All Forum Posts by: Ian R.

@Kim Herrick Laws vary by state, but in Texas, you would have every right to either delay closing in order to give the seller time to remove the tenants or to walk away from the deal and get your EMD back. I would definitely not want to inherit tenants who have already proven that they won't pay on time. This is the seller's headache to deal with, not yours. If they're MTM like you said, it shouldn't take more than a few weeks to get them out. You said that you got the impression that the tenants were "putting on a show" regarding their excuses for not paying rent. Follow your gut. You don't want these folks. They're going to be a problem. Make the seller deal with it (especially since they purposefully hid it from you) or walk away from the deal.

Best of luck

@Sarah D. I'm retired military. In this case, it's very possible that the member who is deploying is moving the spouse across town into a living situation that will be easier for her to handle while he's gone.  I've seen lots of spouses move into small apartments or move in with friends/family while the service member was away overseas.  The member may also be anticipating that he'll be transferring to another assignment as soon as he returns from deployment and is trying to simplify things now so his spouse isn't stuck with packing up a house on her own.  So there may be a legit reason for the local move.  Without knowing all the details, I would suggest you request a copy of the deployment orders or a copy of a letter from the unit command confirming the deployment.  If you get a letter (and not the actual order), ensure that it's on official command letterhead and has contact info for the officer or SNCO/CPO that signed the letter.  Then contact that person to confirm the letter's authenticity.  It's sad to say but I have seen military members forge deployment letters in order to break a lease.  If everything checks out, I would refund their deposit (minus any damages you're authorized to recoup per state law) and move on with life.

@Paul Aqua I think you're brushing off some really excellent advice that @Russell Brazil just gave you. I always recommend that new agents start with a team. Yes, the splits are lower but if you're with a high-producing team, you'll more than make up for that in volume. And most importantly, you'll get invaluable training from other more experienced agents. Once you're on your feet and you're starting to generate your own leads of referrals from past clients, then that would be a good time to go on your own. I would also humbly suggest that you not decide to just focus on being a listing agent right out the gate. Almost all agents start as buyers agents first, then graduate to listings once they've become established in the business. A great agent that provides excellent service should be well-versed in working both sides of a deal. Your enthusiasm and confidence are to be commended but also keep in mind that most of the people on these boards have been in this business for decades. They just might know a thing or two that could benefit you.

Best of luck in your new career 

@Travis Buck contact Ed Guerrero. He specializes in tax strategies for real estate investors and realtors. 

Ketil Dietrichson I might be wrong and if I am, I’m sure Brad will correct me, but I don’t believe he does multi family. I believe he specializes in single family only.

Elicia Goodale If you're thinking of selling, I'd be interested in hearing details about your house here in San Antonio. Feel free to PM me. I'm local and currently looking for a deal. And if it's not a good fit for me, I can put you in touch with a great realtor if you decide to sell on-market.

John Barr Hey John, I'd love to take a look at your zip code reference and market report if you don't mind. I'll send you a PM.

@Chan K.

@Deanna McCormick is exactly right. Smart move on your part for having them on a M2M lease. You can terminate for any reason. You don't need to explain why. I wouldn't give them a reason and I definitely wouldn't even mention the dog. Just issue the notice of non-renewal. End of story.

Also, for the greater audience, service dogs and Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are two different things. Service dogs are specifically trained to aid an owner with a legitimate disability. Where the scammers come in is with the ESAs. ESAs don't have to be trained. As someone mentioned earlier, they don't even have to be a dog! For a few bucks, anyone can go online and get a "certificate" for their pet (insert animal here).

Steve Watson San Antonio is booming right now and will be for years to come. We also have a very diverse economy here primarily anchored by the multiple military installations which have kept San Antonio very stable. Currently, the city leadership is making a push to bring more high paying tech jobs to the city. For example, Rack Space is based here. Hulu is getting ready to set up shop and Microsoft is building a new data center on the west side of the city. I would just caution you about 2 things: 1. The property taxes here are high since there is no income tax in Texas. That can be a challenge for out-of-state investors. 2. We have issues with expansive soil here. Many properties that you will encounter will quite possibly need foundations repair. So be sure to do your due diligence or have a team with boots on the ground that can. Best of luck to you

@Brooklyn A. If you've successfully sued 3 landlords, the odds are very high that you're entering into leases actively looking to create a situation that you can exploit for financial gain. You are the absolute worst kind of tenant. If you're not a landlord, don't want to be a landlord, and obviously don't like landlords, why are you even here? Go buy your own place and move on with your life. Just keep one thing in mind...karma is a b****.

@Mindy Jensen can we get this clown off the boards?