All Forum Posts by: Alice K.

@Aaron Howell You weren't even joking! 

@Lydia S. So glad you got a kick out of it!  

Hello there!

It would definitely make you stand out (but I wouldn't, unless you know they really like Italy), but something that might make you win is removing a contingency if there are a ton of offers. This can be dangerous though, and I've done that and been worried afterwards.

As @Chris T. mentioned, I would figure out what their ideal situation is.

Do you know how many offers are on the table? I honestly would just go in with the offer and all contingencies. I'm assuming this is your first offer?

If the seller wants to get you all in a bidding war, they'll ask for counters. 

Background: Been in several bidding wars myself...

Good luck!

As @Levi T. mentioned, I'd charge them if it came from your own pocket. 
If they're going to keep living there as you mentioned, I wouldn't really care if they're going to duplicate it. 

Historically, I've changed locks and my past landlords change them too. It's just good business. As a tenant, I want to be ensured past tenants can't just walk in...

If you don't have a lost key clause in your contract, might be a good one to add for the next time!

Sorry for the hassles!

This is amazing. It's like children went wild with metallic paint and sponges.

Here is a personal favorite from the San Francisco / San Mateo market that I've driven past multiple times.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/45-Berryessa-Way...

One idea (check with a licensed CPA for all these as I'm not one but this might help you at least get started)-- Move into it, live there 2 years then you can sell and buy another property as your primary. That should offset the cash profit on the table. If it's investment property you could up the cost basis by improvements but that takes money.

A thought on "privacy":
I was pondering long and hard about making an LLC. But, when push comes to shove, people can find where you live and get all your details.
It's not that difficult as I've done it myself for shady companies. Particularly some credit ones hiding behind layers of corporations.
Then again if I lived in NY, New York, I suppose I would also feel in danger doing any dealings (as a past country-bumpkin. Haha). 

I think @Jay Hinrichs is right, it does very much sound like the lender. 

@James King I also used my home address for the registered agent and my primary! I used to value privacy, but a person can merely google my name and get everything. Figure if the tenants were really going to come after us, it wouldn't be hard.

I just try my best to do them well as they are my clients and if they're not happy, I should be helping (within reason assuming the tenants are good).

Good luck!

@Jacqueline Coombs I would do the notice to quit as you mentioned asap. You can just put it in their mail box and tape it to their door with how they can pay you. You could confront, but start with that letter. 

Make it semi threatening, but not offensive. 

Also are they month to month? Maybe you could add new rules to the contract by giving them a 30 day advance notice. (You could check with a lawyer in your area, I'm sure they'd have rec's) 

Secondly, contact the listing agent ASAP and say that this wasn't disclosed and say you want their help with this because they did not due their fair duty (moving forward at least you've learned something valuable! A contingency clause saying you want to see the seller's bank account with the payments from the tenant.) 

@JR T. -- Sadly, I agree if they didn't disclose this and they knew... And, how wouldn't they since it's hitting the seller's bank account...

@Penny Clark Totally agree!

@Engelo Rumora Congratulations on taking that crazy leap! Love it.

If you don't happen to know Engelo, he is crazy-- the best kind, the kind that goes out and takes action!

I've heard him speak and it was quite inspiring.
Based on his stories, he deserves some time from Ohio! Haha.

@Account Closed: Thanks for the recommendation to Kathleen earlier! I ended up speaking with her colleague. He was full of street smart advice. He also made sure I knew before we parted on the phone that there are 43,560 sq ft in an acre. haha. 
I may look a bit closer to home but if I was in San Jose, I'd go with your brokerage! :)