LADOT to be Issuing More Parking Tickets in Los Angeles

Last week, I received and email newsletter from my Councilmember Tom LaBonge's office:

"New Parking Rules taking effect in Los Angeles"

Please be advised that LADOT has begun issuing warning tickets to people who park or have been parking on the Driveway aprons effective Monday August 22, 2011; This "warning period" will end on August 28th at which time LADOT will begin to issue citations for this DMV code violation. This enforcement is part of an effort to keep sidewalks accessible to all people, following provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Tickets for apron parking will be $58, and if a resident receives more than five citations, the vehicle will be towed, according to LADOT. In regards to the City working on a new policy, the City Council voted on August 19th to instruct the Department of Transportation along with the City Attorney to (1) report back regarding potential State legislation on correct apron parking and (2) creation of a program that would be ADA compliant that would allow for apron parking. This report back will likely be heard in late September/early October. Until then, we advise you NOT PARK in your driveway apron, blocking the sidewalk."

What they are referring to as the "apron" is actually the "parkway": the area between the street and the sidewalk. Not all parkways are the same. Some are extra wide, some are extra narrow. So depending on what neighborhood you live in, parking in the apron could be a nuisance or a benefit to you. For example, if you live in the hills with tight streets then a car parked in the parkway could be obstructing your sidewalk and street as well. But most people who park in their parkways are able to fit their car in such a way that the sidewalk and street are not obstructed. In front of my house, we can fit our cars in our parkway without the tires touching the street or the sidewalk. Around the corner from us, cars parked in the parkway will stick out in the street, no further then the parallel parked cars, and at the same time not be touching the sidewalk.

Whatever the case, two thing are certain: 1) A lot of people park in parkways in Los Angeles, and 2) Los Angeles has more residents with cars than available street parking spaces. This new policy will be affecting all residents who live in densely populated neighborhoods (i.e. like, all of us) even those without parkways because the thousands of people who park in parkways will now have to park on the street.

But what about residents with disabilities? After all, the newsletter did mention the entire reason LADOT is initiating this policy is because they are trying to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Or so they say.

I found the entire ADA act of 1990 online. It does not mention "parkway", "apron" or "sidewalk" in the entire document. There was a fairly recent court ruling that determined anything blocking or ubstructing the sidewalk was indeed a violation of the ADA. I called ADA this morning to clarify. I was told that it is NOT in violation of the ADA for a car to park in the parkway, as long as the car is not blocking the sidewalk.

As I mentioned earlier, my street on Sunset Drive between Sanborn and Sunset Boulevard has an oversized parkway and we are able to park our modern size vehicles in the parkway without obstructing either the sidewalk or the street. In the past, LADOT would give us tickets if our tires touched the sidewalk or if we blocked the sidewalk. It did not take long to train every resident on Sunset Drive between Sanborn and Sunset Boulevard to not block the sidewalk while parking in thier parkways. In 2006 I received my first parking ticket for parking in the parkway. I called LADOT and the supervisor informed me that my tires cannot be touching the sidewalk as it is in violation of the ADA. He also informed me there is a municiple code that prohibits parking in the parkway but the city does not enforce it because there is not enough parking in our densely populated neighborhoods. He said as long as my car is not obstructing the sidewalk they will not ticket. I have never blocked the sidewalk since then. In our neighborhood, LADOT for years has been acting in accordance with the ADA and because of LADOT the sidewalks on Sunset Drive are always clear and ADA compliant. It does not make sense for LADOT to speciously claim they have to now enforce the city municiple code which prohibits parking in the parkway in order to comply with the ADA. Prohibiting residents to park in their parkway when they park in a mannor that is ADA compliant will gravely impact parking in our city . The City Council is aware of our parking problems and should be looking for solutions, not contributing to the problem.

What our City Council needs to do is implement a constructive policy regarding parking in "aprons" that allows its residents to continue to function in the same setting without infringing on the rights of those with disabilities. How LADOT has been handling it for years on Sunset Drive would be a excellent example of one such solution: allow residents to park in parkways but if their tires are touching the sidewalk, give them a ticket. It will not take long to clear our sidewalks.

