I contacted Maria about her property because I needed a place for my parents to stay while they were visiting Oakland to see their grand babies. We contacted Maria at the last minute because of a sudden change in our plans. She responded quickly and made her place available to us. She has a nice-sized 1 bedroom apartment that, while very close to a major freeway, feels peaceful, quiet and relaxing. A short walk from her apartment will take you to the center of Oakland's Lake Merritt community where you will find shopping, restaurants, and activities for the whole family. Maria's apartment looks lived in (in a good way). It is decorated with artifacts and photos from her extensive travels around the world. Her refrigerator and cabinets are fully stocked and she encouraged us to help ourselves to them. It felt a bit like we were house sitting for a close friend. The price is very reasonable given the location. My mom, who is finicky to say the least, was very happy and comfortable there. I wish they could have stayed longer but unfortunately Maria's place was already booked. We will definitely seek out Maria's accommodations the next time my folks come out this way.