I rented the 3rd floor unit of a "3 unit" oceanfront condo complex from Ed Eisele (9700 West Buckeye Rd Bldg B, Tolleson AZ 85353). The agent Candace Hart (eXp Realty of California, Inc.) represented both Ed Eisele and me. The third floor I rented was the "penthouse" and included a rooftop deck. The address of the unit is 3377 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego (Mission Beach) CA 92109. I rented from Nov 1st to May 31st and was coerced to prepay the entire rent ($8,000 per month), the Security Deposit ($8,000) and the key deposit ($150).
The total funds I wired was $64,150.00. *NOTE: Prior to moving into the 3rd floor, I rented the second floor for 6 weeks (from a separate/different condo owner). During the lease term a discounted rent was agreed to because of the non-usage of the Master Bath. That discount ($2,000/month) was to be returned to me with the Security Deposit at the end of the lease. Total due back to me at lease end was $20,150 less utilities. I received a check dated 6/21/21 in the amount of $1,076.61. The original Security Deposit was $8,000 plus $150 key deposit.
There was nothing attached to the check; no itemization, no explanation of why the full deposit was not returned, nothing. *NOTE- The lease had an addendum that among other things said "Tenant agrees to WAIVE the 21 day return policy of the deposit and will allow the deposit to be returned up to 60 days after termination of the lease". It was only after I sent a letter dated 1/13/21, that among other items brought up, that I felt this was probably not legal to do. When I brought up the fact that I only received a check for $1,76.61, with no accounting attached for the missing remainder of the Security Deposit, in email on 7/3/21, Candace Hart replied in email "Mr. Eisele has receipts for everything", and then added that if I "dared complain to anyone" that she would also charge me for additional cleaning and other things she'd "make up"... Candace also replied, in email, that she would make up more expenses and think of more items to charge me for, in addition to what was already withheld from the Security Deposit.
*NOTE- I had the unit and the windows, professionally cleaned every week - and had a successful walk-through with Candace on May 31st right after the cleaners left the unit... Issues & Problems During the Rental Period Pretty quickly upon moving in there were noticeable faulty and aged items, which was not unexpected since all the appliances, furniture, bathrooms etc were all from the original construction, at a minimum new as of the last purchase date of 11/25/08. Per Candace, Ed Eisele had made "no changes" to the unit from the state he bought it in in 2008.
This was also confirmed by the owners of the 2nd floor condo unit. *NOTE- I took detailed (and up close/zoomed in) photos and videos throughout the property on May 31st right before the walk-through with Candace Hart- that shows the unit impeccable clean. I took "close-ups" of specific items throughout the condo that show visible signs of wear and tear (salt air, age, and usage) which are very noticeable. One month into the lease the 2nd floor owner alerted me to sever leaking from my Master Bath. This Master Bath (in addition to being ocean front) was a big deal to me because of the enormous shower, and most importantly the "steam bath" built into the shower.
There were multiple trips by Plumbers that came out and tried to find/fix the leak to no avail. Ultimately an insurance adjuster came out and told me that the owner had put in a claim and that since they had to "open up the walls to determine the cause of the leak" that the homeowner was covered. (I don't know the ultimate result of the insurance claim). I was not allowed to use the Master Bath for 6 of the 7 months. As a result, a discounted rate of $6,000 per month was negotiated ($2,000 monthly "credit") and would be taken off the rent and returned to me along with the Security Deposit at the end of the lease. The above Master Bath was the biggest issue, there were others (below) that were documented with Candace/Ed in either SMS text, email, letter, or a combination of these. *NOTE- I never used any electronics or any of the TV's in the unit. I purchased and had professionally installed:
New flat-screen mounted TV for all TV viewing (and removed upon vacating).
Sonos for all music listening (and removed upon vacating).
It began to become apparent that there was an underlying reason why Candace and Ed had "encouraged me" to pre-pay the entire rent upfront... that somehow they knew there'd be issues with the condo. Many requests I made simply were ignored, such as installing smoke detectors and fixing the (very dangerous) majorly cracked glass ceiling in the Master Bath (major crack confirmed was present from previous renter).
Candace had a difficult time acknowledging my concerns and how to deal with them, specifically with Ed Eisele. At one point she said she was terrified to talk to Ed about some of these "legitimate" problems because he was "old, a bad-a*s, and loosing his marbles"... In a separate rant she suggested I was part of the "Trump Cult" because I didn't like her face mask (the one she wore said "F%$& Trump")... inappropriate and political views and (owners) cognitive state really should be kept out of business... Another point in early January, she wrote in an email rant that she and Ed wanted me to vacate the property in 2 weeks and that the Master Bath was "never advertised to be in working order"... then in another message she apologized, but what professional acts like this??
Ed Eisele was also full of anger and at times and, frankly, confused. He wrote me saying "Problem for me—which I do not appreciate", and then telling me (again) to go find another place to live. Apparently the Plant servicing guy had a problem finding parking on one visit - lots of people have issues parking in Mission Beach. In fact, it was me that notified Candace that no one was coming to water the plants early in the lease and to communicate with the plant service to make sure they came out... Each week then after the Planting Service would bring Lucy (my black Lab) a doggie treat. The planting service had no issues with me, I think their issues were with Ed Eisele.
Important to note that Candace Hart SPECIFICALLY approved (verbally to me) that I could have my dog (Labrador) with me during the entire rental - just as she approved the previous tenants having a dog... In an email defending the hold-back of the Security Deposit she said it was also partially due to having a dog.
