All Forum Posts by: Mark Sossoman

Hi Mike, I'm a Realtor with Keller Williams here in Asheville. You mentioned a recommendation from a Realtor. Am I assuming correctly that you mean a Realtor here in the area who is helping you find properties? I work with several local investors since I'm a member of CREIA (Carolina REIA) here in Asheville, and I'd be more than happy to help you with your search if you're not already working with another agent.

As far as inspectors go, I would recommend either Affordable Home Inspections or Gibbon Pender with The Buyer's Edge. For attorneys, I recommend either Goosman & Rose or Jason Peltz. Allen Gray is the CPA I use. His wife is a Realtor with Keller Williams, so he has ties to real estate. Good luck with your search and let me know how I can help!

Mark

@Randy E. What were the incorrect responses your friend made in court that resulted in the eviction not being processed?

A friend of mine (seriously, I'm not the "friend", this really is about another person) is in need of some advice as to how to evict a tenant of 5 years with no written lease in place. The tenant has hardly ever paid the full verbally agreed upon rent of $625/mo during the five years he has lived in the home with his girlfriend and her child. The tenant now owes thousands in back payments, and has not paid anything for the past 3 months. 

I have only recently become aware of this situation, and my friend has acknowledged the fact that he has created this problem by not using a written lease from the beginning, and by allowing this to go on as long as it has. My friend is now trying to decide what to do with the property - evict and find a new tenant, or sell the house. I told him the first thing that has to happen, regardless of his future plans for the house, is he HAS to get the current tenant out. 

My friend has asked the tenant repeatedly to find an alternative housing arrangement, but has always been given a variety of excuses as to why he can't (much like the excuses he uses as to why he can't pay the rent). My friend has even sent some paperwork to the tenant stating that he would pay $2000 for the tenant to move out, or he would evict if the tenant didn't accept. The tenant actually threatened legal action (I don't know the extent of what was threatened) if my friend proceeded with eviction. 

So my questions are:

• What options for eviction does my friend have?
• Are there any legal ramifications my friend could face from the tenant since there is no written lease?
• Does anyone have any other suggestions for alternatives to a forceful eviction that my friend could pursue?

Not sure if you're still researching Morganton. I've lived in Morganton just about my whole life. Breeden Realty is the company that handles more rentals than any other in town. Check out their website www.breedenrealestate.com or call and talk to Cindy Ross. Good luck!

I see you posted back in June about needing a buyer in Morganton back. Did you ever have any luck making contact with anyone in Morganton and/or selling the home?

Welcome, Ethan! Where in NC are you located?

Thanks @Andrew Syrios @Mark Nolan @Grant Greene @Henri Meli @Shirley Gregory and @Kelly Edwards for the very warm welcome!

Thanks for the great advice @John Arendsen! I hadn't thought of that. How often should I plan on having to meet face to face with my attorney, or can most of our business be conducted via phone/email? Even with the two markets here in NC that are an hour apart, I don't want to have to drive back and forth a lot to different attorneys. 

Thanks @Michaela G. and @Linval T. for the recommendations! So both of you believe I can use one attorney for rentals in two different NC counties? I wasn't sure if having a separate attorney in each area would be helpful as far as their knowledge of local ordinances that I may want to include in my lease.

Welcome fellow member of the NC BP Newbie Class of 2015! Let me know if you ever head up my way to Asheville.