July 1, 2017 Implementation

The California legislature has determined that bed bugs are a significant habitability issue in rental properties, so much so, they have drafted and passed Assembly Bill 551 which imposes new disclosure requirements on landlords, property managers, and owner of rental properties.  Beginning July 1, 2017 the new law modifies California Civil Code Sec. 1941.1 and requires landlords, property managers, and owners to provide a prospective tenant (and all other tenants by January 1, 2018), a written notice which provide information about bed bugs, including identification, biology, typical behavior.  Importantly, the notification requires tenants to cooperate with landlords, property managers, and owners with prevention and treatment procedures, including the importance of prompt writing reporting by the tenant regarding suspected infestations.

Tech industry growth and the desire among tech workers to live closer to their jobs are among the major reasons why you should invest in Mountain View real estate. Even with tech industry owned luxury shuttle buses to ease commuting hassles, commuting still eats time workers would rather have to spend with family, friends and personal pursuits – and reduces flexibility. Indeed, the local housing market has grown quite competitive as it tries to absorb the workforce influx. Those investing in rental housing in North Whisman continue to see handsome profit margins and long-term equity gains.

As ground zero for the tech boom that is helping to drive the region’s local real estate markets and economies, the North Bayshore section of Mountain View is a real estate market in transition and gaining equity growth year after year. Major companies, including Google, LinkedIn, Apple, Facebook, and Intuit, have contributed to an increasing demand for residential housing via their work forces. This has had a powerful impact on the local residential real estate market, particularly for those investing in North Bayshore real estate – homeowners and long-term investors.

Martens-Carmelita is different from other parts of Mountain View because of the rustic feel of the neighborhood and the homes located there. Because many of the homes were built in the 1950s, the atmosphere reflects a feel of times gone by. The tree-lined streets may lack sidewalks, but the charm of the area hasn’t suffered as a result.  Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, within a stone’s throw of the most valuable company in the World, Google, this neighborhood is being swallowed up by international investors and residents who adore Mountain View.

Life in Blossom Valley Mountain View is continually changing. What once was an orchard is now a sprawling suburban area featuring a strong sense of community and family – and the World’s Most Valuable Company, Google, as a resident. Spacious, open neighborhoods combine with excellent schools, a variety of parks, well-located shopping, and more, to give residents a sense of togetherness and unity. Due to the many amenities throughout the neighborhood, popularity for properties in the area is at an all-time high. Whether you’re looking to own a home in Silicon Valley, make an investment, or buy a rental property, Blossom Valley Mountain View provides an excellent option.

In an effort to help tenants navigate the ever increasing costs of rents the City of Mountain View City Council adopted a Right to Lease ordinance improving tenant’s rights on December 8, 2015 which takes effect January 7, 2016.  Now, landlords who own tri-plexes, four-plexes, and bigger (housed within a single structure) are required to offer tenants a minimum of six or twelve month tenancy.  The tenant will now have the option of choosing a written lease document, or a month-to-month tenancy.  If a written lease is selected the minimum term is required to be a six-month or twelve-month lease.

Palo Alto real estate is highly sought after, but it can also be extremely expensive, making home investment difficult. The good news is, Midtown Palo Alto, bounded by Oregon Expressway, Loma Verde, Alma and Highway 101, is more affordable than many of the other areas in town. When it comes to Palo Alto real estate, it’s the perfect location for a family looking to lease their home or find a home to invest in on a smaller budget with all the benefits of Palo Alto cache, schools, and community. 

Even though e-cigarettes are increasingly being banned throughout California cities and counties Palo Alto’s City Council is not including them in their new proposed smoking ban for apartment buildings.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with them e-cigarettes look like the real thing, they glow when you puff on them, and a smoker puffs out a cloud of vapor when they exhale.  Many believe e-cigarettes are a “gateway” drug as the number of teenagers using them doubled from 2011 to 2012, and increased 61 percent from 2012 to 2013.  Moreover, e-cigarettes have nicotine, emit formaldehyde, are addictive, and can be dangerous for people with heart problems.  There are many unknowns with e-cigarettes and this is potentially the reason Palo Alto is not yet banning them in multi-family buildings.

If you are looking for a quiet, peaceful Palo Alto neighborhood look no further than Leland Manor, Garland, and Embarcadero Oaks.  Located in the middle of Palo Alto, there exists these three small neighborhoods, all connected and which extend north from Oregon Expressway, to Middlefield Road, Embarcadero Road, and Louis Road.

These three neighborhoods were annexed into Palo Alto proper in the 1930s.  Each quaint neighborhood has its own unique and pleasureful personality.  Most of the homes in these neighborhoods were built in the 1930s to 1960s and many have been upgraded and improved with time.  Many of the homes in these three mini-neighborhoods were built as three and four bedroom ranch-style homes, sprinkled with the occasional custom Eichler. The central location for Leland Manor, Garland, and Embarcadero Oaks allows for ease of access to US 101, local shopping, great Palo Alto schools, Stanford University, and community amenities.

In a historic move California Governor Jerry Brown issued an emergency order and declaration of water conservation rules which are now imposed on everyone in the state with the exception of farmers.  There will be fines and potential rate hikes for residents that fail to hit stepped-up conservation targets as the state endures the fourth straight year of severe drought conditions.  Governor Brown has issued water-saving orders for 25 percent statewide reduction in usage which includes bolstering enforcement of water waste, requiring drip irrigation at new construction projects, eliminating rouge farmers who divert water illegally from irrigation channels, and implementing an investment strategy in new water-saving technologies.