In fact, I consider someone who is stealing rent from me to be no better than an armed criminal that breaks into my house in the middle of the night to rob me.

As a well respected Broker and Investor, I have too much to lose to deal with fraudulent activity.

If you do not want to join an agency for credit/background, and pay their fees, there are a few do it yourself ways to get some information--You can require the applicant provide you with their free credit report which they can obtain online--(you would have to know how to read and assess it), also you can go online for public records checks to see about evictions, and criminal public records. and thirdly, the landlord name & reference they provide to you, you can go to your county tax records online, put in the address or parcel # to see if the name on the property address really is the landlord, or just a friend that they have asked to pretend to be the landlord --that happens alot.

You must be active in your oversight of the PM company and the investment iteself.While you do need to rely on the abilities of your team members, you must remain diligent in your management of each team member.

My business was providing hips...www.hipnotik.co.uk. websites still active but wound up the company. because HIPS are only needed when a house goes on the market then my business declined rapidly after the first 6 months of their introduction until i was forced to close it down. estate agents, mortgage lenders, hips companies conveyancers are all either being bought out by huge corps or are forced to shut down because of the state of the market.

The viability of the HOA becomes at risk if people don't get actively involved.

They are now actively calling Countrywide to complain.

I would have gotten more involved years ago with outside activities, such as biking, hiking and camping, and especially dog sports, agility, mushing and bikejoring, and perhaps been competitive on a local or fun level.

But in this case, Bruce is a also a well known, well respected, active California investor and resident.

I'm putting on my "blinders" and not allowing all the negativity to affect my activity or attitude.