Not sure what financial data you need for understanding tax items like the tax rate schedule, standard deductions and gift and estate tax credits? Use this document as your cheat sheet. Continue Reading
Berkeley Building Boom; Is a Regional Bond Measure on the Way?; Rent Control is Vulnerable; We Still Need More Housing; Golden Gate Fields: What Happens Next?; Some Cities Face Resistance to Rent Control; BART Land Housing Projects on Hold; BPOA Events Continue Reading
Having trouble navigating BPOA's website? The Nuts & Bolts will be giving members a tour over the next few months, starting with the heart of website, the Member Compass. Continue Reading
Late in June, on two successive days, the United States Supreme Court handed down three decisions which rocked the nation. The conservative majority on the Court clearly demonstrated it has control and that it is willing to use it. De- pending on one’s philosophical stance, partisans on... Continue Reading
Berkeley Staffing Crisis Burns Out Workers; SF Rent Control Expansion Increased Evictions; Berkeley Plan to Redress Loss of Black Residents; A Rent Control Renaissance is Underway; SCOTUS Urged to Take Up NY Rent Control Case; UCB Grad Student Commutes by Plane; Continue Reading
If you rent to students, at some point, you’ve likely had to deal with roommate changes or the last-minute addition of a roommate to the lease. It’s stressful business, both for the property owner and the resident. Maybe the Original Tenants can’t agree on signing a lease... Continue Reading
Damages vs. Wear & Tear; the age-old question Continue Reading
By choice, I am very interested in Artificial Intelligence. Not by choice, I am very interested in rent control in Berkeley. Anxious to try out the emerging phenomenon that is AI, I asked ChatGPT to write an essay on the history of rent control in Berkeley. The result was published in the April... Continue Reading
Newsom's CEQA Reform Plan Worries Some; 12,000 Architects on the Housing Crisis; ChatGPT on Rent Control- Two Versions; Tenant Buy-Outs: Analysis; Refunds Ordered Under State RC Law; CalRHA Legislative Update; SFH Investor Bans Lead to Higher Rents; BPOA Events Details Continue Reading
It doesn't matter how bold of a typeface I use or that I have residents sign their initials next to the paragraph explaining the security deposit accounting and return process; regardless of this, one-third of departing residents will email me a few days after they've moved out to ask, "When will... Continue Reading
It will come as no surprise to you that there is much government interference in our business. Many of the rules, regulations, oversight, fees, fines and penalties to which we are subject are based on the assumption that all owners do, might, or might be tempted, to take undue advantage of... Continue Reading
Let’s talk about moles. No, I don’t mean the garden variety. I’m referring to the spy-type moles hired by agencies to catch housing providers engaging in unlawful or discriminatory practices. These people, called Fair Housing Testers, can work for state fair housing departments,... Continue Reading
