Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser, Animal Advocates, Los Angeles, California

Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser, Animal Advocates, Los Angeles, California
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Showing posts with label housing crisis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label housing crisis. Show all posts

Monday, June 24, 2019

An example of one cause of housing crisis. Apartment buildings sell and new owner raises rents. Mary Cummins

436 - 440 W Imperial Ave, El Segundo, California was listed for sale on the MLS and Loopnet for $5,000,000. It sold for $5,000,000 June 9, 2019. It was previously owned by a trust. It looks like the landlord was an elderly person who just didn't raise the rents for years. Tenants were paying $1,100 to $1,400 for a 650 sf two bed one bath unit. The new rent will be $2,100. Tenants were basically saving the difference between market and actual rent all these years.

The property was listed as a "value-add property." It states rents are 35% under market which they are. Cost per unit is $312,500 which is low. LA CPU more like $500K though this building built in 1954 and probably needs kitchen, bath upgrades. Gross rent multiplier is 19 which is very high. It's high because rent is low. It market rent were used it'd be 12 which is about right.

Below is MLS listing.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YKMlj4IwqtmtbYe_7WK7E8I926yBBMFo/view?usp=sharing

Below is Loopnet listing.

https://images2.loopnet.com/d2/tEOAoY9dFRSdUIKzJ92ID0Lh2lOrDnRTt8QwUr6xZTg/document.pdf

This has been happening all over Los Angeles County and the state because of the housing rebound. It's one reason for the housing crisis. The current tenants will not be able to find another two bedroom unit for $1,100. They will have to pay $2,100 which is market rent. As the units are all two bedrooms at least two people live in each of them paying half each or $550/month which is insane cheap rent. Time will tell what happens to these tenants. A wise tenant would have realized that cheap rent wouldn't last forever. They should save money and look for a higher paying job. People on fixed income, retired, won't be able to find another place at this rate.

New owner will raise rents, tenants will move, they will renovate unit and re-rent for market rent.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the
Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Flop houses in shitty areas sold, rehabbed and re-rented as "luxury" rooms in Los Angeles - cause of rise in homeless

1409 1411 w 25th st, los angeles, california, 90007 duplex, slum, dangerous, usc, rental, sale, mary cummins, real estate appraiser, flop house, half way house, homeless, tripalink, high crime area, murder, stabbings, death, shootings, the zoe, tripalink

A flop house owned by "Second Chance" at 1409-1411 W 25th St, Los Angeles, CA 90007 sold late 2018 for $749,000. Months before that it sold for $485K. It was originally owned by a woman who is now elderly or dead. It's located off an alley and behind an auto store right off Vermont across from a Jack in the Box and a liquor store. It was sold as a two unit with four beds, two baths each. It was broken down into eight rooms rented separately to near homeless people. They would panhandle across the street at the Jack in the Box or in the Ralphs parking lot. People were frequently passed out in front of the building or they were smoking pot, doing drugs on the porch. It was built in 1904 and is in a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. It was a total fixer. Below are some pics of it before. It was boarded up to keep the ex-tenants and homeless out.

1409 1411 w 25th st, los angeles, california, 90007 duplex, slum, dangerous, usc, rental, sale, mary cummins, real estate appraiser, flop house, half way house, homeless, tripalink, high crime area, murder, stabbings, death, shootings, the zoe, tripalink

1409 1411 w 25th st, los angeles, california, 90007 duplex, slum, dangerous, usc, rental, sale, mary cummins, real estate appraiser, flop house, half way house, homeless, tripalink, high crime area, murder, stabbings, death, shootings, the zoe, tripalink

1409 1411 w 25th st, los angeles, california, 90007 duplex, slum, dangerous, usc, rental, sale, mary cummins, real estate appraiser, flop house, half way house, homeless, tripalink, high crime area, murder, stabbings, death, shootings, the zoe, tripalink

They renovated the place and it's already listed for rent. Here's the ad listing. Mind you it's in a very, very dangerous area where people have been murdered. Someone was murdered at the Jack in the Box across the street. Another person murdered a block up. Within last six months someone murdered two blocks away. A USC couple murdered two blocks to the west. Cars are broken into every night. People steal mail. It's within 500 feet of the 10 freeway which is dangerous for your health. It's also located next to a very, very busy intersection. The air pollution, sound, constant police sirens, police helicopters, people fighting, yelling... The address of the owner is a Marcus & Millichap office. The people who were evicted from there now live on the parkway and still hang out there as they are now homeless. The spelling errors below are not mine. The site seems to be run by Chinese people as it's also in Chinese.

