All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

 The appraisal tech source you speak of already exists - it's a human - it's just not being utilized as it could/should. People have no idea the tremendous amount of value that comes for a measly couple hundred bucks in an appraisal. It's an on-site physical property inspection, a expert valuation and written documentation of both all-in-one. The tech people are going to find out they can't do it cheaper. They've been trying for years. They keep trying different approaches and formulas to answer the same problem. The answer they seek has been staring at them ready and willing all this time. But people love their tech and really really really want it to do everything. Maybe tech will reproduce for us someday too??? Smell the flowers for us? Give our kids a hug? LOL.

I wonder often if newer generations will resists tech or will embrace it like my generation has.

 Maybe FNMA will be the big box store you speak of someday? Well, this forum is called Bigger Pockets so, I guess your thread is right where it ought to be in the world - lol.

 Maybe you should start a company to do all that. Ever wonder why people with means haven't already? I mean, I suppose the fact we live in frontier times with the internet is a consideration but real estate??? Doesn't it seem a bit odd that gravy train aint been had yet??? Hmm...

Maybe you have struck gold. Or maybe have struck fool's gold. I can't say either way. I can say that a house is a physical thing and at the very least, sellers will probably want a human to show it for them. If you believe that's the least common denominator and the world will reduce to that eventually, I dunno, maybe it will. However I think the alternative virtues of agents have been illustrated quite well in this thread and for those reasons, your idea is a long time in the future, if ever, and the role of the agent today will still be around forever, at least in some capacity. Time is money. Pain relief is valuable. Change comes slowly sometimes.

A thread topic that comes up often, even in my short time here at BP, and I might say this is the best one I've ever read. Bravo and thanks to all the vets who contributed their time, wisdom and insight.

I'm not an agent. I was an appraiser for 14 years. I know my way around the documents and the transaction.

I use an agent because I must in some cases, but I would use one even if I didn't have to. I might even use one if I was an agent. The reason is because they serve as a middle-man for me. Purchases are negotiations. As far as I'm concerned, agents earn every penny and are worth it. Yes, it makes me annoyed that they obtain a large chunk of money that was potentially mine and of course I wonder how to avoid that, but at the end of the day it is what it is and all is fair and well.

Also, on a personal note, realtors are experts in manners, and I tend to be the bull in the china shop sometimes - lol - I'm not everyone's cup of tea.

I might add some more but everyone else already nailed it.

 Well said.

Smoker all day. I have some non-smoking leases and will be changing all of them to allow smoking. Makes it real easy when people want to smoke pot and people who want to smoke pot are going to smoke it - inside and not out because it is still illegal here. Because I allow smoking, I don't have to police smoking pot, and policing is exactly what it is. Good grief and whatever. I know how to open a window, clean, and paint. I have insurance if someone burns the house down. Non-smokers have plenty of other options to rent from up-tight landlords who are disgusted with the smell of smoke. Me? I get disgusted with the smell of grease and perfume - to each their own.

Pets? The problem with pets are the owners of pets, not the pets. I have a no pet policy.

And then there are cats. I love cats. I have two. I will never allow a tenant to have a cat. Never. My cats will be exiled to the outdoors the second they think they might want to mark the house. I know how to soothe a cat so they wont mark. And even then, some cats will mark no matter what. That's the problem. I am not trusting a tenant to handle all that. Cat pee does not go away - it's too acidic. Now there's a smell I don't want in my property for the next owner or occupant.

Dog pee is less acidic and dogs don't mark, they have occasional accidents - again the fault of the owner. I have one tenant that has two dogs, an inherited tenant I am making an exception for. She is a great owner and if all owners were like her, I would allow dogs.

Want a pet? Go buy your own house. Barn maybe?

Smokers? Light 'em if you got 'em.

I smoke. I have rented to non-smokers. I've been scolded by them more than once for smoking in their rental unit - lol. Whoops. Sorry. My bad. I do what I can to be courteous, but that habit is a MF.

The pic is for you Joe - lol. Hobbes and Calvin, they're brothers. Never lived a day without each other. They love me long time. They talk to me. I listen and understand. I talk back to them. They listen and understand - lol. Best cats I ever had. Don't even use the box - they go outside. I have a box, and get about one a year in it. Calvin thought he might start marking once, I set him straight on that in short order. Lucky for him, I would have made him live outside if he didn't want to see it my way. I might be able to train Calvin to use the toilet, he is fascinated with it. He knows how to open doors too, he just doesn't have the size to make it happen. Hobbes is like Clawhouser from that movie Zootopia. He is a bit fat and sweet and eats everything he can, but when it's time for the claws you had better steer clear and fast. Neither one is physco. I've had physco cats - not as much fun by a long shot. I like dogs. Other peoples dogs that is. Too needy for me. Maybe if I own a farm I will get a dog.

Bravo! Thanks Nathan for starting this thread. Bravo for explaining it doesn't need to be fancy, only clear to all parties. Here is the letter I sent to my tenants to solve the issue.

Notice: Necessary Action Concerning Your Lease Has Been Taken Due To The Corona Virus Outbreak

Hello All Tenants,

As I write this letter in terrible times, I hope it finds all of you and your loved ones well. May we not forget those of us who have nobody to rely on. God help us all.

I was glad to have spoken to all of you either in person or on the phone last Friday, March 20, 2020, and then again today, Saturday March 28, concerning the situation of the world at present.

Verbal action requiring written notice took place concerning your lease on March 20th when I verbally expressed that rent for the month of April 2020 is waived. Keep this letter with your lease documents as your written record of that event.

Seek government if you need further assistance.

Be well.

Sincerely,

Merritt

I ditto what Nathan said for the most part.

My two cents is this is a simple matter of records, which you have admitted to throwing out. (Whaaaaaat?) My hope is it will never come to the very extreme measure of filing an ethics complaint with the regulatory agency as Nathan and others have provided a road map to.

I might wait to see if they charge it next month, which could be used as evidence they have been charging it the whole time, but seeing as you called them to straighten it out, the charge might be removed for next month.

IMO, you need to scramble for evidence first, then go from there.

LOL - I had to google CMBS. I understand what a mortgage-backed security is, I'm just not immersed in it. I do have an interesting story to tell about residential mortgage backed securities, but that is another story for another day.

I'll just sit here and listen to the big pockets...please continue.

 LOL. I too am from the north, and have always admired the southern hospitality. I've always wondered if northerners are grumpy because of the cold weather - lol. The southern hospitality is really a neat thing, until a person realizes that sometimes the person serving it is a horrible racist - lol. That aint funny, but it is true sometimes. Old ways have a way of remaining long after their time is over. Sigh. Back to real estate.

Well Miss Felicia, I went to the Atlanta website to see if I could find a link to a mapping system for you - I couldn't find one. Maybe land records are accessible at the county level? It is also possible the municipalities are not providing access, either for reasons of privacy, reasons of profit, or reasons of being late to the party and behind with the times...hmm...

Search: land records, GIS, mapping, property records, real estate, real property - who knows how the municipality has organized and named their records.

I will leave you to it and good luck!