All Forum Posts by: Robert Carl

@Richard Carlton I am definitely trying to transfer out of Baltimore City. I was trying to be someone to help turn around the city. Instead its turning me around.

@Eric Waddy the water bill and tax lien pose to be together. The city know they might had not sold the property if they were together.

@Russell Brazil

Going to check Fredrick out. It is really fustrating. When you trying to do the right things and you get robbed and cant do anything about it. This is one of the reasons why Baltimore has so many vacants and the prices are so cheap.

Considering quitting real estate due to the city government. $500 fine that the inspectors dont really understand.

@Chris K.

Most likely they read the meter incorrectly. Another robbery. Happen to me several times. The last was about 8 months ago. Told me I had to get a licenced plummer to do get a line inspection for a leak.  For them to reduce the bill, even that the following bill was normal.!  Anybody can do a line inspection leak in 5min literally. Cost for a plummer is approx. $150-$180. Chaulked it up to doing business. Tried of chalking this expenses up to doing business.

I statred where I could afford. Which was in SFR's in a C neighborhood. After the school of hard knocks finally have a handle on tenants. My biggest problem the last 2yrs has been Baltimore City government.

 In Baltimore city you have to deal with the city in the following ways.

1. Real Estate Taxes-The tax rate is the highest in Maryland almost double Baltimore County

2. Water bill highest in the state

     -Has increased the past 2 yrs. Minimum Amt. is $136 every 3 months supposed to               increase the next two years

3. Baltimore Housing- Do not inform you of all the fees and registrations you need unless         you know exactly what to ask. Basically can change without notice.

4. Landlord/Tenant laws are some of the worst in the country. 

   -Takes 2 months to evict

   -Tenants can say property needs repair without evidence or paying rent owed. Which           delays eviction process until city inpector inspects the property on avg. delays 6wks.

Was fined $500 for not registering one of my properties. The properties are already registered and must be paid for yearly. A bill is mailed yearly with penalties and fees stated at the bottom for late payment. The payment is due on Sept.1st. No $500 fine is mentioned for late payment. Inspector told me the powers that be decided to put this fine in effect and immediatley fine.  I have paid my fees late according to the late schedule at the bottom of the bill before. 

Trying to do right. No good deed go unpunished. Considering quitting. Sacarficed alot of time and work for a tiny reward. Not equal to the work.

@Andrew Michael would like to use any contractors you might have that work in Baltimore also

Call BGE let them press charges. They will take care of it for free.

@Chris Patrick I do market rent. Majority of inner city baltimore C neighborhoods  landlords do subsidize. I do market rent. C neighborhoods are harder to keep tenants. My avg. ranges from 1.5 on the low up to 3 on the high. right now its 1.5.

Does anybody have any advice or can help with dealing with Baltimore City Housing. I have a few properties in Baltimore City in C neighborhoods SFR. Every property I have bought and own the city has tried to fine me or charge a high water bill. Until this last one I have beat all of them due to wrong address, water service not on, etc. Mainly all their fault. The last property I bought has been fined 3 times. Twice for weeds and grass. Paid one trying to appeal the other. The 3rd for failure to register a vacant property($500). Hopefully can get them rejected. Backyard is concrete barley any weed or grass can grow and have Money Order reciept from paid registration from last year so going to see about that hopefully today.

Baltimore city doesn't clean, cut grass, or demo vacant buildings of their property. Across the alley and on the coner the backyards are a forest but mines was the on that needed the city to cut it. They dont fine or clean until the vacant property is bought by somebody they can get money from.