All Forum Posts by: Brad Thomas

@Dominic Stephens all good advice given on the thread. I am a property manager in Memphis TN. We deal primarily with low income housing and majority of those homes are filled with section 8 tenants. Those tenants happen to also be some of my best tenants. As stated before by Russell, screen them like any other tenant. We actually go a step further and will ask to see the applicants current residence, you will quickly vet out any bad applicants when this comes around. I think this has been a game changer for us to find quality tenants.

Also when we move in section 8 tenants we will conduct a monthly inspection for the first three months. This is a quick walk through the home to make sure the tenant is taking care of the property. It is some extra leg work on the front end, but now I have quality tenants in a home for several years now with the expectations set to maintain the property in an appropriate manner or they are out. The tenants have just as a difficult time navigating the HUD as the landlord so the last thing they want to do is lose their voucher or try to find a new place.

Lastly make sure you are staying on rent escalations, you will have to submit these escalations in a certain time frame. They are usually approved but if you miss your window then you can quickly get below market and miss out on future rent opportunities. With in regards to inspections, if you do enough inspections, make friendships with the inspectors and often they will let my handyman do the fixes day of and send pictures so I am not waiting the allocated 2 weeks for re-inspection. 

Hey Scott, many of the homes in the areas we market for section 8 are 3/1 and 4/1. Memphis is odd, I guess in the time they were built everyone was going 1 bath, anytime we renovate a home we are always adding on a additional bath if its possible. The few we have that have 2 bath are high demand. 

Hey Randy,

Yes the demand for section 8 is high in the Memphis area. Lots of vouchers that need to be filled but limited inventory on housing right now. Especially for 3 and 4 bedrooms. I usually do not have to list a 3 or 4 bedroom for section 8, I already have a waiting list of people ready to move forward. 

Hey Cole,

I manage properties in the Memphis area and specialize with Section 8 properties. I have found connecting with community outreaches, VA, and other agencies in the area that work with section 8 vouchers has allowed us to gain traction on applicants with vouchers. I have a list of emails with these organizations I send out each time I have a listing come up that is directed towards section 8 that goes out to all these contacts. More often than not I get my leads from them. The Housing Authority in Memphis also does quarterly housing fairs that we attend that allows us to advertise to vouchers and other community organizations. Make sure your listing has "We accept Section 8 vouchers"

Hello Everyone, 

I have recently taken the role of Property Acquisition Manager at a local start up here in the Memphis area. We currently focus on low-income housing, cash purchases, long-term rental properties, and property management. 

Looking to meet others in the areas from wholesalers, realtors, and like-minded individuals to learn from and find opportunities to serve each other.