servieren, aber ein kleiner Geschenkeladen mit Einkaufstaschen zum Thema Filmemacher und eine Vielzahl von Emaille-Anstecknadeln halfen, das Geschäft am Laufen zu halten, ebenso wie eine kleine Kunstgalerie mit Werken von lokalen Künstlern, darunter McConnells eigene Gemälde. Er sagte, dass sie zwischen 60 und 70% ihrer Aktivitäten vor der Pandemie betreiben und glücklicherweise in der Lage waren, einen PPP-Kredit zu erhalten. Um Streaming-Plattformen zu bekämpfen, haben sie auch einen eigenen DVD-Abonnement-Service eingeführt: 20 US-Dollar pro Monat für unbegrenzte Ausleihe.

Aber es gibt einen Appell an Orte wie Fayes, den Netflix und Hulu nicht befriedigen können – ich sage dies als jemand mit Abonnements für beide – und einen Grund, warum McConnell und Lawrence wollen, dass ihr Videoverleihdienst Bestand hat.

Zum ersten Mal seit Jahren konnte ich einen Film herausarbeiten, ohne nur wenige Stunden später misstrauisch zu werden, dass er in meinem Webbrowser angezeigt wird. Als ich um einen Vorschlag bat, wurde mir eine Ausgabe von „Gates of Heaven“ angeboten – eine Dokumentation von 1978 über einen Tierfriedhof in der Bay Area, von dem ich noch nie gehört hatte, und was sich als faszinierendes Stück lokaler Geschichte herausstellte. Ich entschied mich auch für “Stück für Stück”, das eine faszinierende Zeitkapsel der Stadt bot, in der ich lebe, und die akribischen Facetten einer übersehenen Kunstform hervorhob, die heute so gut wie gelöscht sind. Und John Waters ‘”Serial Mom” ​​war überraschend gut und zeigte eine Szene, die im örtlichen Videothek des Regisseurs in Baltimore gedreht wurde, wo er aufgewachsen ist. Es wurde 2014 geschlossen.

Einer der Aspekte des normalen Lebens, den ich während der Pandemie am meisten vermisst habe, ist das Kino, nicht nur, weil sich die Erfahrung wie ein bedeutendes Ereignis anfühlte, sondern weil es einen seltenen Raum bot, von dem meine Aufmerksamkeit nicht abgelenkt werden konnte noch etwas. Besser noch, ich könnte diese Erfahrung mit anderen teilen. Das Ausleihen von Filmen bei Faye fühlte sich in dem Sinne ähnlich an, dass ich mich schuldig fühlte, mein Handy herauszuziehen, wie ich es normalerweise tat, wenn ich sie mir ansah, weil ich mir die Zeit genommen hatte, meine Auswahl mit einer anderen Person zu besprechen – anstatt mich über meinen Laptop-Bildschirm zu drängen und gedankenlos zu scrollen später in dieser Nacht zu Hause.

Ich freue mich wirklich darauf, wieder dorthin zu fahren. Nicht nur, um etwas anderes zu mieten, sondern um mit jemandem darüber zu sprechen, was ich in einer Zeit gesehen habe, in der diese Art von sozialen Interaktionen und persönlichen Empfehlungen so selten geworden sind – fast ersetzt durch Algorithmen.

“Das ist es, was ich an Filmen an erster Stelle mag”, sagte McConnell. “Sie sind Gesprächsstarter.”

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