All Forum Posts by: Jia Liu

@Steve Emling I use cozy too. Very easy to set up and it's free. It brings the "tech" to the real estate industry.

For my investment property, I hired a property management company to manage the property. Since they will be handling my taxes, they needed my SSN. So they asked me to send a copy of my SSN card and other sensitive information through email to them. I declined to do that on multiple occasions due to security reasons and asked if I could send it through standard mail instead. They said I could do whatever that makes me feel safe. So I sent them my information through standard mail. A few days later after they processed my information, they needed my signature. Guess what they did? They sent a freaking email back to me with my SSN and SSN card and drivers license attached everywhere in the PDF attachment. And without any enhanced encryption! Just the default encryption with my email provider. I am wondering if I can pursue any legal action against this property management for mishandling my personal information like this. Thanks!

@Dan Pereda are 25% of these banks mostly small local banks and/or credit union?

Thanks, @James Masotti. Perhaps another good thing about buying under LLC is identity protection? I don't have to give the property managers my personal information for preparing the W9(?) for me.

I bought my first property as a primary residence. Now it is a rental property under my name. I know this question had probably been asked a million times... For my next investment property, should I buy it under an LLC or should it buy it under my own name? Any suggestions? Thanks!

@Kim Meredith Hampton . Thanks Kim. I understand that's the case for security deposit. What about for the non-refundable pet deposit? Same thing? Just charge once, but keep the wording on the lease? 

@Ray Harrell , here is the wording of on my lease: 

"Pets. Pets shall not be allowed without the prior written consent of Landlord and at Landlord’s absolute discretion. If permitted by Landlord, at the time of signing this lease, Tenant shall pay to Landlord a non-refundable deposit of $________ per pet. This amount is in addition to any other security deposit stated in this lease. Pet deposit will be held in trust by Landlord with security deposit for duration of lease. Any Tenant who wishes to keep a pet in the rented unit must sign a pet agreement addendum. If a Tenant allows more pets that are stated on the pet agreement addendum, Landlord may terminate the lease agreement with no return of any security. Tenant shall be responsible for the animal, its behavior, and any damage done by the animal. The Landlord shall have the right to withdraw consent and demand removal of any previously permitted animal upon the first complaint registered against such animal or upon evidence of injury or damage to person or property caused by the animal. Pet deposit is due prior to key pick up. Keys to the property will be withheld until all deposits are paid to Landlord."

Hi! As April is around the corner, I am looking for a good CPA in the bay area with real estate focus. Please contact me and we can chat. 

Thanks!

JIA

Hi everyone, 

My tenant's lease is about to expire. If they decide to stay for another year, do I charge them again for pet fee for the new year? I am planning to hold onto the security deposit from last year and charge them $0 on security deposit for the new year. Is that right? 

Thank you!

Hi! Anyone here have experience with building an e-commerce business online through Shopify (or other platform) and fund their real estate business with the e-commerce profit? Mind sharing your thoughts, comments, experience on that? Thanks!