PROJECT HOME REPORTS
East Oakland Tiny Homes Village Garners International AttentionAn innovative East Oakland housing solution is gaining international attention as the country's first youth-let tiny homes village that opened this year.
Fire-Hardening Proves Effective In Saving Homes; Insurance Companies Not Yet On BoardWildfires have burned nearly 2.5 million acres in California this year alone. As we have reported, they have ignited an insurance crisis, with hundreds of thousands of homeowners getting dropped because of high fire risk.
UPDATE: Moratoriums on Canceling Fire Insurance for California Residents Only a Temporary FixFor three years in a row California's insurance commissioner has ordered temporary moratoriums following major fires to stop insurance companies from cancelling or not renewing policies.
Project Home: East Bay Startup Aims To Solve Housing Crunch With 3-D Printing TechnologyWhile many blame tech companies for playing a role in causing the housing affordability crisis, an Oakland-based startup is hoping to be the solution.
Newsom Wants State To Pay Past Due Rent, Extend Eviction Protections Past JuneWith a possible eviction crisis looming across the nation, Gov. Gavin Newsom says California will pay off all the past-due rent that accumulated in the nation's most populated state because of the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
With California Eviction Moratorium About to Expire, Tenants Ask for ReliefThe statewide eviction moratorium is set to expire in 20 days, putting more than one million Californians at risk of losing their homes.
Developer Sues Millbrae Over Proposed Housing at Historic El Rancho InnA Peninsula city with a history of not meeting its housing goals, Millbrae is now being sued for it.
New Bill Would Expand Zoning to Allow Housing Units on Shopping Mall PropertyA bill in the state legislature aims to address the housing shortage by making it easier to build homes in commercial areas such as shopping malls.
Oakland Tenants Sue Landlord Mosser Companies, Alleging Harassment, Discrimination To Force Them OutFive separate lawsuits were filed in Superior Court Tuesday against a billion dollar real estate investment firm, Mosser Companies, with tenants accuse Mosser of carrying out harassment and violating Oakland's Tenant Protection Ordinance.
Homebuyers In Northern California 'High Fire Zones' See Insurance Rates Go Through The RoofThe start of fire season should be a wakeup call for home buyers in this red hot real estate market. That’s because finding insurance for your dream house, if it’s next to wildland may give you sticker shock.
Federal Court Strikes Down CDC Eviction Moratorium; What Does It Mean For Bay Area Renters?A federal judge ruled Wednesday the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has no authority to impose a nationwide eviction moratorium, saying the public health agency doesn’t have the constitutional right to stop evictions.
San Francisco Considers Spending Hundreds of Millions on Safe Sleeping Sites For HomelessThe San Francisco Board of Supervisors is currently considering spending hundreds of millions of dollars to have homeless people sleep in tents on city property, it’s an expansion of the so-called ‘safe sleeping sites’.
Slow Recovery Prompts Businesses to Rethink Their Future in Downtown San FranciscoFor small businesses in downtown San Francisco which rely on a high volume of office workers, the post-pandemic economic forecast is as cloudy as a Sunset District summer.
Lawsuit Alleges Low-Income Homeowners Were Manipulated Into Getting PACE Green Energy LoansAs we previously investigated, a green energy program that targets low-income homeowners continues to leave a trail of financial hardships and foreclosures in its wake. KPIX 5'S Susie Steimle got an exclusive interview with the state agency tasked to oversee the troubled program.
Skyrocketing Lumber Prices Hit California New Home Buyers HardLumber prices have hit historic levels, making homes in California even more expensive. Builders say it’s causing a ripple effect that will price more people out of the market.
Hopeful Home Buyers Waive Contingencies to Compete in Red-Hot Housing MarketOne way that buyers in this hot real estate market are making their offers stand out is by waiving contingencies. Realtors worry this will lead to lawsuits.
California Realtors Advise Clients to Ignore 'Love Letters' From Would-Be BuyersRealtors are discouraging home sellers from reading overly-personal appeals from prospective buyers, known in the industry as "love letters."
Project Home: 'Flex Pool' Program Matches Homeless San Franciscans to Vacant ApartmentsThroughout the pandemic San Francisco has seen an increase in vacant apartments, now people experiencing homelessness are being placed into those empty units.
