All Forum Posts by: Jacqueline Cliff

Absolutely require the seller to provide a clean bill of health for the system.  You might also reserve the right to choose the provider.  Not all septic companies are created equal.  Let me know if you need a good referral.

I am in search of a rental home for some excellent tenants that are looking in the North Seattle/Northgate area. This is a unique opportunity for you as the Landlord to have hassle free, non-destructive tenants who will happily maintain your property and keep it in tip top shape. We are looking to establish a specific communal type living situation that is geared towards College/Graduate students and professional young adults. The highest in behavioral standards are required and agreed to via contract. We can provide references from our other Village House Landlords upon request. Please feel free to contact me anytime with any questions.

@Roxanne Lembke I am in the Seattle area.  I work all the surrounding as well.

Hi Josh,

I'm not exactly sure the costs involved, but I would start by going to the local planning and zoning office and finding out what hoops you would need to jump through in order to request a variance on the zoning.  Sometimes the process can be easier than you think especially if there is a need for multi-family housing in the area.

Welcome to BP! :)  Let me know if there is anything I can help you out with in the good ole state of Washington.

I would encourage you to speak with both a good tax accountant familiar with real estate investors and an attorney.  Creating a firewall of protection is definitely a good idea, but you want to make sure you are following the right path and putting yourself in the best possible position tax wise.

Welcome to BP. Using your VA certificate in a creative way can definitely get you started if it isn't already in use. Happy to help with some ideas if you like.

Good Morning all,

I am in search of a rental home for some excellent tenants that are looking in the North Seattle/Northgate area. This is a unique opportunity for you as the Landlord to have hassle free, non-destructive tenants who will happily maintain your property and keep it in tip top shape. We are looking to establish a specific communal type living situation that is geared towards College/Graduate students and professional young adults. The highest in behavioral standards are required and agreed to via contract. We can provide references from our other Village House Landlords upon request. Please feel free to contact me anytime with any questions.

@Nhi Dinh Part of the reason your agent may have encouraged you not to go with a "For Sale By Owner" is also due to the risk of not having an Agent' s E&O insurance to cover the deal. Should it go sideways, God forbid, there would be no firewall (the agent and their insurance) to cover you. However, having said that, there is nothing wrong with searching out FSBO's and asking your agent to contact them. I have worked several deals for clients where either I or they have found the house through other means than the MLS. In this case, you simply contact the owner and ask if they are willing to work with a buyer who has an agent. I would say 90% of the time, they say yes. At that point, the agent can negotiate their commission percentage with the seller and represent you in the deal. The FSBO gets a sale and you stay protected by your agent.

@Patrick Sherwood  Maple Valley is definitely an up and coming area.  Be sure to watch your school district borders as certain ones are highly desired and therefore the properties in those areas are in better demand and can pull higher rent.