Walkers' Paradise

There are so many factors to consider when looking for a future rental. Of course the most important: Location Location Location! The main concern for location is: is the neighborhood safe? To address with this concern, I recently posted a blog about LAPD website on crime stats. But there is another major concern for renters when considering location: is this location in close proximity to 'stuff'? I discovered yet another great resource for renters: www.walkscore.com rates the walkability of your neighborhood. Enter your current or future address and this site will rate it on a scale of 0-100 (100 being Walkers' Paradise). My Los Feliz neighborhood on the border of Silver Lake scored a 90. Pretty high, but I think it should be higher as I can walk to anything! Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is 1-5 block away from me. The neighborhood in South West Los Angeles that I grew up in scored a 74. What does your neighborhood score?

• 90–100 = Walkers' Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.
• 70–89 = Very Walkable: It's possible to get by without owning a car.
• 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
• 25–49 = Car-Dependent: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
• 0–24 = Car-Dependent (Driving Only): Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!

Big Yard? Big Deal.

I was walking my boxer Maddy around our Los Feliz neighborhood last night passing one tiny bungalow after another, I started thinking about how this neighborhood was developed. The developers/city planners sure did a good job packing one home in after another, accommodating the herds of people moving to Los Angeles in the 1900's - seeking fame and Southern California Sunlight. They were probably more concerned about where these people would sleep then where they would play. It is true, land is hard to come by in this town. It is hard enough to find a decent apartment/home - and what of an apartment/home with a yard? A difficult feat. So as I am walking my dog down Clayton Avenue I am thinking about how many renters I meet looking for "some kind of outdoor space" and how little space there is in this town to go around - there is truly not enough space for us all - and that is when I spotted a group of guys playing a make shift ball game in the Enterprise parking lot. It was after hours, the agency was closed, the rental cars had all be rented for the day and the lot was empty. Flat, empty space, well lit outdoor area - "hmm," I think to myself "these guys are on to something." I round my way up to Hollywood Blvd. heading East a few blocks passing the Goodwill parking lot. Another group of guys on bikes doing bunny hops, wheelies and bar spins in the half empty parking lot. A group of people are having dinner in the corner, laughing and relaxing after a presumably hard day of work. I am starting to see a pattern here. I continue down Hollywood Blvd. My dog Maddy does her routine jump up to the planter, bouncing up and down the architectural ramp covered in vines. We turn into the Barnsdale Art Park, climbing up to the top Great Lawn area. There is a couple working on Tai Chi at one end, another couple sitting staring West into the sunset, a single male reading a book on a blanket, and Maddy running circles around me - she knows just how long the leash extends. Time to head back. Back down Hollywood Blvd. we pass Rite Aid - another parking lot. This time a larger group is converging - a mob of hipsters on bikes - 'Critical Mass' is forming. Now here is a group that appreciates public property and knows how to claim its piece of the pie. Once a month they take over the streets of LA, clogging major throughways - their procession stakes claim to their rite to the road, it is their land. We head back towards home. I spot a mother and her toddler - neighbors, I see them almost everyday on their daily walk around the neighborhood. The toddle is sitting up in a tree, the mother encouraging him to climb higher. We finally get home - our duplex sits right up to the sidewalk. There's hardly a front stoop before you reach the front door. The small common patio space in the back is rarely used. The sparse furniture is covered in cobwebs and dirt. It is a pathway to the laundry area, our neighbors homes, the occasional bbq (I think we had 2 last year). I enter my apartment, a small space for two adults and a dog. I enter my house thinking how I consider myself a homebody, but I am rarely here. I am a city-girl, a L.A. native, my home is L.A. My land is all around me. The recreational resources are available for us here, they are abundant, they are free. A little bit of creativity and one step out your front door - it's your yard, enjoy.

"Is the Neighborhood Safe?"

Here is one question we get asked a lot as rental agents: "Is this neighborhood safe?" We don't like answering this questions for a variety of reasons (mostly because of the relativity of the word- we could say living life is "unsafe" since "safe" is defined as "free from risk" and walking across a street, driving on the freeway, riding a bike-- everything we do in life is a risk!). OK, so defining the word doesn't help the situation. And it always leaves the renter (dissatisfied with The Rental Girls ambiguous explanation) wanting a more specific and feel-good answer to their question. So you can imaging how thrilled I was to stumble across LAPD's on-line crime maps! Finally, a website that can give residents and prospective renters a definitive answer to this impossible question.

LAPD's on-line crime maps uses Google hybrid maps to outline your neighborhood and then pinpoints where each crime took place within the past 7 days.

Check it out here: http://www.lapdcrimemaps.org/

High Rents Got you Down?

