Landlord Friendly Locations

General Landlording & Rental Properties
12yFollow

Landlord Friendly Locations

Timothy Riley
Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 451 posts · 96 votes

Im looking into purchasing properties in Indiana (East Chicago, Hammond), Vegas, and or New Orleans. Are either of these considered landlord UNFRIENDLY locations like it is here in Chicago, Illinois?

1Reply
112 views

Most Popular Reply

Rob Beland
Investor · Leominster, MA · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 589 votes
12y

I would somewhat agree about Massachusetts being one of those states that is not landlord friendly. Generally speaking, the laws here are set up to favor the tenants. The mentality is that a landlord is a business person with lots of money and knowledge and the tenant is a poor idiot that knows nothing and can do no wrong. You really just need to know the laws and be a good landlord. As a matter of practice if I'm going to court I don't wear nice clothes. I don't get upset or talk bad about the tenant, I ask a lot of questions of the judge, and I appear as a generally nice guy that just wants to be able to pay his mortgage and feed his family. I've never had a case get continued beyond the summary process stage or appealed and I've never had a counter-claim filed against me. I'm sure the system is similar elsewhere. Some better, some worse.

5Reply
See this reply in the discussion

39 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Account Closed
    Neptune, NJ · Member since 2014 · 116 posts · 51 votes
    12y

    What works best for me in NJ

    1-Is knowing the landlords (and tenants) rights and responsibilities and attempt to adhere to them as best as possible.

    2- We do not deviate at all from our guidelines on tenant acquisition (credit, background and references) protocols.

    3- We document everything. Everyday for every property/tenant.

    1Reply
  • George Paiva
    Investor · Milford, CT · Member since 2012 · 592 posts · 285 votes
    12y

    Add Connecticut to unfriendly state. I say we are 1 notch better than Massachusetts but that doesn't say much. Tenants are brazen knowing that they can get away with much more than a landlord.

    Here you have to wait 10 days before you have a Marshall send a "Notice to Quit" then there are response days and so forth. Typically takes 6-8 weeks on cut and dry nonpayment of rent to up to 3-6 months if not a simple failure to pay rent. Tenants have many loopholes to drag it out.

    @Account Closed says it best, know your laws and follow them to best of your knowledge. Document everything in writing and signoffs by tenants. Stick to your tenant selection criteria. Everytime I looked the other way I got burned. Enjoy!

    1Reply
  • Mike HurneyPro Member
    Real Estate Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 542 votes
    12y

    @George Paiva "Everytime I looked the other way I got burned."

    You are correct sir!

    PS Yes Massachusetts is tough on Landlords.

    1Reply
  • Justin Case
    Real Estate Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2009 · 308 posts · 61 votes
    12y

    What does "Landlord Friendly" even mean?

    2Reply
  • Rob Beland
    Investor · Leominster, MA · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 589 votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Justin Case:
    What does "Landlord Friendly" even mean?

    This is always an interesting conversation. I invest in Massachusetts and I realize it's not the most "landlord friendly" state in the nation but what am I to do? I own multi-families in my town where I live and they are all within a short distance of my house because I want to be able to drive by my properties on a daily basis. My tenants all know where I live and most bring my rent checks to my house. I wouldn't have it any other way. Massachusetts is very landlord friendly as far as I'm concerned. Just my two cents...

    2Reply
  • Timothy Riley
    OP
    Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 451 posts · 96 votes
    12y

    Thanks @Justin Case & @Rob Beland Your type of inquiries and comments are what bring us to an overall understanding and possible solutions. A Landlord Friendly - don't forget the word - State (the way i see it) is a State who's laws and taxes arent heavily against the landlord who conducts correct business practices.

    0Reply
  • Timothy Riley
    OP
    Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 451 posts · 96 votes
    12y

    Posted too soon: Im in what's considered an landlord unfriendly state that i will continue to purchase in because it's convienent and easier for me to do. My tenants and location might be landlord frienly but not the state. What can you do - it seems like nothing but laws change...

