All Forum Posts by: Brian R.

As was mentioned above, I pay for the water and sewer for most of my properties, because in most areas, if the tenant doesn't pay them, the bill will be assessed to the property taxes.  I figure the average cost into the rent.

As to your comment about disconnecting utilities, every state I have looked into make it a criminal offense if you turn off any utilities, even if the tenant isn't paying you for them.  If it is in the lease that they have to pay them, and they don't pay, then you file a lease violation eviction against the tenant.  If you turn them off, the tenant can sue you in most states, and it will cost you a lot more than what the tenant didn't pay you.

You would have to go to the city zoning department and talk to them. 

I have a duplex that is zoned for a single family.  The sellers had approached me on purchasing it (they were my neighbors) due to a divorce.  They had been living in one side, and renting the other (in violation of the zoning, but it was never caught by the city.  I made them an offer with the stipulation they had to get a conditional use permit from the city that would allow me to rent it as a duplex. 

They approached the city.  We went to the planning commission meeting, they recommended approval to the city council.  The city council had to hold a public hearing.  The city council approved the CUP.  I have been renting it as a duplex with the CUP for the past 12-13 years.

When the sellers went to the city and it went to the planning commission, the planning department first was going to require me to live in one side.  At the planning commission meeting, I said that would not be an option, and that I lived next door.  They agreed to that, and was going to make the CUP contingent on me living next door, meaning I would not be able to rent it as a duplex if I moved from my house.  I would not agree to that.  The city agreed drop that as well.  I have to write a letter to the city each year stating that the property is still being rented as a duplex, and that it did not sit empty for more that 90 days during the year.  If I don't write the letter, or it is empty without prior approval from the city for more than 90 days, then the CUP is void. 

Make sure if any contingencies are placed on the the property by the city, you know what they are before you buy, and you agree to them.

I own a property across from a church.  It is in a small town, and they have one service each Sunday morning.  I looked at how much activity would be taking place at the church, in relation to the amount of parking on-site; will the majority of the people be parking on the streets around the property or do they have on-site parking.  IN this case, they have a fairly large parking lot, so a minimum number of people will be parking on the street.  This particular church also does not have a lot of activities  during the week, but again they have plenty of parking.

Being across from a church in my opinion isn't a deal breaker.  I look at it as if I am living at the property, would I want to live with a lot of extra traffic, and the parking.  In the case of my property, I determined there wasn't going to be a large impact.  

I had the same issue a few years ago.  I had Allstate for all my properties.  I have one with asbestos siding. Allstate told me because of the siding, they were dropping me when my policy ended.  They said it was because if damaged, they couldn't repair it, they would have to pay to reside the entire property.

I went to an independent agent, one of the application questions was do I have asbestos siding. He was finally able to find one company that would insure me, Foremost, and it cost me about $500.00 more a year than I was paying Allstate for that property.  I have since went to another independent agent, and he was able to find another company, Travelers, that would insure the property, and it was about $500.00 less than what Foremost was charging me.

Go to a third agent and see what they can do.

The proposed ordinance has been amended slightly.  Here is an article about the new proposasl, as well as information about a public hearing on it.

http://www.startribune.com/min...

More than likely, if the city owns it, it comes off the tax records, and so the rent could be less due to no property taxes.  However, generally governments don't want that to happen.  Is this some sort of government agency that is interested in renting it from you?

As was mentioned above, does the city want to buy it?  Does the city want to be a property manager?  I wouldn't hold out on the city wanting to have anything to do with this.

I have a duplex with walk thru bedrooms on both sides.  You walk into the first room, and then through the door in the wall separating the two rooms to the second room.  I have never had a problem renting it.  My realtor told me that the appraiser would count it as one bedroom, so I had to run my numbers as a one bedroom each side for my loan, but I have been advertising it as two bedrooms, with a disclaimer about the walk thru, when ever I have posted it for rent.  I have a couple living in one side, and a single mom and daughter in the other.

New Jersey is a very tenant friendly state.  Hire an attorney that specializes in evictions.  If you don't do everything exactly right, all your work will be for nothing.    

Too add onto the Sega in Minneapolis, a judge ruled that the Minneapolis ordinance requiring landlords to accept section 8 vouchers is legal.  The lead plaintiff in the case said he will probably appeal to the state supreme court.

http://www.startribune.com/court-minneapolis-can-e...

It does mention a fund for landlords to pay for damage caused from section 8 tenants set up by the city, as well as a streamlined inspection process.  

I just posted about this a few minutes after you.  I didn't see the startribune article, but did on the KSTP TV site.

My opinion, stay out of Minneapolis.  I won't buy in Minneapolis or Saint Paul.  

This, as currently written, ordinance does not surprise me at all coming from Minneapolis.  I would expect something similar to follow in Saint Paul.