Everyone knows rents have been coming down in our neighborhood. It was really apparent in February when on almost every lease we signed the rent was reduced within a range of 5-10%. However, even with these rent reductions renters are still telling me rents are higher then they can afford. Every renter wants a charming apartment with a yard, a parking space and a garbage disposal at an affordable rate. When this perfect home and rent cannot be found, depression sinks in and the renter starts feeling hopeless . . . and angry. All this sadness and anger have me wondering: why isn't anyone helping these people? Some one just needs to tell them. That is when I decided to write this post. Let me explain it to you all.  

"There is more to life then where you live." -The Rental Girl

When you have searched for weeks, toured hundreds of homes, viewed thousand of online ads, and are still homeless - don't panic. It is not the end of the world. You do not have a home, but you still have a life. And you sure as hell have a cell phone. So call a friend. Take a bike ride down the Los Angeles River. Take Commonwealth till it dead ends and hike for a couple hours up to Dante's Peak in Griffith Park. Grab a blanket and have lunch up in Elysian Park. Read a book at the Japanese Gardens behind the Grace E. Simons Lodge. Watch the sun setting over Hollywood at the Barnsdall Art Park. Sit at a cafe on Sunset and people watch. Pick up some beer and burgers and BBQ at your friends house. Catch a movie at the Vista. Spend the day at the beach. Go whale watching in San Pedro. Take the Metro to Olvera Street. When I started this paragraph you thought I was joking. But I am serious! Get out and enjoy Los Angeles. Period. 

Now that you are under control, let's get back to business. Here are the most important things you need to look for when choosing your future affordable home: 

1) Move to a neighborhood where most of your friends live. 

You may be tempted to choose the apartment with more space, amenities and in better condition in a more affordable neighborhood over the smaller less desirable unit in a neighborhood close to your friends. What you need to consider is how far are you from the people you know? Los Angeles is huge city with a bunch of small neighborhoods and a bunch of cars. You may choose to live only 8 miles from your closest friend (because that house is spacious and 'great for entertaining!'), but that 8 miles is about 30 minutes in traffic. That friend better have a good calling plan cause they ain't ever gonna see you. You might as well move to Alaska. We Angelino's are busy people and unless you want to schedule your friends in your calendar like another business meeting, you better move closer to them. 

2) Is the space manageable?

Downsize. You do not need as much square feet as you think you do. You probably own too much stuff. Most Americans do (*New Yorkers are the exception). Be kind to our environment, recycle and sell it all on Craigslist. First get rid of everything you do not need and THEN move. Otherwise you're going to end up paying $400 bucks extra a month for a few hundred extra square feet for your random stuff. Swim in the ocean, not your stuff. 

*NYers, here is the exception: You pay high rent for teeny tiny spaces in NY. My advice to New Yorkers is do not move to LA expecting to pay the same rent for a LOT more space.  Spend less in rent for a LITTLE bit more space. 

3) Can you accessorize?

You do not have to watch hours of the DIY network or read hundreds of design magazines to figure out how a little creativity can go a long way. Empty apartments are bland and boring. Bland and boring apartments are usually more affordable. Have some vision and do not be scared. You can do it. I believe in you.

4) Is it close to the metro and areas with things to do?

This is the most important factor. When you are not working, you want to be able to park your car and get out and enjoy Los Angeles. You want to be able to enjoy the city, your life - not just your rental. Rentals close to major streets are usually more affordable and closer to shopping, restaurants and cafes.

Finally, remember that rentals are temporary so stop taking the search so seriously. No matter how you look at it, whether you are planning on living in the next rental for 1 year or 10, it is still temporary. Take advantage of the reducing rents in this economy and learn to appreciate all the free activities Los Angeles has to offer. And when the economy eventually improves and rents increase -  you can have peace of mind: there is more to life then your Rental. 

Washer/Dryer VS. Hookups

We have quite a few vacancies at the moment with washer/dryer hookups. A lot of people call and ask if the washer/dryer will be provided. I have been surprised at how many people turn down an opportunity to even just view a vacancy because it only has hook-ups and no washer/dryer provided.

Let me just say to all you who are new to renting in the Los Angeles area: please, do not be scared of hookups. There is nothing scary about purchasing a washer and dryer. I think you are nervous because no one has taken the time to explain it to you. Until now:

First of all, you can buy a used washer/dryer, cheap. You are not the only person in Los Angeles stuck with hookups. There are many rentals with hookups, many people looking for washer/dryers and many people looking to sell them.

