All Forum Posts by: Al Williamson

@Bryan Hancock, I always appreciate your ROE prospective. I agree, when gvt caps your rents that squashes the reward we get from restoring the innate value in low income areas. It only makes financial sense if you use gvt loans to purchase or improve the rental.

But in non "gov-mint-laden environments" I would argue that the orderliness of the neighborhood caps a landlord's appreciation potential. And, the wisest thing a landlord could do, even before addressing deferred maintenance, is to find a way to contribute to the community.

Bill Gulley I agree, but do you think the obligation is equal. I think the low income landlord have a bigger role to play - they a obligated, as de facto leaders, to take on issues associated with low income communities.

Are landlords obligated to contribute to the community surrounding their rentals? If so, do you think landlords in a well-to-do community have less community obligations than owners in low income neighborhoods?

I think we're obligated and high-end landlords have way less community obligations. What do you think?

Interesting slide show. BofA finally sounds like they have their thinking caps on.

@R Lett - liability statement is an awesome idea. It opens possibilities previous posters (and myself) believed were off limits.

@Sam Sagor - maybe I was stretching with the "art" idea. It would only work for an establish artist. A watered down residency venture.

@Nathan Emmert - crediting utilities - I didn't see that one coming. Clever idea.

Maybe we have the beginnings of a "backup plan" that could function. From everyone's input - I'm starting to conclude this idea is best for a fraction of the rent - at best.

It's easy to see how this idea can go wrong. I'm trying to imagine a situation when bartering would work. So far I came up with:

1. A tenant creates art that landlord could easily sell to cover debt
2. Tenant give landlord item that could be easily eBay'd to cover debt

Can someone help me add to this backup plan?

Yes, worker's comp kills a lot of my ideas, but there has got to be some legal loophole around bartering. The system has been around too long to be outlawed. Any bartering experts out there?

I've heard stories that customers wash dishes if unable to pay their resturant tab. That's a bartering type of recourse – or maybe just penitence. I know it's not a desirable, but what's the landlord version of this concept?

Anyone ever barter to help a tenant pay their bill?

Encouraging these loans is like offering bottled water to a drowning person. Wouldn't it be innovative to be able to offer a tenant a temp or part time job instead?

OK, called the Utah Apartment Owners Association and was told the pay day loan company offers a 20% discount to tenants of their members. No kick back to landlord. The landlord is supposed to benefit by providing a “more affordable” short-term loan alternative to their tenant.

I'm going to interview some landlords that are using this program and will report back.