    0Reply
  • Victor Ortiz
    Portland, OR · Member since 2013 · 23 posts · 7 votes
    12y

    Is Oregon a landlord friendly state? Looking to purchase a 4plex in Beaverton, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Tigard, Sherwood, King City.

    1Reply
  • Ginny Watson
    Beaverton, OR · Member since 2014 · 38 posts · 4 votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Victor Ortiz:
    Is Oregon a landlord friendly state? Looking to purchase a 4plex in Beaverton, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Tigard, Sherwood, King City.

    Oregon is tenant friendly. I'm fairly new in the business and don't have much to compare. I plan to do everything by the book. I have a duplex in Beaverton. Check out the Washington County Landlord Forum Meetings. They meet monthly on the 2nd Wednesday and break for the summer. Here is the contact info. Jessica Chandler, Administrative Specialist, Washington County Sheriff's Office, 215 SW Adams Ave. MS 32, Hillsboro, OR 97123 phone: (503)846-2579.

    http://pswebpub.co.washington.or.us/calendar2/viewEvent.cfm?EventID=2910

    1Reply
  • Victor Ortiz
    Portland, OR · Member since 2013 · 23 posts · 7 votes
    12y

    @Ginny Watson, thank you the info and the enlightening. I will be check out the Washington County Landlord Forum Meetings. Thank you for the web site link and your quick response

    0Reply
  • Victor Ortiz
    Portland, OR · Member since 2013 · 23 posts · 7 votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Victor Ortiz:
    @Ginny Watson, thank you the info and the enlightening. I will be check out the Washington County Landlord Forum Meetings. Thank you for the web site link and your quick response.
    0Reply
  • Ezra Nugroho
    Investor · Milpitas, CA · Member since 2014 · 116 posts · 103 votes
    12y

    What about Pensylvania ? Anyone has more info?

    0Reply
  • Zehua Zhou
    Member since 2020 · 36 posts · 6 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Marcia Maynard:

    I live in Washington State and invest here. I consider it one of the top four most landlord friendly states (with the exception of the city of Seattle which has a strong tenant union and some laws that put landlords at a disadvantage).

    Here are my top four: Louisiana, Texas, Utah and Washington. Not necessarily in that order.

    Other states that have been known as landlord friendly: Indiana, Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Virginia, Arkansas, Nevada.

    From what people have posted on BP, I'm guessing some of the least friendly are California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and large metropolitan areas such as the Chicago area of Illinois.

    One of our most useful tools in Washington is the 20-day Notice to Terminate (no-cause) that can be used with month-to-month rental agreements. Also evictions can take as little as 30 days from start to finish. (Note: Seattle has "Just Cause Eviction Protection" and is not landlord friendly.) Also, we do not have rent control.

    Hi Marcia,

         Do you still think WA is landlord friendly as of 2020?

    Thanks!

    Zehua       

    0Reply
  • Nicolas Lam
    Sammamish, WA · Member since 2018 · 36 posts · 8 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Marcia Maynard:

    I live in Washington State and invest here. I consider it one of the top four most landlord friendly states (with the exception of the city of Seattle which has a strong tenant union and some laws that put landlords at a disadvantage).

    Here are my top four: Louisiana, Texas, Utah and Washington. Not necessarily in that order.

    Other states that have been known as landlord friendly: Indiana, Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Virginia, Arkansas, Nevada.

    From what people have posted on BP, I'm guessing some of the least friendly are California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and large metropolitan areas such as the Chicago area of Illinois.

    One of our most useful tools in Washington is the 20-day Notice to Terminate (no-cause) that can be used with month-to-month rental agreements. Also evictions can take as little as 30 days from start to finish. (Note: Seattle has "Just Cause Eviction Protection" and is not landlord friendly.) Also, we do not have rent control.

     Hi @Marcia Maynard is this still the case today?

    0Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free