1) Search Craigslist. I bought a stackable washer/dryer off Craigslist once for $200 bucks.

2) Buy a used washer/dryer at one of the million used appliance stores in the neighborhood (Try SavOn Appliance or Echo Park Appliance).

3) If you're lucky to have viewed a vacancy prior to the current tenant vacating, you can offer to buy the washer/dryer from the previous tenant.

Now, let me explain the pros and cons of each option:

Craigslist will often have as good of a deal or better then your local used appliance store. However, your local used appliance store will give you a warranty and deliver for free. If you buy off Craigslist more then likely you'll have to pick it up yourself and your stuck if anything goes wrong after you buy. However, if you find a GREAT deal on Craigslist you can easily find a furniture mover (on Craigslist) who will deliver for around $50 bucks.

Second, now you're wondering what you do when you move and now you've got this washer dryer you don't want to drag around with you. Don't worry. You are not the only person in Los Angeles with washer/dryer issues. There are more rentals with hookups then there are with washer/dryers provided. There are many many people looking for used washer/dryers. I'll give you one person specifically who will really want it: the person who moves in after you. Here is what to do with your washer/dryer after you move:

1) Post and sell on Craigslist. That $200 stackable I bought for one of my rentals - I used it for a couple years then sold it on Craigslist for $250.

2) Sell at a garage sale

3) Offer to sell it to your landlord, tell your landlord it will help him/her rent it out to the next tenant. If the landlord says no,

4) Sell it to the tenant moving in

5) Worse case scenario, sell it to the used appliance store

I promise you, you will not have a hard time selling a washer/dryer in Los Angeles.

And of course, there's always that chance your next rental will have hookups.

Visiting Family Coming to Town?

If you live in an apartment in the Los Feliz, Silver Lake or Echo Park neighborhoods then chances are you own an inflattable mattress. Am I right? I mean, where do your friends and family stay when they come to town? It is rare for a renter to tell me they are looking for an apartment with an extra bedroom and large enough to accomodate their visitors. And since there are NO good hotels and motels in our neighborhood - if your small bungalow doesn't have room for that inflatable matress - your visitors are stuck on the street.

That is until recently. Many hotel "alternatives" have been popping up around our neighborhood - including one (Los Feliz Lodge) that I started myself.

These locally owned 'Inns' are not your typical intimate bed&breakfasts or dreary corporate hotels. They aren't vacation rentals or sublets either. They are a perfect blend of the above, creating hotel-like accomodations in home-like settings. Below are reviews of the handful of local Inns in our 'hood:


Los Feliz Lodge: Detached bungalows and larger villas in a 1920's Spanish-style courtyard building. Each bungalow is uniquly designed in a funky ecelctic vibe and feature private fully equipped kitchens and baths. Located at 1507-1509 N. Hoover Street, Los Feliz. Rates start at $150/night and $900/week. For more information: www.losfelizlodge.com or 877-660-4150 Tel

Baxter5: These five hip and modern bungalows on Baxter Street border Elysian Park in Echo Park. Located in a great Echo Park neighborhood, Baxter5 bungalows are available for short or long stays. Each bungalow comes with a fully equipped kitchen and private bath. Located at: 1549 Baxter, Echo Park. Rates start at $125/night. For more information: www.baxter5.com or 323-660-1835 Tel

Sanborn House: The Sanborn House has been around for awhile and is almost always booked. They have 2 guest cottage suites, cutely decorated and in a great Silver Lake / Sunset Junction location. Located at: 1005.5 Sanborn, Silver Lake. Rates start at $75/night. For more information: www.sanbornhouse.com

Hollywood Pensione: An eco-friendly boutique hotel featuring 3 guest room suites. Located at: 1845 Wilton Place, Hollywood. Rates start at $149/night. For more information: www.hollywoodpensione.com or 323-369-2411 Tel

Renters Insurance

A few years ago I rented a 2 story house to a group of individuals. Soon after they moved and settled in there was a plumbing accident in the upstairs bathroom and the downstairs bedroom got flooded. The roommate's belongings were destroyed. There wasn't much on the floor. But he did have one item - an expensive ($7,000) musical instrument - totally destroyed. The owner fixed the leak right away and made the necessary repairs and told the tenant to contact his renters insurance to replace or pay for the instrument. Uh oh... renters insurance? He didn't have it. You can imagine he was pretty upset. 

