General Rental Property Updates

A quick commercial property insurance review checklist June 26, 2008  By Linda Williams, CLU & ChFC SPOSFI January 2008 Newsletter   Here is a list of issues to consider in reviewing your Commercial Property Insurance: 1. Schedule a personal meeting with your...

Tenant security deposits June 26, 2008 After 2002, laws and regulations pertaining to residential tenants’ security deposits became more complicated. Here’s a review. By Michael Hall, Esq. SPOSFI 2/08...

Green/ Eco-Friendly News

Recycled Paint Makes A Splash C.A.R. GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK: RECYCLED PAINTS MAKE A SPLASH What happens to all the latex paint that is dropped off at hazardous waste centers? It's recycled...

Mortgage Market Updates

Housing Bill Has Something for Nearly Everyone July 25, 2008 By RON LIEBER   If you are ignoring the housing bailout bill because you think it benefits only troubled homeowners, you may miss out on a windfall. The bill, expected to be passed by the...

Calm down - Behind the Fannie and Freddie panic July 11, 2008 Yes, there is a lot of fear about what's next for the government-sponsored mortgage giants. But Fannie and Freddie are unlikely to go away. This too will pass. NEW YORK...

S.F. Commercial Real Estate

Real Estate Close-Up: San Francisco June 13, 2008 Battered by the dot-com bust earlier this decade, the San Francisco commercial real estate market has staged an impressive rebound and is arguably one of the strongest markets in the country.  The...

S.F. Housing Policy

Merging units and legalizing an illegal unit June 26, 2008 By M. Brett Gladstone, Esq. Small Property Owners of S.F. Institute June 2008 Newsletter   The Planning Code permits the merger of dwelling units into fewer units. However, the Planning...

Exodus of S.F.'s middle class June 22, 2008 Exodus of S.F.'s Middle Class It's urban flight flipped on its head: The number of low- and middle-income residents in San Francisco is shrinking as the wealthy population swells, a trend most...

S.F. Housing Trends

In Conversation with Three Generations of the Lembi Family July 31, 2008   by Allison Chapleau and Matthew Sheridan photos by Jason Steinberg/Steinberg Imagery Despite facing its fair share of adversity, the Lembi family has managed to persevere...

No sign of slump in S.F. rental market July 13, 2008 San Franciscans looking for double-digit price gains in real estate don't have to search far. The city's rental market has shown remarkable resilience even as home sales dropped to their lowest...

S.F. Rent Control

Know the Law When Raising Rents Under the S.F. Rent Control Ordinance June 24, 2008  By Stephen K. Lightfoot II April 2008 SPOSFI Newsletter In order for property owners to keep up with increased costs— higher mortgage rates, property taxes, insurance, and...