All Forum Posts by: Brad McGuirk

Avi,

Welcome,

I am in your shoes. I am 23 and started investing in 2009 and now have 7 units and one note all around Pittsburgh. It had been quite a roller coaster over these few years but I do not regret it.

I got into my first heavy rehab and it turned out that I bit off more than I could chew at the time, but I am weathering it out and will still manage to make something out of it. Diligence, Diligence, Diligence is key!!!

I would love to have lunch sometime to exchange ideas and connect with a fellow young investor.

Brad

Yes I may try the sympathy card, I really just think she is upset with me for leaving her as a landlord, lol. She loves the place and I'm not sure she really wants to leave anyway. I now realize that I should have not even said the whole 60 day thing but I guess I learned my lesson. I am not all that concerned that she leaves because the place is very easy to rent, it's the nicest house on the block. And i guess the new tenant will know that I am actively marketing the property for sale, or I can advertise to owner occupant buyers for a short period of time. I am very new to this so I appreciate everyone's replies!

Ya the lawyer was like her brother in law or something. Also I was going to replace them with pics from before she moved in. I will look at my lease.

I am currently having some trouble with a picky tenant after I put my duplex up for sale. I have posted interior pictured of her unit on the MLS, she complained to me and said she even talked to a lawyer and said she could sue me over it. Also since I am selling she wants to end her 2 year lease she just signed last month. What advice do you have for me? I already told her verbally she could leave with 60 days notice. Should I try to enforce the lease or is it too late? Should I take the pictures down?

Just bought a short sale, Chase owned the loan. Started offer at $7,000 their realtor told me to offer $12,100, I did and they accepted. At closing, the homeowner walked away with a $10,000 check and Chase got a few pennies even though they were owed over $40,000 on the place still! I wonder what is the incentive the banks to do this?

Ok,

I went over there the other day, there is evidence of termites and some mice poop on the floor. I really think they just found another place 1 month early. But since she is a legal student and all I will not chase her down in court for rent, but I will deduct the siding repair. It would not be worth my headache if she has a smart lawyer and a chance of winning, even though she did not give me any time to fix the situation.

I appreciate everyone's help-

Brad

Guys,

thanks for all the advice and quick replies, it sounds like I should let the rent go and just deduct for the siding then.

This is a side by side duplex, everything is separate, in Pittsburgh, PA.

Brad

I am a very young landlord and would appreciate any advice/help with this situation:

I had a great tenant for three years. There lease is up on the 26 this month and they just moved out on the 3rd.

The tenant has requested to not pay rent this month because of termite/mouse problems and has declared the apartment uninhabitable.

I know there are some pest issues but I get them treated every year.

In their lease they are supposed to be responsible for pest control as well, (She says that is not legal, is it?)

The tenant has kept the place in great shape except some melted siding from a grill ($100-$300 repair)

The tenant is a law graduate student and works at a firm, said all the lawyers at her firm said she has every right to move out and not pay rent.

She also wants her full security deposit back as well.

Should I just let her go and cut my losses, or should I deduct her security deposit and sue her for rent?

It would only be for about $500 in rent plus the repair.

I am afraid because I feel like she could get a very good lawyer for free from her firm and I would represent myself.

I am currently rewiring a duplex I just bought and wanted some feedback on this:

I'm putting smoke detectors in each unit, should they all be connected? Or should each unit have it's own circuit?

If there are all one one circuit, technically it's a no go because one tenant is paying the electric for all the alarms.

I was thinking of wiring each unit on a separate circuit and linking both systems with a common wire so when one unit's go off, there other units go off as well, but the electric is still separate.

Am I looking into this too much? I may just contact the inspector as well.

Thanks, that sound like a plan. I will notify him to either clear it or release the contract. It sounds like your are right as that is the language of our contract.

Steve, good thing they found this now and not later. If the property closed, if title insurance only paid out 12,100, it may have been a deal breaker!

You just never know whats hiding behind a property.
The title company did tell me this is a rarity.