All Forum Posts by: Katie P.

@Chris Mason -  curious how the story ended! 

@Account Closed want to join the clean up? 

@Pavan Sandhu, no personal experience here YET, here is a house lifting company (lifting my neighbor's house across the street in West Oakland) that works all over the Bay: Roger's House Moving ...based in Antioch. 

The owner quoted me $6500 - 7000 for the lift and lower....for an existing ~1,300 square foot house. 

@Toi H. a late reply, but I don't usually mention how I found them, unless they ask of course. And I say that my company "uses software" that identifies homeowners in similar situations, OR I say that I received a list at the county courthouse. 

Thank you, both @Andrew Muff and @Robert Marston.  Did not know that about short term rentals (apparently the owner is currently renting out the illegal unit via Air BnB). 

Just received more information on this property and the City of Oakland's list of violations with the deadline to abate (April 25th). Seems like more work than initially, and that the seller is selling to avoid the headache of fixing 7 violations. 

Has anything changed in the last year for anyone in this forum (as far as experience goes with converting an unoccupied illegal unit into a legal one in Oakland)? 

I'm interested in an almost empty four-plex (legally, a three - plex). The current tenant is in a LEGAL unit.

@Jason Pabon Looks like @Selton Shakes Jr mentioned NACA - if you have ANY questions about qualifying for that program, I've been through the entire process in NorCal and would be happy to talk to you about it. You can buy up to 4 units, and the interest rate always seems to be lower or at least comparable to FHA. To answer some of the questions you mentioned, I'm pretty sure you have to be at a job in your current field for at least one year. They DO require more documents than FHA underwriters, but if you have a great counselor, he/she gets you through it quickly. Another "hurdle" is that you have to be in the property for THREE years, not one (like FHA). If you decide to move (or sell) before your 3-year term, I believe you pay NACA a fee of $25,000? But, as mentioned before, NO MONEY DOWN, no closing costs.

The Oakland office currently has NO counselors, but I was transferred to the Upland office in SoCal and work with a GREAT counselor (Abelardo G.). I received my approval for a 4-plex about one month ago. Anyway, PM if you are interested in hearing about the process. 

Would love to attend, but unfortunately my W2 job has me working an event. Maybe I can swing by at the tail-end of it. =) If not, hope to meet you all next time. 

Thanks, @CindyYeow. 

Thank you, both @Ori Skloot and @Ryan Scott Isacksen.