May 13, 2008
Moving Chronicles (08v3) "Shares"
(c) copyright,
View from Silicon Valley, 2008. All rights reserved.
Our 2008 "Hunt for Rent" continues to uncover new and innovative
examples of poor business sense mixed with greed. Since several of the places we look at became rentals
after the house, and it's Prop13 task discount, were "inherited" under Prop 189. The combination
of entitlement and arrogance radiating from some of these owners
is hard to stomach.
However, we are surprised to find shabby, 50- and 60-year-old
rentals are not actually the "worst" rental opportunities. This distinction is awarded to what is surely 2008's oddest
phenomenon. For lack of a better term, let's call them "shares."
Copying directly out of Craigslist over the last 30
-40 days, we find:
(Editor's note: grammar and spelling are exactly as
the ads were posted. We couldn't help it, so our usual snarky comments and emphasis are added)
* * * * *
$xxxx / 4br - Enjoy peaceful 1 acre with
a view - 4BR 3 Bath LA Hills (los altos)
Reply to: see below
Date: 2008-04-09, 5:34PM PDT
Share home with me; you get the full downstairs
- private! Pets negotiable Enjoy the view of the bay from this tree filled property with deer, rabbits, birds and crickets.
Enjoy the views from the family room or the lovely adjacent deck. Full kitchen and washer and dryer for your use. Only 2 miles
from the town of Los Altos. Palo Alto School district.
Includes Internet, comcast cable TV, utilities and cleaning service.
4 rooms at 10 x 15 with built in desk, shelves and dresser. Nice size closets. - (Which
is it? Do we get the "4br" as advertised in the title? Or do we just get the "4 rooms at 10 x 15" downstairs?)
Includes use of washer/dryer and full kitchen on 1 beautiful acre of tranquility! (Excuse me: "Includes use of"? You mean we have to share the washer /dryer with you??
Are you kidding??? Do you reserve a couple of shelves in the fridge too????)
Enjoy the peace of mind rural living can provide by sharing this beautiful large home in Los Altos Hills.
Call xxx
xxx-xxxx and leave a clear message with phone number.
* * * * *
Judging by the pictures in the ad, apparently the
tenant also gets to "share" the owner's furniture...
Puh-leeze! We live downstairs, pay your
mortgage and you don't even move out of the house??? Who is really getting "peace of mind" in that deal?
Next!
Lest you think this was just one isolated "opportunity," we
also came across:
* * * * * *
Date: 2008-04-29, 10:44AM PDT
XXX Country Club Drive, Los Altos, CA
NEWLY REMODELED BEAUTIFUL HOME IN COUNTRY CLUB OF LOS
ALTOS
------
3 Bdrm Single Family House
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial
Sq Footage 2,000
Parking 3
dedicated
Pet Policy No pets
DESCRIPTION
|
Come home to the woodsy ambiance of Los Altos. This inviting, well lit house
boasts expansive sun filled windows allowing for natural light throughout the day. Unique structure includes vaulted ceilings
and spacious floorplan. And there’s more…
Features include:
- Custom kitchen cabinetry
- Cool granite
counter tops
- Stainless steel hardware in kitchen and bath
- Superior stainless steel appliances include refrigerator,
dishwasher, microwave, and electric range
- Master bedroom suite with private bath
- Stunning hard-wood floor throughout
the home
- Vaulted ceiling in living room with an abundance of windows throughout the home
- Full-size washer and dryer
-
Contemporary window accents
- Industry-strength Central heating and air conditioning
* * * * * * |
This meets a large percentage of our wish
list! A little negotiation on pets and the definition of "parking" (vs. garage) and we might choose this one.
Then Zillow showed us this
house has 2,995 square feet. Our usual experience is ads claims more square feet than Zillow, not fewer.
Why would this person claim fewer square feet?
The reason became clear later in the ad:
* * * * *
Share with me! Unique design of house allows for two entirely separate,
private residences with separate entries, driveways, and living space. You will live in the main house, we are only home at
night (in the extension unit). Your beautiful, newly renovated 3 bed 2 bath home is located on a 1/2-acre lot in the quiet,
tree-covered Los Altos neighborhood. Located in the great Los Altos school district, the coziness of a small neighborhood
coupled with the convenience of Rancho shopping center, the perfect location to live! * * * * * *
Even without the obvious "share"
issues (garage access, water, power, cable bills, not to mention zoning), the reek of a failed flipper emanates from the granite
/stainless in the kitchen and "Industry strength" heat and A/C.
Rent at your own risk. Just hope
they don't default on their mortgage. Or sell it out from under you.
For a variation on today's theme, we also found:
* * * * * *
Date: 2008-05-07, 9:59AM PDT
Charming
older 3Br 1.5 Ba. home with remodeled kitchen. New cupboards and tile countertops, sink, garbage disposal and dishwasher.
(missing form this list: refrigerator, washer /dryer, A/C, garage, ...) Kitchen has new pull out drawers in kitchen cupboards. New paint and carpet throught out the home. Fireplace,
separate dining room and kitchen nook. Inside laundry area.
The home is about 1800 square feet and is located just
off 13th Street with Easy access to Downtown San Jose and Highway 101. (According
to Zillow, this PoS is 3 /1 with only 1,000 square feet. The picture shows no obvious additions and you clearly see
it sitting adjacent to a large commercial building...)
This home is on
a large lot and has a covered patio and large storage shed. Automatic sprinklers front and back with new grass lawns. (The front "lawn" is maybe ~4 feet by 8 feet." The picture shows only dirt between
the trees and shrubs in the back.) Gardner included. Lots of room for plants and a garden. Also has
all new (chain link) fences.
2 car garage with automatic door opener.
Live
in home and take care of my Moms cats for a reduced monthly rent. Mom has passed away. Looking for a caring single
person or a couple. I will provide the food and pay for all other expenses. This home would rent for $xxxx-$xxxx per month. (The alleged "discount" is $100!)
1 year lease or longer
required. NO SMOKING PLEASE!!!!
Home available June 1st.
* * * * * * *
Another inheritance rental. Another lifetime
stream of free money, courtesy of California's Prop13 and Prop 189. You gotta be kidding!
Conclusion:
We concede, of course, that the rental market is the rental market.
We will eventually find a property owned by a non-flipper whose decor does not date from 40 or more years ago.
As mentioned in 08v1, anybody who knows of a reasonable rental,
please contact us. (Now that we re-opened the mailing list, our e-mail address is available via the home
page's "free subscription" link...)
