This cry for help came in from one of my clients via a voice mail message. Owning a rental property provides great tax breaks and potentially good financial returns, but also exposes the individual to major legal liabilities. This individual was in a lot of trouble and needed to take a quick lesson in Landlord 101. Based on my experience, I  put together the following list of 7 basic aspects for my new investor-client to study, and to help him become a good law-abiding landlord and a savvy investor. Educate yourself about your duties, responsibilities and liabilities of a landlord. It is a business in which ignorance is NOT a defensible argument. If you have to go to court to either collect your rents, evict somebody, or even worse; being sued by one of your tenants, you better know you... 02/16/2010

I love San Leandro I am deeply saddened however by the destruction of the 1950s mid century modern "googie" style EBMUD office on Washington Boulevard in the Downtown area. What a cool building this "was".  It had a precast concrete roof in a really interesting rolling wave pattern. The water utility EBMUD gave up on selling the property and let the city tear down the building for a parking lot.  This parking lot would serve the shoppers for the downtown farmer's market on Wednesday evenings. Why didn't someone on the city council or the library's historical committee speak up and save this crazy googie mid century modern building. To me San Leandro is only content on knocking down everything that is not Mission Revival stucco and with a red tile roof.  I am not in favor of a fake hacie... 03/12/2009

The Tax Credit passed by congress have given home buyers a better incentive to go out and make a purchase of their first home. But are they stimulated enough to do that? I believe the problem we have is not simply the apathy of the home buyer but rather the confidence level of the average buyer, any buyer of any product. What I encounter in my small town in San Leandro, California must be typical of the rest of the country. The people I talk to are average Jane's and Joe's who if not unemployed, at this time are simply glad to have a job. We need to seek help for other areas of the economy, so as to restore the confidence that the home buyer has to have in order to sign the dotted line that promises to make payments for the next 30 years. Nobody would even think of doing that not knowin... 02/17/2009

I presented an offer on a Short Sale listing, and quickly realized that the listing agent was not familiar with these types of sales. For my client to have a chance of getting his offer accepted I had to step in and diplomatically "guide the listing agent through the process of a short sale." This was his very first short sale listing. I know that part of being active in AR is to contribute blog posts on subjects we are familiar with or situations in which we have been that will ideally help others either understand a new process or learn from our experiences. Reading posts in different blogs and following closely on their comments by other Professionals who give advice and who offer their 2 cents worth of experience in the matter serves as an important educational process. Short sales ... 02/15/2009

SAUSAGE & SUDS SUNDAY OCTOBER 5TH 10:00 AM TO 6:00 PM Parrott Street between East 14th Street and Washington Avenue   San Leandro's long history in Food Processing has brought fourth the annual Sausage & Suds Festival.  San Leandro for a long time has been home to many of the Portuguese Linguicia companies.  Casper's Hot Dogs are made at SPAR sausages on Williams Street.  Saag's sausages also call San Leandro home. San Leandro is also home to many micro-breweries too. It's only natural that San Leandro has a Sausage & Suds Festival.  Live music will add to the ambiance as you partake in the beer and sausages! I hope to see you there. 09/19/2008

Being the caregiver I am, I drove my mother down to Classique Styles this afternoon for her regular hair styling appointment.  It's always a good feeling for a cancer patient to look good, it makes her feel good on the inside too.   She smiles allot more when her hair is done up. Classique Styles is located in the neighborhood shopping district of Bancroft and Dutton in San Leandro.  Mom always goes to stylist Irma.  She does a great job with my mother. While my mother is getting her hair all done over, I'll walk across the street to Zocalo Coffeehouse for a nice Mocha coffee drink. Zocalo Coffeehouse is a great neighborhood resource and it is truly the heart of "The Broadmoor" and "Estudillo Estates" neighborhoods.   Tim Holmes and his wife 'Mitch' have created a wonderful place to go ... 09/12/2008

If you're looking for a great place to eat in San Leandro's downtown plaza area.  Try Tequila Grill, it's a mexican restaurant for lunch and dinner.  For Breakfast it's an all american good food diner.  There is some mexican overflow on the breakfast menu and that's really a great thing.I have the Huevos Divorciados with rice and beans and flour tortillas.  MMMMM yummy.  This dish comes with both Red and Green Enchilada sauce over eggs and tortillas.  I order my eggs scrambled because I am not too much of a fan of mixxing the yoke with the two sauces.The servers Chuy, Luis and Fatima are friendly and like family to all the customers.My group of diners on Sunday mornings have been eating at the same table for about 10 years now.  The restaurant has changed hands recently and was called D... 03/26/2008