All Forum Posts by: Keith Jourdan

Finished this project for a client in California. 

Bought for $80k off MLS

Rehab about $20k

Rent $1250

ARV $120kish

Before and after pics

You can check out all my before and after flips/rehabs at instagram.com/keith.jourdan

Went to court this morning . The tenant showed with no documentation . He asked the judge for another week to get his ducks in a row . The judge signed the vacate judgement , giving the tenant 10 days to leave . Tenant said he was going to appeal to circuit court , I doubt he has time . Hopefully this is over .

Originally posted by @Tom Gimer:

@Kenny Lee What if the tenant produces an unrecorded deed, option, lease-back, etc.

Better to have the hearing and get a decision on all facts. We all know how this likely ends but the judge can't ignore the unrepresented tenant's claim. 

The Tenant could just be making these claims to buy time in the house.

Or maybe the prior owner did do a non recorded land contract with the tenant, or some sort of lease option? My attorney said that if this is the case, the tenant would have to sue the prior owner for damages in that case. It would not have much to do with me, as I am the lawful sole owner of the house and I did not assume any land contracts/lease options with the tenant.

I do understand the judges stance, let the tenant have a chance to prove his ownership. Last thing a judge wants it to be on the local news for kicking someone out of their own home, judges here run for election, they have to try and give everyone a fair shake. I just wish It was not such a long process.

Originally posted by @Kenny Lee:

Originally posted by @Thomas S.:

Worst part is the court is intentionally enabling him. Courts do not want to evict knowing the tenant will then fall on the government welfare system for support. Courts would rater see private landlords go bankrupt first. 

Great observation and totally agree.  Why burden the state when you can burden the private sector/investor? 

This should have been a simple open-and-shut case where you present your deed as proof, tenant gets thrown out, and everything is fine.  Not only did that not happen the first time because of their screw-up apparently, but didn't happen the second time either. 

Think it will turn out in your favor, but the judge sounds seriously incompetent if they're letting it go on this long and maybe even to trial. 

I just hope that the tenant can get some sort of fine or punishment for this. You shouldn't be able to just walk into a court room and spout off lies, wasting the courts and my time

Bought a SFH at the end of last year. Off market deal, had a tenant who owner said , "has not paid rent in 6 months, and i dont want to deal with the eviction process."

I got the house for an awesome deal. One of my best deals of the year.

I have bought several homes in these situations, with non paying tenants. Most times I can contact the tenant and work out a "cash for keys" situation and everybody wins.

After closing I call the tenant. He says he does not want to do cash for keys and he wants to stay in the home. He says he will pay the market rate rent we agree to every month on the 1st, he will deposit first months payment tomorrow.

wow!  this is great news. I now avoid the $20k+ remodel this house needs to get it ready for sale/rent.

He pays rent the next day. then he pays the next months rent on the 1st, no problems. 

3rd month comes along and he does not pay, gives excuse after excuse making promises he cant keep on when he is making payment. I finally have to cut my loses and send the Pay or Quit notice. 

He does not pay or move out in the 7 day period. Off to court we go....

He does not show up to court. Great! Judge enters a default judgement and they give him 10 days to vacate or the Sheriff will get involved. 

He does not move in the 10 days. 

This is where it gets really weird, really fast.

I get a notice in mail granting the tenant a new court date. what?? how can this be?? Ive never seen this before..     I call the court and the clerk tells me the tenant came in with his court notice they mailed him, and sure enough it did not have the court address on it, the printer skipped it......she assured me she has never seen this before and it is rather odd. But since the tenant was not given an address to know where the court was located they gave him a new date.

I figured the tenant was playing games, so I hired an attorney to go to the new court date with me.

New Court Date: Tenant shows up this time. And has quite the story to share with the court....

He claims that he is the sole owner of the home and that I am a scam artist trying to kick him out of his own house that he has owned for 5 years.  Amazing right?!

At the hearing I had my closing package that included a copy of the recorded deed and proof of title insurance. Tenant said he did not bring his proof, but he has it.

Judge adjourned the case, said he did not have time to look at my proof and wanted the tenant to have a chance to prove his ownership. Unbelievable.

Now we have another court date.

My lawyer is concerned that the tenant will show with fake documentation and the judge will hold this over for trial where each side has time and the opportunity to call witnesses etc.

I will obviously win in the end , but this tenant is willing to do whatever he can to live for free.

Record low inventory here at the moment. For a "crash" there would need to be a big influx of supply . Where will that supply come from ?

I have a lot of experience in the Metro Detroit area. Feel free to drop me a line .

Originally posted by @Robert Graham:

HI @Aamir U. We have many multi-family units in the City of Detroit and have rehabbed, rented, partnered, flipped etc... If you need help in Detroit proper please let me know? As far as the suburbs go @Keith Jourdan comes highly recommended by many on this site. I would be happy to answer any questions specific to Detroit. All the best in your quest! 

Thanks for the shout out Robert!

Congrats on the License Chris.

Welcome to the RE agent community