All Forum Posts by: Brent Tarnow

Hey BP'ers.  Just bought a 4-plex in North Oakland and it seems we'll need some plumbing work.  Any good, trusted plumbers you can recommend?  Thanks

- brent

Bay Area, San Francisco

Hi @Mark Lupkey, welcome to the East Bay. I'm in Oakland and have really enjoyed investing here.  Would be happy to meet up and have a coffee.  

Hi @Max Martin, I'm an investor in Oakland and work with the best guy in the business. PM me and I'll connect you two. 

Hi @Ari Archer, Sounds like you've got a few good recommendations and any of them would work for you.  Just wanted to add my two cents. I've been investing in the East Bay for a little over a year now and couldn't do it without @Ryan Landis.  An investor himself, he's the best realtor I've ever worked with.  He's got a background in finance, in addition to his years investing and brokering, so he really ties everything together.   Good luck!

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the advice. We ended up taking a leap and signing them up.  While we want to protect ourselves (thus, this post), we ultimately trust them and want to help them make it work. 

The main project I'm looking to complete is a kitchen remodel for an apartment in North Oakland.  This will include new cabinets, countertops, sink, appliances and maybe even the floor.  We are hoping to remove one wall to open up the kitchen as well.  We are looking to get quotes ASAP and then get rolling on the project immediately.  

Can anyone point me to a contractor they know and trust in this area?  Thanks

New landlord in Oakland, CA looking for some advice. 

We are trying to rent a unit and we have interest from a couple in which the woman has a 790 credit score, makes good money and by all accounts would be an ideal tenant.  The man has a much lower credit score with a couple of very old (but small) collections on his report.  He will also not have a job in the short-term.  

Here's my question:  Is it better to just have the tenant with good credit and finances sign the lease, or is it still better to have both of them on it?  Does it make any difference if, say, she were to leave and he decided not to vacate?  

I'm inclined to have her just sign the lease, but if he holds over does it make it harder for us, as the landlords, to assert our rights against a squatter with no lease whatsoever?  

Thanks

I didn't tag Ryan correctly.  That's @Ryan Landis

I'm sure Chris is great. If you want another opinion though, Julie Chroust and her team at Bay Equity are unbelievable. Give her a call!

Hi Jason, I'm also in the Bay Area and I'm just closing my second multi-family FHA deal in a year. Both in North Oakland, a duplex and a fourplex. Don't believe everyone who tries to tell you sellers won't deal with an FHA offer in this hot market. The deals are out there and you can close them. My broker is a total pro, has proven he can close FHA deals and, coincidentally, lives in San Mateo. Connect with @RyanLandis - it'd be worth your time to have a cup of coffee with him. Good luck!