Steve Welty Issue# 55 July 2025 Happy Saturday, Housing Heroes! I want to share a story not a polished success, but a real moment when things didn’t go how we hoped. More importantly, what we did about it, and what we learned. A Decade of Trust - Then, A Breakdown Back in 2013, one of our earliest clients joined Good Life. Before the big team. Before the brand. Just us and a promise to take care of her condo. And for years, that’s exactly what we did. But over time, that trust eroded. A...
10 days ago • 2 min read
Steve Welty Issue# 54 June 2025 Happy Saturday, Housing Heroes! We have big news out of Sacramento that you need to hear: AB 246 the bill proposing a one-year rent freeze across Los Angeles County, has stalled in the Assembly. This is a major win for rental housing providers across California. But don’t put your phone down just yet, this bill isn’t dead, and we need to keep the pressure on to ensure it never comes to a vote. What’s AB 246 All About? AB 246, introduced by Assemblymember Isaac...
17 days ago • 2 min read
Steve Welty Issue# 53 June 2025 Happy Saturday, Housing Heroes! One of the last major pieces of rental housing legislation this year is picking up steam in Sacramento and if you own rental property in California, you need to keep this one on your radar. SB 681, authored by Senator Aisha Wahab (D‑Fremont), just passed the state Senate in a 28–10 vote. It’s now heading to the Assembly, where it will go through two key committees: Housing and Community Development and Judiciary. What does that...
24 days ago • 3 min read
Steve Welty Issue# 52 June 2025 Happy Saturday, Housing Heroes! For decades, if you owned a single-family home in the City of San Diego, your trash pickup was free. It’s been that way since 1919. But after over 100 years, that tradition is coming to an end. This week, the San Diego City Council voted to start charging homeowners for trash collection, with fees rolling out as soon as this summer. What does that mean for you? Whether you’re a landlord or a homeowner, it means another monthly...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Steve Welty Issue# 51 June 2025 Happy Saturday, Housing Heroes! You’d think California lawmakers would focus on the big stuff first. Fix the water shortages. Speed up housing permits.Lower gas prices. Get homeless folks the help they need.Make sure fire hydrants actually work. But instead… they’re going after landlords. Again. Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez @senatorsrp My #SB52, The End AI Rent Hikes Act, passed the Senate and now heads to the Assembly. AI companies are turning landlords from...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Steve Welty Issue# 50 May 2025 Happy Saturday, Housing Heroes! If you’ve ever walked into your vacant rental and found someone living there who wasn’t supposed to be, you know that gut-wrenching feeling. And if you tried to get them out, you probably learned the hard way: in California, squatters have been able to game the system and you, the rightful owner, were stuck navigating a slow, costly eviction process. Until now. Senate Bill 448 introduced by Senator Tom Umberg, is the step we’ve...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Steve Welty Issue# 49 May 2025 Happy Saturday, Housing Heroes! Let’s talk about one of the worst nightmares for California landlords: squatters. Yep - the word alone makes most property owners cringe. We’ve dealt with it firsthand at Good Life, and let me tell you: once a squatter’s inside, getting them out can be a slow, expensive mess. So here’s your game plan to protect your property - and what to do if squatters have already made themselves at home. What Is a Squatter (and Why Should You...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Steve Welty Issue# 48 May 2025 Happy Saturday, Housing Heroes! Ending a lease in California is more like preparing a legal case for the Supreme Court. It’s complex, it’s risky, and if you get it wrong, you might not get your property back for months. Worse, you could face legal penalties, tenant lawsuits, or steep relocation payouts. This week, we're giving you the exact framework for how to end a lease in Southern California legally and cleanly, especially in cities like San Diego, Santa...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Steve Welty Issue# 47 May 2025 Happy Saturday, Housing Heroes! If you own rental property in Southern California, you already know - it’s not for the faint of heart. Between rising costs, local ordinances, and state laws that keep shifting, it’s easy to feel like you’re walking through a legal minefield. One topic that always trips people up? Rent control. Let’s break it down so you can stay compliant, protect your property, and avoid costly mistakes. Does Rent Control Apply to Your Property?...
2 months ago • 3 min read