Rental Housing Forum: Building ADU’s in the Bay Area
Our featured speaker is Steve Edrington, founder of Adapt Dwellings, a firm specializing in helping property owners plan, design, and build ADUs. With deep expertise in zoning, construction, and project management, Steve will walk us through the opportunities and challenges of adding an ADU—from navigating local regulations to financing options and long-term rental considerations.
What You’ll Learn:
• Step-by-step overview of the ADU development process
• Common regulatory and design challenges in the Bay Area
• Cost factors, financing options, and return on investment
• How ADUs can support housing stability and generate rental income
Financing Your ADU with Harry Payne of Supreme Lending
Building an ADU is a big investment—but it’s more achievable than you might think. Harry Payne, Business Development Manager for Supreme Lending, will walk you through financing options like cash-out refinancing, renovation loans, HELOCs, and how rental income from your new ADU can help you qualify. Learn practical ways to make your ADU project financially possible.
Here is the link to to the slideshow that was part of the webinar.
Rental Housing Forum: Mediation Webinar
The Alameda County Housing Provider Resource Center (ACHPRC) invites you to join us for an important free webinar on Mediation Services for Housing Providers, featuring Mae Villanueva from Rental Mediation Services.
Did you know?
If you rent property in unincorporated Alameda County, you have access to FREE rental mediation services. These no-cost services help landlords and tenants resolve disputes before they escalate into costly legal battles.
Meet Our Presenter: Mae Villanueva
Mae Villanueva is an experienced mediator with over a decade of work in the legal field, including more than 100 successfully mediated cases involving landlord-tenant issues, employment, civil harassment, and more. She holds a Master’s Degree in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution and has advanced mediation training from Pepperdine University’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. Mae also serves on the Mediation Panel of the Alameda County Superior Court.
Her experience includes resolving disputes over unpaid rent, security deposits, neighbor conflicts, discrimination claims, and more—all while helping parties avoid court through fair, respectful dialogue.
Fair Housing Training- ECHO Housing
We’re proud to highlight our partners at ECHO Housing, who recently hosted an important webinar on Fair Housing. ECHO continues to lead the way in educating both renters and housing providers about their rights and responsibilities, ensuring that our communities are treated with fairness and respect. Their work helps create a stronger foundation for the housing ecosystem across Alameda County.
About the Speaker Angie Watson-Hajjem is the Fair Housing Coordinator for ECHO Housing. She investigates housing discrimination complaints in Alameda County and provides fair housing counseling, education, and mediation to both renters and housing providers.
Topics include:
- California state and federal fair housing laws
- Who is protected under the law
- Reasonable accommodations and modifications for tenants with disabilities
- Renting to families with children
- Occupancy standards
- Advertising guidelines
- AND MORE!
Rental Housing Forum: CA Balcony Inspection Laws
The Alameda County Housing Provider Resource Center (ACHPRC) invites local rental property owners to our Rental Housing Forum, a monthly opportunity to get support, ask questions, and stay informed. This month, we’ll focus on California’s new Balcony Inspection Law (SB 721/SB 326)—what it means for you, deadlines to know, and available resources.
The Rental Hosuing Forum: California Balcony Inspection Laws provides rental property owners with essential information about upcoming inspection requirements set to take effect in 2026. Featuring insights from industry experts like Krista Gulbransen and Jorge Jimenez, the forum will offer guidance on compliance, timelines, and practical steps property owners can take now to prepare. Attendees are encouraged to stay connected through follow-up communications and utilize the Alameda County Housing Provider Resource Center (ACHPRC) as an ongoing resource for support.