Project Home: Deceptive Energy-Saving Remodel Plans Hit Homeowners With Financing GotchasA state-approved program to help low-income homeowners make energy improvements to their property has had catastrophic and unintended consequences.
Homeless-Aid Volunteer Says San Jose Church Stabbing Won't Deter HimA victim of a brutal attack by a homeless man is not letting that deter him from helping the homeless community.
Project Home: 'Perfect Storm' Sparks Bidding Wars As Bay Area Housing Market Heats Up 1 Year Into PandemicIn the Bay Area's housing market, bidding wars are back with a vengeance. Despite a global pandemic, 2020 is expected to outpace 2019 when it comes to the number of homes sold.
Lake County Luxury Hotel, Housing Project Raises Concerns Over Wildfire RiskCalifornia's attorney general wants to put a stop to a luxury housing development in a fire-prone area of Lake County.
Social Housing May Be A Fix For San Francisco's Housing Affordability CrisisDemocrats across the country say there’s one solution that can help solve the housing affordability crisis, it’s what’s known as Social Housing.
Project Home: Advocates Seek 10-Year Policy Plan To Address California Housing CrisisMore than 100 housing bills have been introduced so far in the California legislature this year, an about face from 2020 where housing took a backseat to the pandemic.
Project Home: Energy-Efficient Upgrade Program For Low-Income Residents Invites AbusesIt’s a tempting offer, especially if you’re on a fixed income: make your home more energy-efficient with no money down. But the program is getting many elderly homeowners in very serious trouble.
Project Home: San Francisco Mayor's Office Of Housing Pushes For BMR Rents To Reflect Market ChangesAffordable units in San Francisco have become more expensive than market rate units, now the Mayor’s Office of Housing is pushing for certain building owners to adjust their rates.
Project Home: Lawmakers Push to Repeal Article 34, Call Language in California's Constitution RacistLawmakers hope 2020 has made Californians ready for to strike down Article 34, as the pandemic created a space for introspection.
Project Home: Small Bay Area Landlords Keep Properties Vacant Because of Rent ControlVacancy rates are well into the double digits in cities across the Bay Area, but some small property owners say rent control has led them to keep some apartments empty rather than drop rent prices.
Some San Francisco Affordable Housing Units Renting For More Than Market-Rate UnitsTenants living in so-called affordable housing units are now in many cases paying more than their market-rate neighbors.
Video Reports
East Oakland Tiny Homes Village Garners International AttentionSharon Chin reports on a youth-led tiny homes village in the East Bay providing homes for young people (11-1-2021)
Fire-Hardening Saves Homes But Insurers Resist Rate ReductionsCalifornia homeowners who have taken steps to make their properties resistant to wildfires expect to see their efforts recognized by their insurance companies. Most of them are in for disappointment. Kenny Choi reports. (9-30-21)
Project Home: Insurance Moratorium Gives Temporary Relief To Homeowners In Fire ZonesThe past three years, California ordered temporary moratoriums following major fires to stop insurance companies from dropping policies. But as Kenny Choi tells us, when the moratoriums expire it could hit closer to home than you think.
Seniors in San Jose COVID Housing Protest Looming EvictionSome seniors in San Jose are at risk of being evicted from their emergency COVID shelter. They took their fight all the way to city hall. Kiet Do reports. (9-24-21)
Renegade San Jose Homelessness Advocates Build Sheds Without City ApprovalA renegade movement is underway to build emergency housing in San Jose. Kiet Do reports. (9-9-21)
East Bay Startup Tackles Housing Crunch With 3-D Printing TechnologyMighty Buildings of Oakland has created seven 3D-printed ADUs (accessory dwelling units) that are already out in the community. Susie Steimle reports. (6-24-21)
With Eviction Moratorium About to Expire, Tenants Ask for ReliefThe statewide eviction moratorium is set to expire in 20 days, putting more than one million Californians at risk of losing their homes. Susie Steimle reports. (6-10-21)
Developer Sues Millbrae Over Proposed Housing at El Rancho InnA Peninsula city with a history of not meeting its affordable housing goals, Millbrae is now being sued for it. Susie Steimle reports. (6-3-21)
Bill Proposes Building Housing Units on Shopping Mall PropertyJohn Ramos reports on growing push to develop housing on shopping mall property in California (6-1-2021)
Oakland Tenants Allege Mosser Companies Engages in Tenant HarassmentFive separate lawsuits were filed in Superior Court Tuesday against real estate investment firm Mosser Companies alleging the firm harasses tenants and violates Oakland's Tenant Protection Ordinance. Susie Steimle reports.