"Enjoy private relaxation and high-quility living experience in this luxury house close to USC and DTLA. This duplex is located in UPC Patrol Areas (DPS patrols) which provides safe and private space for every resident. Situated in a convenient location, surrounding by multiple restaurants, 3 minutes’ walk to Ralphs and 4 minutes to USC by riding. This duplex is equipped with all the amenities needed to feel right at home. Brand new mattress, beddings, and solid wood furniture will be provided to giving you a place for the most comfortable rest and study.With a cozy living room on second floor including sofa, coffee table and carpet."

https://www.tripalink.com/#/cityDetail/36

It's already for re-sale for $1,200,000. It's allegedly master leased to a student housing group. It's actually illegal to rent out the rooms separately as this is not zoned for a boarding house. I wonder if leasing  to a corporation who subleases to individuals gets it out of rent control? The master lease includes 3% increase in rent per year which is Los Angeles City rent control. Do the sublessees have tenant rights since they aren't the main tenant? Maybe this is how they are getting the units out of LA City rent control. Per rent control even if you rent a room in a boarding house for 30 days plus you are covered by rent control. By July 2019 the landlord can increase your rent by 4%.

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/1409-W-25th-St-Los-Angeles-CA/15814642/

They said they added heat and cooling, new copper plumbing, electrical. They say there are two units with four beds and four baths each. I think only two baths are legal. Everything else was done without permits. They state it was built in 1907. It was built 1904 and moved in 1907.

I pity anyone who rents a room there for $1,400/month. There are eight rooms. You have to rent for 12 months so it's not student housing. The site advertises itself as communal living. It's now called "The Zoe." I bet they paint over graffiti every morning and roll homeless people off the grass. Whoever cleaned out the building just dumped everything on the sidewalk and parkway across the street in front of Jack in the Box. The homeless people didn't do that. The contractor did. This is where all the trash and dumping is coming from. When you evict a poor person they can't afford to rent another place, move, pay for storage so they have to leave everything. Landlord, contractor dumps it on the street and blames the tenants. The tenants wouldn't dump their stuff on the street. They'd just leave it. I've appraised properties like this with evicted poor tenants. They leave almost everything because they can't afford to move it and have no place to move it to.

1409 1411 w 25th st, los angeles, california, 90007 duplex, slum, dangerous, usc, rental, sale, mary cummins, real estate appraiser, flop house, half way house, homeless, tripalink, high crime area, murder, stabbings, death, shootings, the zoe, tripalink
And this is why there was a huge increase in homeless. Investors are buying slum buildings cheap, renovating and re-renting for market rent. This is the real estate cycle of revitalization though some call it gentrification. It's good for the community and city bringing jobs, money, taxes, business but it displaces a few of the poorest people in the city.

I'll post a few more of these that I've seen. Chinese investors are buying up a lot of slum homes, apartments to turn into individual room rentals. When you ask them what are their plans for the building they lie and tell you they are going to move into it ;-)


Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the
Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Ideas to help solve the housing crisis. Here are a few ideas from others and some of my own. Mary Cummins

How to solve the housing crisis, homeless, eviction, homelessness, house, home,condo, shelter, apartment, building, mary cummins, los angeles, california, ideas, solutions
There is no doubt that California has a Housing Crisis. Not enough units have been built in the last 30 years to keep up with the demand for housing. Insufficient housing has been built because of rising cost of land and construction, miles of red tape in development and  NIMBYs (not in my back yard) to name just a few causes. The article linked below has some good ideas to help solve the housing crisis. I will list all the ideas then add my own.

