June Election Guide from SFAA
The June election will soon be upon us and the SFAA has created a Slate Card to assist you in making the right decision when you enter the voting booth. Download the June 2008 card here (pdf).

San Francisco to Have Greenest Building Codes in the U.S.
If the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passes a plan spearheaded by Mayor Gavin Newsom, the city would have the country’s most environmentally stringent building codes. In December, Mayor Newsom announced his intentions to fasttrack legislation that would require new residential and commercial properties to meet LEED standards, which were developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and are the strictest widely used guidelines in the country. The city already has a mandate to build all new municipal buildings to these standards and fast tracks permits for developers who voluntarily meet LEED guidelines. The ordinance would only apply to residential buildings over 75 feet tall, new commercial buildings over 5,000 square feet and renovations on buildings over 25,000 square feet. All new residential construction would need to be GreenPoint Rated, which is a slightly different set of environmental criteria created specifically for residential buildings.

The legislation came one step closer to being passed recently when the Department of Building Inspection Commission, which oversees building permitting and construction, voted unanimously in favor of the code changes. The Board of Supervisors must still approve the legislation, but a majority of supervisors appear to be supportive of the ordinance, and Board President Aaron Peskin combined his own green building legislation with the mayor’s, so it should have no trouble passing. City officials estimate that the new rules could save 220,000 megawatt-hours of power and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60,000 tons by 2012.

Second Annual SFAA Trophy Awards November 13
SFAA’s second annual Trophy Awards will be held at the Palace Hotel on November 13, 2008. Categories include: Best Independent Owner, Best Resident Manager, Best Property Management Firm, Building of the Year, Best Green Building and Best Residential Amenities. More information and the nomination form will appear in future issues of this magazine. To get involved with the 2008 Trophy Awards or sponsor the event, contact SFAA Education and Events Director Vanessa Khaleel at vanessa@sfaa.org or 415-255-2288.

City’s Affordable Housing Programs Not Hit by Foreclosure Crisis
Thus far, the lending crisis has not affected San Francisco’s below-market-rate housing program, according to Myrna Melgar, Director of Homeownership Programs for the Mayor’s Office of Housing. Melgar said that the BMR pipeline is in good shape, that more and more qualified people are entering the lottery for units and that, so far, any economic troubles seem to have had little effect on the program. She also added that there has never been a single foreclosure in the history of the BMR program. Melgar made these comments while speaking at a forum about affordable home-ownership opportunities held by the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association.

But MOH is not ignoring the mortgage crisis, explained Amy Tharpe, MOH’s director of policy and planning. The agency has started “Don’t Borrow Trouble,” a foreclosure counseling program that provides referrals to respected lenders and legal aid services, and gives $400,000 annually to sponsor other housing counseling programs run by nonprofits throughout the city. The city also has low-interest loans for people who need help in order to maintain their buildings and stay in place. Melgar added that most of the foreclosures seem to be in the southeastern portion of the city and that most of those who lose their home either enter the rental market or leave the city.

Melgar admitted that most of the city’s housing programs help very low-income residents and that many middle-income residents would not qualify for assistance, yet still cannot afford to buy in the city. For example, she said, “A teacher married to a police officer is not going to qualify for our programs.” In an attempt to address this need, the office has started forgivable loan programs for the city’s police officers and teachers, but Melgar said there is still an “affordability gap” for many of those who make under 195% of the area median income. The city’s programs are only valid for those who make up to 120% of the AMI.

New SFAA Lease Available
The San Francisco Apartment Association is proud to announce the release of its new rental agreement. This new lease takes into account all of the most recent changes made to landlord-tenant law, both at the voting booth and by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. It will also be available from SFAA online, which should enable owners get leases faster and easier than in the past. Further information about the new lease is available on SFAA’s website, www.sfaa.org.

SFAA President David Wasserman went over the new lease with attendees at the March Managers Luncheon. “The new lease was written with the landlord and tenant in mind,” he told the group, adding that many changes came at the behest of members. “Each word emanates from a real-life horror story.” The new lease can also be used throughout the state, not just in rent controlled areas. In addition to changes to the text of the lease, the font and font size were made easier to read. Stay tuned for information on an upcoming educational offering on the new lease.

Also at the luncheon, the city’s Emergency Planner Amy Ramirez talked about what landlords can do to protect themselves and their tenants in the event of a disaster. She suggested that landlords have emergency contacts for all their tenants and that they put preparedness information—available from the Office of Emergency Services—in all tenant welcome packets.

Ramirez also advised that, in the event of an earthquake or other disaster, it will be easier to stay in contact via text messaging than phone calls. She suggested that people have at least $50 in cash on hand at all times, and that at least some portion should be in change for use at phone booths. Ramirez said the number one question the agency gets from tenants is how to turn off utilities. But she advised that, while tenants should have that information in the event of a real emergency, even a Loma Prieta-level quake is not big enough to merit turning off gas, which may not get turned back on for weeks after a disastrous event.

The next Managers Luncheon will be held on May 15, 2008, at Absinthe in Hayes Valley. These luncheons are designed to provide a venue for discussion amongst those who professionally manage property in the city. They take place the third Thursday of every other month at noon. The luncheon costs $40 per person, which includes a three-course prix-fixe lunch. Seating is limited, so please contact Education and Events Director Vanessa Khaleel at 415-255-2288 or via email at vanessa@sfaa.org to RSVP.

FHA Mortgage Limits Raised
The federal government has raised the limit on mortgages that can be purchased by the Federal Housing Administration this year. Before this legislation was passed, the limit on FHA-backed loans (through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) was $417,000. This number was replaced by 125% of the area median home price, with a maximum of $729,750. Homes purchased in almost every county in the Bay Area will now qualify for that maximum number.