I hope he doesn't mind me using his story as an example why all renters should get renters insurance. It's not that expensive, it's easy to get and you need it. A landlord can have every possible insurance available for owners but none of them will cover renters personal belongings. It is your responsibility and I'm posting to remind you about it!

Renters insurance will cover losses to your personal property from the following perils:

Fire or lighting

Windstorm or hail

Explosian

Riot or civil commotion

Damage caused by aircraft

Damage caused by vehicles

Smoke

Vandalism or malicious mischief

Theft

Volcanic eruption

Falling objects

Weight of ice, snow or sleet

Accidental discharge or overflow of water or stream from within a plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or automatic fire-protective sprinkler system, or from a household appliance 

Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning, or bulging of a stream or hot water heating system, an air conditioning or automatic fire-protective system

Freezing of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic fire-protective sprinkler system, or of a household appliance

Sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current (does not include loss to a tube, transistor or similar electronic component)

Earthquakes and floods are not on the list. You'll need additional coverage for those. 

You can contact any insurance broker for quotes. Triple A, state farm, etc. 

How To Green Your Apartment: The Green Cone

Have you looked at your LADWP bill lately? If you're wondering why your DWP bill keeps increasing, it may not have to do with the amount of electricity your using. LADWP is religiously increasing the trash fees on us. All this bill analyzing has got me thinking: Holy cow I throw out a lot of trash! And where is all this trash going? It's really got me questioning my consuming habits. Before calling up and having a ragging fit with the poor helpless LADWP customer service peeps (wah wah), I decided I need to make some changes first. Consume less, recycle more and start composting. Once I've eliminated 50% of my waste, I'll bring up my case with the 'ol LADWP folks to reduce the fee.
In this post, I focus on composting.

After some initial research, I discovered by composting I can eliminate about 20% or more of what I throw out in the trash. I also discovered that many people have an aversion to composting. Especially us city-folk. Being an L.A. native, I was skeptical at first. I hardly have any yard space, the buildings are close together, compost smells, attracts flies, even rodents and bugs and oh my! But I got the idea in my head and I was determined to make this work.

Sure enough some environmentally conscious city dweller has created a simple and efficient composting method for urban homes and apartments: The Green Cone. This green upside down ice cream cone-looking thing takes all cooked and uncooked food waste and uses the sun to convert it into water. Open lid, dump food, shut lid and let glorious sun do all the work. Virtually NO maintenance! And to top it off, it doesn't smell or attract bugs around it. You do need a small patch of dirt, $170 bucks and a shovel. Dig a hole, bury half the cone and start composting. Brilliant!

To purchase: Click Here

The 2nd Question of the Month: Are Los Angeles rents declining?

As discussed in the previous post, I get asked similar questions repeatedly throughout the day. This question is the 2nd most asked question of the month. I've decided to blog the answer and reveal the truth of the matter, spreading some rental girl insight to all you readers. Here is what we are experiencing:

RENTS ARE NOT DECLINING.

BUT IT APPEARS RENTS ARE DECLINING.

I am no pinochio. And I can explain. What we are experiencing is rents are stabilizing, meaning rents are not increasing. Because Los Angeles is a rent controlled area, it's recommend that a Landlord give a new tenant the allowable rent increase (usually around 3%) after the first year in order to keep up with market rents. Furthermore, every time a tenant moves out the landlord has been able to increase the rent at least 3% or more. Not this year. Case in point: A client called me last week to re-list her 2 bedroom 1 bath apartment. Her former tenant was paying $1925, had lived there for 2 years and had 1 rent increase after the 1st year. The landlord said to me "we should be able to get "$1975 or $2,000 now".

Now all you renters out there, let's not get all ballistic. After all, in a rent controlled environment a landlord has to keep up with market rent and this is a normal reaction from a normal landlord. On a side note, I once met a landlord who never increased rent in 20 years. His water/dwp bill for the property was more than 50% of his rental revenue. This was not a normal landlord. But that is not what this post is about (fun topic, I know, but let's move on).

This landlord will be able to rent her two bedroom for $1950 in this market. But she will not be able to rent it for $2000. She will try, and after 3-4 weeks she will reduce the rent to $1975. The apartment will rent a couple weeks after that for $1950. This one case exemplifies what is happening in this market. The appearance rents are declining and the appearance it is taking longer to rent an apartment coupled with the fact that there are more renters and more rentals on the market (i.e. previous post) and what is created is an illusionary circumstance. Renters, landlords, bloggers, journalists, researchers scouring the market will look and say "HEY! Rents are declining!" Ah hah! The truth is now revealed: rents are NOT declining but they appear to be declining. In reality, rents are stabilizing.