  • Provide resources and incentives for local governments to pay for their fair share of housing.
  • Integrating housing and transportation planning and investment.
  • Working with locals to reduce regulatory barriers to production.
  • Making state excess property available for affordable housing. 
  • Providing financial assistance to developments to ensure long-term housing affordability.
  • Recognizing that wildfire, climate change, water supplies and quality, environmental protection, efficient transportation and protecting good jobs are all involved. 
  • Change zoning restrictions so multi-family buildings can be built in other zones.
  • Expand tax incentives for below market rate housing construction.
  • Stop adding costs to the home building process with more costly laws and regulations.
  • Roll back some of the out of control building fees.
  • Allow an increase in density along transit corridors.
  • CEQA reform to make it easier and quicker to get projects approved.
  • Guarantee a living wage so wages can keep up with rent increases.
  • Train young people through union apprenticeship programs so they can earn more money.
  • Ensure new buildings are sustainable for the environment.
  • Provide rental assistance to help families secure a home.
  • Protect renters from losing their home and falling into homelessness.
  • Every city in the state must build affordable housing.
  • Allow novel housing options such as micro units, cooperatives, co-living, modular housing.
  • Increase homeowner property tax exemption which hasn't changed since 1974.
  • Reform RHNA process to increase development of homes.
  • Don't allow NIMBYs to use CEQA to stop housing projects for political reasons.
Below are some of my ideas. My basic idea is to have pre-approved plans for standard 2-8 unit two-story buildings on 50' x 100' or 150' lots which NIMBYs can't reject or even have a say in the matter after initial approval. I'm talking about sites already zoned for multi units which only have one old house which are R2+ and other zones which are grandfathered such as C2. The public can have a say in the initial approval of the cookie-cutter units but not after that. This would cut down on the holding costs from permit to occupancy certificate. It would also cut down on the architect, design fees by having the plans be in the public domain. This would make it easier and faster for building and safety inspectors to inspect. 
  • Have pre-approved plans for cookie cutter developments on R2+ standard lots for 2-8 U.
  • Have pre-approved plans for ADUs.
  • Educate poor people about how to work, save money to buy, maintain a home. 
  • Protect poor people from real estate scams. I've seen so many people get ripped off because they didn't speak English, couldn't read or write or just were uneducated and naive.
  • Inventory all vacant properties, underutilized and raw land. Work with owners to make vacant properties habitable, redevelop or sell. Same with vacant land. Other cities have done this with help from cities, developers and non-profits.
Below are some pics of new two and four unit buildings which are cookie cutters. There are a few developers building these on lots with only one old major fixer home. The first is two units, two story. The units are 3 bed, 2 bath which can house an extended family. The ones I've seen have good sized rooms so there could be two beds in each room and/or bunk beds. 


Below is a four unit building. These are plain buildings that meet strict city of Los Angeles building and safety building codes. There should be one plan for properties with an alley which has parking in the rear and properties which don't have an alley and will need a driveway to garages in rear.  

I also believe the city, county, state should do an analysis of the current housing stock. It should include a list of vacant land suitable for housing, under developed properties and properties with inhabitable structures. Plans should be made to give the owners incentives to rehab, develop or rehab the properties. Other cities such as South Bend, Indiana has done this with success.

Government should also look at the various properties and their zones. Perhaps some non-residential zoned land could be used to build multi-family. Maybe some areas zoned R1 which already have some multi-family can be rezoned for R1.5 or R2 uses. Perhaps people with R1 properties should be allowed to legally rent out the individual rooms to different individuals. People are already doing this illegally. If it were legal, there could be regulations to make sure the housing is safe and the tenant is protected. Generally if you share a kitchen in a home, you're not a tenant. You could be evicted with no notice. I'm sure there are many more ideas out there. I welcome a multi-prong approach to help solve the housing crisis.

Let me add a list of things that won't help the housing crisis. In fact these things have caused and made the housing crisis much worse.

  • Rent control. This will cause landlords to remove units from the market. It will cause developers to buy run down buildings, either demolish or do major renovations, pass that through to the tenant who can't afford it and tenant will have to leave. Rent control makes things worse. Developers won't build if they think the buildings could have rent control. As rents rise so do landlords property tax, insurance, supplies, labor, permits, maintenance...
  • Yelling "gentrification" and attacking developers, development as "evil" because the rent has risen for some tenants in some buildings. "Gentrification" is actually a real estate cycle called "revitalization." It's not a dirty word. I wrote an article about it here. If you don't revitalize the area, you create slums. Revitalization creates jobs, causes wages to increase, adds living units, improves the neighborhood, increases value of real estate, increases revenue to businesses, the city, county, state and federal government. More jobs, more homes are created for each tenant who must leave a building for redevelopment. The tenant gets relocation fees in the thousands. Notice property owners are fine with property values increasing. It's only the tenants who are not. Notice offices, retail stores, restaurants have to move. They realize it's just economics and move. DTLA artists moved from those artist lofts to lofts in Long Beach. When Long Beach became more expensive they move to lofts in Santa Ana. If you want low rent, you have to live in a low rent area. 
  • Building condo units for poor people to buy under market value. When the value of the unit increases, they will want to sell for profit. Some don't allow the owners to sell for profit. When they don't, the owners refinance all of the equity out of the property. Most end up in foreclosure because they can't sell the condo for market i.e. more than their new loan. These people didn't have enough money or income to buy a home. They are set up to fail and lose their home. I've seen this happen repeatedly. The owners also stop paying HOA dues as the complexes fall apart. This is one of Bernie Sanders ideas so is rent control and yelling "gentrification." He needs a real estate consultant because all of his ideas fail in real life. I've been in real estate since 1983, over 35 years. I watched rent control in BH, WH, SM and LA. It failed. 

https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/opinion-influencers/article229271379.html

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the
Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit