All Forum Posts by: Abigail Cooper

@Junior Cene Hi Junior, I’m an NC investor and my previous deals have been in Raleigh. I’m currently looking at Winston-Salem and Greensboro. I sent you a connection request to see if we could chat

Hi BP, Out of state investor here. I’ve been subsidizing the living expenses of my disabled mother for the past year - it’s a strain financially. Recently I discovered that there is an exception for renting section 8 to a close family member if they are disabled and the property provides “reasonable accommodation”. She qualifies as her income is only a couple hundred dollars a month. I’d like to get her a safe place to live but can’t afford to cover the difference if she can’t pay market rent, so this seems like an ideal solution to keep her housed and safe. Does anyone have experience with the process of prepping a property for reasonable accommodations, having it approved, and having her section 8 approved? I’m concerned about the long waits and the timing required to get both my mother and the unit approved. I don’t know what would be likely to count as “reasonable accommodation”. She has to lie down a lot during the day and can only sit or stand for an hour max before resting. She has an ESA. I have experience as a landlord but have never done section 8. If anyone who has done this could help walk me through the strategies/process I would really appreciate the help.

Hi Courtney, I’m disabled (bedridden at this point) and my properties are out of state. I offered on the first sight unseen. The second I haven’t seen to this day. My investments are out of state for a few reasons: 1: I was priced out of the market I currently reside in 2: I had other business relationships in the area I was looking to invest. This meant I had friends who could recommend local professionals or even swing by a property if need be. 3: I invested in Raleigh NC, which has had a growing population and rapid gentrification for many years now. Good median income, businesses moving to the area, downtown being built up all played in. Sometimes a non-local market can be less daunting when you realize your investment will likely do *much* better in that market than wherever is local to you by comparison. I’d be happy to chat with you if you’ve got any specific questions you’d like answered. I just wanted to let you know it can certainly be successfully done! Knock on wood but I’ve been doing it for 3 years and have tenants who pay & stay and no major issues. I think it comes down to your risk tolerance and your team.

Originally posted by @Jiri B.:

@Huiping S. The eviction laws are based on Federal and State laws. The whole state of North Carolina falls under the state law (https://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/statutes/statutelo...) no matter what city or judge. 

However, as @Abigail Cooper mentioned, the judge might look at the circumstances differently depending on the reason for the evictions and the tenant. Eg section 8 tenant might go homeless and can't afford to pay vs a tenant who has the money but just dont want to pay. But regardless of this, the law is the same and your rights and the tenants rights are always the same.

Always treat your tenants with respect no matter the circumstances, stay professional and have your paperwork and notices in order and you won't have any issues.

I think the difference between Raleigh and Durham is that Durham has lower income neighborhoods and less educated private landlords so that might create more complicated situations then when dealing with a licensed real estate professional who is doing the eviction.

Absolutely. Thank you Juri B, I wasn’t being clear. The law is certainly the law, so from the perspective of a PM if they just need that information, it’s uniform. 

I agree that because Durham is lower income than Raleigh, that’s what sometimes effects the outcome. My PM has a harder time getting it done quick & clean in Durham vs Raleigh because magistrates have used discretion to occasionally grant tenants wiggle room.

Thankfully the one time I had to evict in Raleigh it was 3 weeks and done. 

If you're looking in one specific town or county, make sure to look specifically into local regulations.  It's much more difficult to evict in Durham than say, Raleigh, even though it sometimes just comes down to how the judges work with the tenants based on local demographics.

I am permanently disabled, bedridden, and also an investor with a couple of deals under my belt - so allow me to fill you in on some basics. I can’t even stand up and it took me 3 years to get disability. This “most are faking” stuff is not backed up by any statistic and is only propagated by people who don’t even have a tertiary understanding of the years, long income free nightmare that is getting disability status. People die waiting to have their cases heard. You talk like this because you haven’t a clue how hard it is to be completely incapacitated then go through a year’s long system to have to prove it. I had 9 doctors/PT’s vouch for me. It still took years. Second, and this should be blindingly obvious, not every disabled person is in a wheelchair. How many thousands of serious diseases are you familiar with? I have a friend with pulmonary fibrosis. When she doesn’t wear her oxygen tank you can’t tell she’s ill, but walking more than a block can kill her. She could sure as hell drive a truck though, and why shouldn’t see? It’s her right to live her life. I know someone who’s autonomous nervous system slows down. Same deal, too much exertion will kill him. These people have disabilities that will be fatal at some point, but won’t prevent them from getting in a truck. The fact that you think getting in a truck (or any other single action you can watch a person do) is the barometer of a disabling condition reveals your ignorance. You’re also forgetting that a couple can own a truck and one of them may be disabled. Many times a disabled person needs to be driven by a caregiver, and that’s the car with the sticker because they require close parking. Maybe one person does physical labor so that’s the vehicle they need. Who knows? Who cares? The point is that there are a million ways for this to be a valid situation with a truly disabled person. The ignorance & prejudice about disability I’ve seen running rampant on this forum is pretty gross. If you “don’t understand” then the answer is to educate yourself. Not to complain that sick people you can’t put a bullseye on dare to exist.