All Forum Posts by: Colleen F.

This thread provides a rich insight and discussion on the topic. I would just comment that alot would depend on how section 8 were eliminated.

If section 8 were eliminated as the result of systematic restructuring of the social welfare ?? system?? I think you would not see much effect. It would just be reframed into another program. You would have to hope that administrative costs would go down if you had a systematic restructuring but I am not sure government knows how to do that.

If it were phased out I think it would hurt the working participants more as they would be perceived as less needy and be eliminated first. That would in turn be a big impact on people individually and delay the determined from their goal to be self sufficient.

For landlords I think the impact would be more evictions and court actions as people living on the edge would need to be accepted to fill vacancies.

I don't have section 8 tenants. I have had some good applicants with vouchers which got me to think about and consider the inspection. I have too much distrust of the government at the moment (as well as a non-lead free house).

My ideas about these types of social support programs are shaped by having worked in central Phoenix, Newark, NJ and several other impoverished areas with those very who were very dependent on social service help. My observation is the people who benefit the most (and eventually get out of the system) are those who would be cut first and get the least help. they try by getting education or part time jobs. They do eventually get out as some contributors have noted. That being said I am conflicted about all the children who benefit even when their parents are less then motivated. I think these kids whom I saw on home visits to the housing projects would become an unstable and uneducated group with increased dropouts due to the unstable living elimination of this program would cause. I would like to say we could address that but I am not sure how.

For those who talk about the skill set the recipients don't have I would say schools try very hard to address these topics but they are impractical. They don't do the topic of personal finance or even food in a practical hands on way. And for these kids if the world around you shows the well off people in illegal activites or gaming the system at a young age your view is changed by that. That said I don't think it is the job of schools to take on parenting.

The one sure thing I think we could do with all these social programs is simplify and cut administrative cost. Government grows itself daily and I think there is a serious need to curb this. Even government should live within its means.

The issue with students in general is that there is very little in terms of meaningful traditional checks you can do. We have had foreign students apply but they were never the ones who got the house because they were not quick enough but some of your issues are universal. The visa does tell you something since it is not usual that they would be accepted to the university and get a visa with criminal history. My personal experience with the foreign student population is usually they are serious about their education and from more well off families in order to be able to afford this experience.

A couple of things I do is verify the enrollment (usually run email through the university system) or get a letter. Check the majors and look for something serious. Run their names on social networking sites. If your students saw the place they are already here and should have personal references you can check. Moneywise it is a risk but they have more to lose then the average student should you take action against them. The extra security is also good. One thing to be sure about is that they understand any additional costs and responsibilities they have for the house. If they check out I would not hesitate. Knock on wood I haven't had to go after any parents yet. Not sure how successful that would be anyway.

@ Roy N. has experience with this population but in Canada so maybe he will have something to add.

@Roy N. well sometimes....and some of them try to convince their boyfriends to use them. Most settle on lining up the cars in the driveway to minimize shoveling-works ok until they all go home for the weekend.!

@Stephen S. of course they are but you can't stop people from talking to you. And the Verizon box call started with... your fire alarm is beeping.. anyway you don't want to not take calls since they could be valid. My point is don't let long term tenants fall too far out of market price as they aren't necessarily less maintenance and they don't always appreciate the difference.

Congratulations ! Hopefully works out for the best. I thought we were ambitious in a old 6 unit property deal in June but this one sounds like a little more of a challenge.

The location within a block of brand new transit center may have some long term benefit in both appreciation and rentability. In any case for due diligence you need to figure out both your rents and your rehab costs as well as whether you can rent anything immediately without rehab to offset any carrying costs during repair. You probably also need to get some specialty trades out besides the contractor. Definitely the electric get a hard estimate and anything else that looks like a specialty undertaking. You might ask your contractor for a first pass and then say if on structural he sees something get a specialist. These estimates will get your all in number to determine if it makes sense.

Depends on what's a good tenant. Longevity is not the only thing that makes a tenant good but it does decrease your cost. I inherited one tenant with lower rent and a better unit then the rest and she is the most maintenance.I get calls on things like light bulbs and the Verizon box... call Verizon.. Just saying. To me she it isn't worth discounting because she takes a lot of effort and probably has no idea she is discounted. A discount for a longer lease ok but that is upfront. Not sure the long-term tenant knows they are getting a discount.

Yes, Vacant property comes to mind but it depends on what you put it in front of.

Just saw the cost how does that compare with a service? I am not sure if this guy is now your employee which has its own hazards.

Single family rental tenants remove their own snow. New England so not insignificant. For the students we leave shovels.. Multifamily we do it. You said I live in a duplex so the it is a bit different. If they are doing the removal also for your access then pay for the gas. You can treat it as a rental expense to the extent it is not the owner unit portion (check with the tax guy but I am pretty sure that's how it works). Myself as the second tenant I would not split hairs. If you live there you can just leave them a full gas can out back too. It would seems if they do it helps with liability too.

If it was post-1978 I would understand and think it is about lead paint and the mitigations you have to do. Rhode island is big on that. Maybe it is still though about the hazard of older homes like asbestos and lead. I don't agree but you do have more surprizes with older homes.