Post Script: Keep in mind that I am a Rental Agent in the Los Angeles area and deal with specific neighborhoods. This commentary is based 100% on we (TheRentalGirl.com agents) are experiencing, not some statistic we read in the paper. Also keep in mind that Los Angeles trends do not necessarily reflect what is happening in other counties or states.

Question of the Month: How is the Los Angeles Rental Market?

If I had only charged a dollar for every time you all asked me this question this month. Hey -charging a buck- it's not a bad idea. Ay, but reciting the answer over and over... I've bored myself to blogdom. I must blog the answer so I can start answering other questions. Now when you ask me this question, you will get a link to this post. Read the answer. Next question please!

We the three rental agents at TheRentalGirl.com report exceptionally high rental activity for the winter holiday season. (For detailed statistics and explanations, please see LATIMES, BUSINESS JOURNAL, or other highly reliable and of course completely unbiased sources of information. Otherwise, read on).

Historically, November-January is a slow rental period: there are not a lot of rentals and there are not a lot of renters looking to rent. However, we have experienced the opposite this season. Our phones have been off the hook, emails boxes flooded and inventory out of control (well, we've got it under control, but you get the point). Bottom line: a whole heck-of-a-lot-of rentals, and even more heck-of-a-lot-of people looking.

For an explanation, we turn to our renters (as detailed earlier in this blog, we deal with a bunch of them). After meeting a prospective renter, one of the 1st questions we ask is: Why are you moving? Here are the top 6 explanations we've heard between November 2008 and now:

1) My current property is being foreclosed.

2) I'm trying to save money. (This answer comes in a few different forms):

a. I am moving in with a roommate to save money

b. I am downsizing to save money

c. I am paying too much in rent

3) We are ready to buy, but want to wait until the market gets worse.

4) My Landlord is moving into my unit and I have to move

5) My Landlord is selling his/her property.

6) I'm breaking up with my significant other (this will always be in the top 6)

This explains why there are so many renters looking to move. It also explains why there are so many rentals available. All these people who are moving: they live "someplace" and now that "someplace" is for rent. The other factor is the real estate factor (I know, you were expecting this a lot earlier on). All these homes that have been on the real estate market to sell, are not selling. Owners who are long moved on to their new homes are stuck with 2 homes and are forced to rent the old one out. Others were speculators, bought to flip, couldn't sell and are forced to rent.

And that should explain it all. Next question please!

Behind the Scenes: The Rental Girl Offices

Just who is the rental girl?

. . . step through the keyhole and into the Rental Girl headquarters in Los Feliz and welcome to the scene!

On any given day, one is likely to hear bjork screaming at the top of hers lungs on the ipod, or laughter overflowing into the courtyard - signs of creative energy buzzing and an overall environment of positivity and good vibrations. In a funky and chic appointed guest house turned office, sitting at 3 desks, 3 girls claim fame to the name "The Rental Girl".

So just who are these girls?

Liz, front and center stage , founder and rental girl extraordinaire stays at home base in Silver Lake And Los Feliz where it all began.

Stage left: Katie ,the soon-to-be Westside diva, has been keeping a tight ship running with Liz in 2008.

Enter stage right: Patricia, the most recently appointed maven, is the Echo Park and Downtown LA Rental Girl.

Liz, a licensed real estate agent, got the idea to create The Rental Girl after gaining years of property management experience. Liz lives in Los Feliz and refuses to drive west of Western. So it was only natural for the original Rental Girl to cover the eastside neighborhoods. Now a real estate broker, she's expanded the business bringing on other agents to even more great Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Katie - soon to be the Westside area rental girl - got her real estate license in 2008 and has been training with Liz for a while now. Katie recently moved to Marina Del Rey. We're super excited that Katie will opening a Westside branch in 2009. Katie will be covering the Marina Del Rey, Venice Beach and Santa Monica areas.

Patricia, a licensed real estate agent, brings to the table property management and real esate sales knowledge, as well as having a degree in hospitality management which goes a long way in this service-related industry. Patricia lives in Echo Park and covers the Echo Park, downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

That about sums us up! We've created this blog to keep you informed on all things pertaining to renting and living in our neighborhoods . . . including spotlighting the new cool people moving into the hood, and even bringing you weekly postings on hot fridge deals on Craigslist, and so much much more . . .

Enjoy!