All Forum Posts by: Bishoy Takla

Hello BP, 

I need your opinion on an early termination situation. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice. 

A tenant leased my property from October 2023 through September 2024 in TX. In August 2024, I sent him an email outlining a new rental rate for a 12-month term and requested that if he wants to renew that he pay an increased security deposit along with the September 2024 rent. He complied—submitting the additional deposit and paying the new rate starting that month—indicating acceptance of the renewal terms to my understanding, I didn;t follow up with a signed lease extension.

In May 2025, the tenant informed me via email that he had purchased a home and planned to move out early. I reminded him that the lease had been renewed through September 2025 and that he could remain liable for rent during any vacancy period. He acknowledged this and agreed to continue paying rent until the unit was re-rented. I offered to list the property immediately in May, but the tenant declined to allow showings until he had fully vacated, which occurred in June 2025. He also paid rent for June.

I began showing the property in June and was close to finalizing a lease with a new tenant. Unfortunately, a leak was discovered in the washer box—likely caused by the outgoing tenant failing to properly tighten the valve when disconnecting his washer—delaying the rental process until August.

The tenant is now requesting the full return of his security deposit, claiming he was on a month-to-month lease and I didn't send him the itemized list of damages or deductions within 30 days of his moving-out date.  

I offered to deduct the following from the security deposit:

1. Two weeks’ rent as an early termination fee (due to breaking the lease before the end of the renewal term).

2. Cleaning and plumbing repair costs associated with the washer box leak.

These deductions would leave approximately one-quarter of the security deposit to be returned.

Here are my questions, and feel free to add any more thoughts:

1- Do I have a binding renewal of the lease by "implied action"? Even if there is no written and signed lease extension?

2- Is what I am offering fair and reasonable or would you offer something different?

Hello BP, 

Looking for ideas to facelift this fireplace in a C+ area. 
walls will be painted agreeable grey.

Hello BP,

I need advice on what is the best way to withdraw 100k from my accounts to complete an investment real estate deal.

We file separately and my wife has a lower income and 2 dependants on her filing, so I am thinking to withdrew from her Roth IRA (50k) which was opened in 2016, and her wealthfront brokerage account (50k).

another thought is to withdraw from her vanguard and wealthfront brokerage account and keep the Roth growing tax-free - in 2022 she will make around 70k but I am planning on maxing out her two tax-deferral plans lowering her taxable income to 30k

Here are the other accounts:

His previous employer 403B
His previous employer 457B
His brokerage account (vanguard and wealthfront)
His Roth IRA (opened in 2016)
His current employer 401k or ESOP
His current employer 401k After-Tax Roth Conv - 10k only and less than one-year-old account



Her brokerage account (vanguard and wealthfront)
Her Roth IRA (opened in 2016)
Her SEP IRA - only 10k
Her previous employer 401k

Hello BP,

I have a section 8 question. One tenant is planning to move (port) his section 8 voucher to Dallas and use it to rent my 1/2 duplex.

- Can I charge him a deposit to hold until all the paperwork is transferred successfully? What is the max amount I can charge?

- What else do I need to let him move-in while HUD is finalizing the paperwork and the lease?

- any other insight I need to know about the porting process?

Hello BP,

I have a section 8 question. One tenant is planning to move (port) his section 8 voucher to Dallas and use it to rent my 1/2 duplex.

- Can I charge him a deposit to hold until all the paperwork is transferred successfully? What is the max amount I can charge?

- What else do I need to let him move-in while HUD is finalizing the paperwork and the lease?

- any other insight I need to know about the porting process?

Hello BP, 

I have a section 8 question. One tenant is planning to move (port) his section 8 voucher to Dallas and use it to rent my 1/2 duplex. 

- Can I charge him a deposit to hold until all the paperwork is transferred successfully? What is the max amount I can charge?

- What else do I need to let him move-in while HUD is finalizing the paperwork and the lease?

- any other insight I need to know about the porting process?

@Joseph Stammeyer I ended up using NBCK from Costco referral which gave me better rates. and I had a very good experience. 

Hello BP,

I am looking for a good painter to freshen up one rental in Dallas 75243.

let me know if you have someone you can recommend.

Hello PB,

I just bought a duplex with a 5% conventional Owner-occupied loan (home possible program)  and I plan to stay in it for the one-year requirement.

If my DTI allows, Can I get another OO loan next year for another property and move in this new house for another year? is this acceptable or frown upon or illegal? and if it is acceptable how many times can I do this?

@TJ Tyler you might ask your lender about home possible or home ready programs, they allow you to put down 3% on an OO property for Conventional loan. Some area has a limit on how much you make in order to be qualified.

Home possible: http://www.freddiemac.com/homepossible/

Home possible map for income limit:

https://sf.freddiemac.com/working-with-us/affordable-lending/home-possible-eligibility-map