Owning over 100 rentals (Units, homes and commercial) has it's pit-falls in Los Angeles. Took 1 year to navigate the eviction process due to the Pandemic. From 2/1/2000 thru 3/1/2024, evictions for non -payment of rent weren't allowed.

Finally, on this case, my court date was yesterday. I was there, but you're never guess who wasn't? The defendant (tenant), and their lawyer. But wait, my attorney wasn't there either. So my case got called up and I was sworn in.

The judge, a really good young guy who understand how landlords have been mistreated, began. But he asked do I know what's going on? I replied I just got a callback from my attorney when I was waiting in the hallway, but my case was called so I hung up on my attorney, cellphones are not allowed in the court room. I really haven't a clue. So the opposing side, my tenants attorney was tasked to represent his client and be there also for my attorney, getting a continuance until next month. Since I hung up on my attorney, he logged into the online court system and then chimed in, telling the Judge he was explaining the continuance. I had not finished filling out all of the forms.

I told the judge that the tenant's attorney had 1 year to ask me questions, but decided to send my 100 questions on last Thursday, demanding I respond by Friday. I did respond but he then had another 10 questions, something I had already answered in a lower court. They are playing games trying to extort $40,000 in relocations funds.

The judge chimed in, it shouldn't be $40,000, but instead around $22,800. I told the judge they now want a Jury trial and by the new laws, I have to pay half of the costs and they get a waver on fee's and costs. So not only have I lost $35,000 in lost rent, $15,000 in legal fee's and $7,000 in court costs--they also want a $30,000 payment and 3 more months of free rent.

Hi my name is Ray, (the crowd at the meeting says Hi Ray) I am a reformed SoCal investor. It has been almost 20 years since I drank from the SoCal fountain.

In certain states, politics make them non-investable in my eyes. I don't believe I am alone with that belief. Yet there are folks who elect to try to push a rope. Pulling is easier than pushing. I feel sorry for you a one level. And at another, I see that you are getting what you agreed to. You know the system is broken, I am sure you see that capital is draining from that state.

Please, come to LA to live forever

And California's life alone is just too hard to build

I live in a house that looks out over the ocean

And there's some stars that fell from the sky

And livin' up on the hill

Please, come to LA

She just said, "No, boy, won't you come home to me?"

And she said, "Hey ramblin' boy, why don't you settle down?

LA can't be your kinda town

There ain't no gold and there ain't nobody like me