Homeowners Buying Insurance In High Fire Areas Should Prepare For Sticker ShockThe start of the fire season should be a wake-up call for home buyers and owners in places like Paradise, California. Susie Steimle reports that insurance rates in these high fire zones may give them sticker shock.
Project Home: Federal Court Strikes Down CDC Eviction Moratorium, What Does It Mean For Bay Area?A federal judge ruled Wednesday the Centers for Disease Control have no authority to impose a nationwide eviction moratorium, saying the public health agency doesn’t have the constitutional right to stop evictions. Susie Steimle reports. (5/5/21)
SF Considers Multi-Million Dollar Plan To Create Safe Sleeping Sites For City's HomelessThe San Francisco Board of Supervisors is considering spending hundreds of millions of dollars on 'safe sleeping sites.' On Project Home, Susie Steimle talks to city leaders and homeless advocates about the pros and cons of the proposal.
Class-Action Suit Alleges Low-Income Homeowners Targeted For Deceptive PACE LoansA class-action lawsuit alleges that low-income homeowners were being targeted for deceptive PACE green energy loans. Susie Steimle got an exclusive interview with the state agency that oversees the program.
Skyrocketing Lumber Prices Hit California New Home Buyers HardLumber prices have hit historic levels, making homes in California even more expensive. Builders say it’s causing a ripple effect that will price more people out of the market. Susie Steimle reports. (4-8-21)
Low Income Housing Cheaters Series
Project Home: Bay Area Projects to Find Housing for the Homeless Score SuccessesOver the past 3 years, KPIX 5's Project Home team has profiled dozens of unhoused Bay Area residents. Now there's some good news to share.
Vallco Redevelopment Battle In Cupertino Highlights Barriers To Building Homes In The Bay AreaThe Bay Area earned a new title this year: the region is officially the most expensive place to build in the world.
SF City Attorney: Couple Rented Out Affordable Unit While Living In $2.8M HomeSan Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed a lawsuit against a couple, accusing them of illegally taking advantage of the city's affordable housing program.
Tenants Complain S.F. Affordable Rental Program Lets Landlords Play FavoritesThere are numerous complaints about San Francisco's affordable rental program and they're coming from both tenants and landlords.
Duplex Loophole Series
Oakland City Council Votes To Close So-Called 'Duplex Loophole'Oakland city council members voted early Wednesday morning to close an eviction loophole that was putting hundreds of renters at risk of getting kicked out of their homes.
Oakland May Close 'Duplex Loophole' To Stop New Landlords From Evicting TenantsThe City of Oakland may be on the verge of closing what's known as the "duplex loophole" which gives new owners the right to evict tenants.
Caught On Video: Oakland Realtors Coach Buyers On How To Profit From Tenant EvictionKPIX 5's undercover cameras were rolling as realtors at open houses in Oakland, openly explained how to maximize our return by evicting tenants -- all within an earshot of the person living there.
Renovictions
COVID Vaccines: San Mateo County Hosting Clinic in Daly City For Residents 65 and OlderSan Mateo County announced Thursday that it’s hosting a two-day COVID-19 vaccination clinic for residents 65 years and older at Jefferson High School in Daly City.
SF Tenants Say Non-Stop Renovations To Rent-Control Property Amount To Eviction HarassmentIt’s not an easy job to get tenants on rent control to leave a building. In fact, in the past few years San Francisco has passed even stricter eviction laws. But more than 100 tenants of the city’s biggest landlord tell us they think he’s trying to annoy them into self-eviction.
Oakland Home Depot Homeless Fight
Oakland Struggles To Clean Up Homeless Camp By Home DepotThe city of Oakland is taking steps toward cleaning up the homeless encampment surrounding the Home Depot in Oakland's Fruitvale district, but you might not notice the improvements when you drive by the hardware store.
Growing Homeless Population In Oakland May Threaten Businesses, Councilmember SaysHomeless encampment crackdowns in other cities have driven people to encampments in Oakland, but a city council member says the situation is prompting some businesses to consider leaving town.