All Forum Posts by: Myesha Kendrix

@Kevin Ha

Currently, I’m house hacking and have 2 small dogs. I have an occupied small unit in the back that has no pets allowed. I have the same concerns as you do when it comes to tenants having pets.

@Corby Goade I do the same!

Originally posted by @Sean Lambert:

Can you add storage units and a laundry facility in the basement to add some extra monthly income from the existing tenants?

Can you ask the city for a zoning change/variance for the property?  

Hi Sean

Yes I could add storage units or laundry but I’d rather make that space livable. Also, I didn’t mention I will be living in one of the units. 

They mentioned I could apply for a variance but it’s costly and I may not be approved. 

I updated my RE today and she will let me know if there’s any recourse but I’m not holding my breath. She mentioned she checked public records and found it as a multi-family so we’ll if she finds anything out. 

You’re right about getting different answers from people. I do plan to speak with someone else at the City and hopefully they have a better answer. 

Thanks for responding! 

Originally posted by @Mary M.:

@Myesha Kendrix 

I dont have much to advise other than talk to city planning and see what they say. Sadly, the zoning etc should of been a part of your due diligence, especially if you were planning to add a unit. Where was your RE agent ? Didnt they ask these questions?

I would ask again at planning as I have gotten different answers to the same question many times  I find you need to be very clear and careful in what you are asking   

If you cant add a unit then i will hope you will be ok renting as two units and that this turns out ok for you 

Hi there! I’m new to investing and hope someone on here can help me out. I recently purchased a property in California last month. I thought I was purchasing a multi-family home with 2 units and a semi finished basement that I would later renovate into another unit. During the due diligence period I checked with the County/City for violations, etc. I did find a few violations regarding vegetation etc., but nothing to stop me from moving forward. I found that the property was once 4 separate units but recently renovated and is now 2 units with a semi finished basement.

Potential Problem: I closed a few weeks ago and today I visited the City to determine what I would need to make the basement a legal unit. I found out the home is zoned Low Density and is considered a single family home and NOT multi-family or even a Duplex. Also, the second unit is considered an Accessory Dwelling Unit or ADU and I cannot re-zone this property or have the basement as a 3rd unit. I can only add a limited number of sq. Ft. to each existing unit.

According to the City, this home was never zoned as multi-fam because the 4 units were in place prior to the City actually having a building department. Therefore the City allowed these units to exist as long as they remained filled with tenants or no changes were made to them. They were considered “non-conforming.”

All my paperwork states this property is multi-family. The only good news I can think of is my insurance and taxes may decrease however I did buy this property with the intention of having 3 separate units.

Question: Is there anything I can do?

@Minh Le I would love to join you on 12/9

@Mike Bolen I’ve just extended my search to Vallejo so the upcoming changes are good to hear! Thanks for sharing

@Angela Holmes I’m from Modesto but currently live in Alameda which isn’t too far from where you live. I have property in Merced that I bought almost 10 years ago and wish I could have purchased in Modesto instead but it was out of my price range at the time. So many people commute from Modesto so I think starting your search there could be good. I’m new to BP as well and recently my offer was accepted on a duplex in Vallejo with the basement as another potential unit in the future! I don’t believe the deal is all that great but I’m hopeful with the additional basement unit my cash flow will be much better. Im not too familiar with Vallejo but I’m sure I will be soon :) feel free to PM me

@Saj Shah I’m in the Bay Area as well and am looking to buy a multi-fam property. I’ve had to extend my search to Solano County/Vallejo because the prices are so high!