Ed Eisele Reviews
I rented the 3rd floor unit of a "3 unit" oceanfront condo complex from Ed Eisele (9700 West Buckeye Rd Bldg B, Tolleson AZ 85353). The agent Candace Hart (eXp Realty of California, Inc.) represented both Ed Eisele and me. The third floor I rented was the "penthouse" and included a rooftop deck. The address of the unit is 3377 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego (Mission Beach) CA 92109. I rented from Nov 1st to May 31st and was coerced to prepay the entire rent ($8,000 per month), the Security Deposit ($8,000) and the key deposit ($150).
The total funds I wired was $64,150.00. *NOTE: Prior to moving into the 3rd floor, I rented the second floor for 6 weeks (from a separate/different condo owner). During the lease term a discounted rent was agreed to because of the non-usage of the Master Bath. That discount ($2,000/month) was to be returned to me with the Security Deposit at the end of the lease. Total due back to me at lease end was $20,150 less utilities. I received a check dated 6/21/21 in the amount of $1,076.61. The original Security Deposit was $8,000 plus $150 key deposit.
There was nothing attached to the check; no itemization, no explanation of why the full deposit was not returned, nothing. *NOTE- The lease had an addendum that among other things said "Tenant agrees to WAIVE the 21 day return policy of the deposit and will allow the deposit to be returned up to 60 days after termination of the lease". It was only after I sent a letter dated 1/13/21, that among other items brought up, that I felt this was probably not legal to do. When I brought up the fact that I only received a check for $1,76.61, with no accounting attached for the missing remainder of the Security Deposit, in email on 7/3/21, Candace Hart replied in email "Mr. Eisele has receipts for everything", and then added that if I "dared complain to anyone" that she would also charge me for additional cleaning and other things she'd "make up"... Candace also replied, in email, that she would make up more expenses and think of more items to charge me for, in addition to what was already withheld from the Security Deposit.
*NOTE- I had the unit and the windows, professionally cleaned every week - and had a successful walk-through with Candace on May 31st right after the cleaners left the unit... Issues & Problems During the Rental Period Pretty quickly upon moving in there were noticeable faulty and aged items, which was not unexpected since all the appliances, furniture, bathrooms etc were all from the original construction, at a minimum new as of the last purchase date of 11/25/08. Per Candace, Ed Eisele had made "no changes" to the unit from the state he bought it in in 2008.
This was also confirmed by the owners of the 2nd floor condo unit. *NOTE- I took detailed (and up close/zoomed in) photos and videos throughout the property on May 31st right before the walk-through with Candace Hart- that shows the unit impeccable clean. I took "close-ups" of specific items throughout the condo that show visible signs of wear and tear (salt air, age, and usage) which are very noticeable. One month into the lease the 2nd floor owner alerted me to sever leaking from my Master Bath. This Master Bath (in addition to being ocean front) was a big deal to me because of the enormous shower, and most importantly the "steam bath" built into the shower.
There were multiple trips by Plumbers that came out and tried to find/fix the leak to no avail. Ultimately an insurance adjuster came out and told me that the owner had put in a claim and that since they had to "open up the walls to determine the cause of the leak" that the homeowner was covered. (I don't know the ultimate result of the insurance claim). I was not allowed to use the Master Bath for 6 of the 7 months. As a result, a discounted rate of $6,000 per month was negotiated ($2,000 monthly "credit") and would be taken off the rent and returned to me along with the Security Deposit at the end of the lease. The above Master Bath was the biggest issue, there were others (below) that were documented with Candace/Ed in either SMS text, email, letter, or a combination of these. *NOTE- I never used any electronics or any of the TV's in the unit. I purchased and had professionally installed:
New flat-screen mounted TV for all TV viewing (and removed upon vacating).
Sonos for all music listening (and removed upon vacating).
It began to become apparent that there was an underlying reason why Candace and Ed had "encouraged me" to pre-pay the entire rent upfront... that somehow they knew there'd be issues with the condo. Many requests I made simply were ignored, such as installing smoke detectors and fixing the (very dangerous) majorly cracked glass ceiling in the Master Bath (major crack confirmed was present from previous renter).
Candace had a difficult time acknowledging my concerns and how to deal with them, specifically with Ed Eisele. At one point she said she was terrified to talk to Ed about some of these "legitimate" problems because he was "old, a bad-a*s, and loosing his marbles"... In a separate rant she suggested I was part of the "Trump Cult" because I didn't like her face mask (the one she wore said "F%$& Trump")... inappropriate and political views and (owners) cognitive state really should be kept out of business... Another point in early January, she wrote in an email rant that she and Ed wanted me to vacate the property in 2 weeks and that the Master Bath was "never advertised to be in working order"... then in another message she apologized, but what professional acts like this??
Ed Eisele was also full of anger and at times and, frankly, confused. He wrote me saying "Problem for me—which I do not appreciate", and then telling me (again) to go find another place to live. Apparently the Plant servicing guy had a problem finding parking on one visit - lots of people have issues parking in Mission Beach. In fact, it was me that notified Candace that no one was coming to water the plants early in the lease and to communicate with the plant service to make sure they came out... Each week then after the Planting Service would bring Lucy (my black Lab) a doggie treat. The planting service had no issues with me, I think their issues were with Ed Eisele.
Important to note that Candace Hart SPECIFICALLY approved (verbally to me) that I could have my dog (Labrador) with me during the entire rental - just as she approved the previous tenants having a dog... In an email defending the hold-back of the Security Deposit she said it was also partially due to having a dog.