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All Forum Posts by: Mary Jay

Mary Jay has started 258 posts and replied 1265 times.

 I received this text from the past tenant:

"I lost my job today but if you need that money more than me then you can shove it up your f-ing ***..."

Can use this as a refusal by the tenant for the security deposit?

If the tenant decides to go to court over the security deposit, I feel like I could use his text as a proof that the tenant voluntarily refused the security deposit. Am I right?

(When the tenant moved out, the carpets were in a bad shape so I had to clean it twice. A year ago when the tenant just moved it there was a leak so the construction people had to take out the cabinets to fix it but the tenant would not let them leave the cabinets inside the house and made them to keep the cabinets in the backyard outside, which obviously damaged the cabinets. So I was not planning on returning the security deposit anyway)...I feel like his text message just will make my case stronger if it comes to court, correct?

Quote from @Kathryn Morea:

Mary Jay, I have not evicted anyone in Puerto Rico.  My understanding is that it's pretty landlord friendly.  But I'm from California where tenants have extreme extreme rights and owners have none.  Here it's based on what's in the contract.  Purely the contract.  I hear it takes about 3-4 weeks to evict a non paying tenant, barring certain special classes/cases. 


 Thank you so much, Kathryn! Nice to get the info from someone who is in PR plus who is a pro! :-)  We appreciate your input!

Post: Puerto Rico: Gold Mine or Fools Gold?

Mary JayPosted
  • Glendale, AZ
  • Posts 1,270
  • Votes 226
Quote from @Aaron T.:
Originally posted by @Janice Zayas Thomas:
Originally posted by @Kathryn Morea:

@Jorge Rivera  I'm currently living in Isla Verde and seeing lots of properties snapped up by investors and being repaired and cash flowing.  Tourism looks to be doing really well where I am.  The hotels are full or nearly full.  The low airfares and maybe cabin fever have contributed to lots of visitors from the mainland.  The folks here who have airbnb's that I know personally are booked solid!   There was a dip last spring, certainly a painful April 2020, but it's good now.  Are you aware of Act 74?  It applies to hotels and airbnb's and has some great tax credits.   

Kathryn, I know this is a loaded questions but how are investors finding these properties? I stalk clasificados online and all of the worthwhile properties are optioned or out of date on the website. Do you have recommendations on a RE agent who works with investors who don’t live on the island? I’m from PR but live in the US and i go back 1-2x a year. 

you can also use point2point.com that will get most of the sites pulled into one. Also find a realtor to work with, there is no real MLS, so there is a lot of properties that are just on agent sites. We found one this morning scrolling through Facebook and ended up going under contract on it.


  How do eviction work in Puerto Rico? Is it difficult to evict? Landlord friendly or tenant friendly?

Post: Puerto Rico: Gold Mine or Fools Gold?

Mary JayPosted
  • Glendale, AZ
  • Posts 1,270
  • Votes 226
Quote from @Roberto Torres:

@Victor Ayala Tell us about the trip! Did ur opinion change for worst or better? Looking forward to hear ur experience


  How do eviction work in Puerto Rico? Is it difficult to evict? Landlord friendly or tenant friendly?

Post: Investing in Puerto Rico

Mary JayPosted
  • Glendale, AZ
  • Posts 1,270
  • Votes 226
Quote from @Angel Sustache:

Hi Matt, the returns and benefits from Act 60 are great and it's no longer a secret that PR has a lot to offer. I'm a RE broker on the island and happy to connect if you have any questions. 


  How do eviction work in Puerto Rico? Is it difficult to evict? Landlord friendly or tenant friendly?

Quote from @Ivan Reyes:

Hi All,

Buying investment property in Puerto Rico whether long-term or short-term rentals, is a great move. The island has some amazing tax breaks for real estate investors via their Act 60 formerly Act 20/22 tax laws.

That said, purchasing in PR is complicated. Working with agents in PR is complicated. The mortgage process can be very different then what you may be used to if this is not your first rodeo.

Most of the areas near the beaches are where people are focusing on, but not entirely. There are other areas of the island that are really conducive to investing. Take a look or reach out.

Thank you.

Ivan R


  How do eviction work in Puerto Rico? Is it difficult to evict? Landlord friendly or tenant friendly?

Quote from @Kathryn Morea:

Agreed. I live in Puerto Rico. Lots of deals still available. And PR hasn't fallen in prices like some areas of the mainland have. You can buy using traditional financing for home purchases. For investment, it's a little more complex. For example, last summer you could buy using DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) for purchase or investment property for a self employed applicant. But last I heard, that product was no longer available in PR.

The best way to get deals in PR is to have cash. If you don't have cash, find people who do. There's lots of lazy money in the mainland looking for a good return. Talk to your friends, talk to your family. See who has an IRA / 401k that's invested in stupid stocks (sorry, I prefer an asset class I have some control over: forced equity real estate). Find a way to raise the capital and you can make some great deals here. Conversely, if you are in the mainland, find some PR based investors to partner with. If you are buying a property that needs rehab, it's really best to have boots on the ground to manage the project. This is not an easy place to manage a construction project and even more so if you aren't on the job site every day. On the other hand, labor is fairly cheap compared to many areas on the mainland. (Minimum wage is federal, so that's the same.)

I know many people here that are killing it in the RE market right now. 

To find deals, use facebook, clasificados, local whatsapp groups, point2homes, zillow and even stellar MLS, as well as word of mouth, signs and door knocking to find great deals.

DM me if you want to discuss further.  Good luck.


 How do eviction work in Puerto Rico? Is it difficult to evict? Landlord friendly or tenant friendly?

Post: Land-lording in Puerto Rico

Mary JayPosted
  • Glendale, AZ
  • Posts 1,270
  • Votes 226

Hi guys,

Does anybody have any experience with long term rentals in Puerto Rico? Is it easy to evict for non payment over there?

Thank you!

Post: A tenant wants to move in her adult daughter

Mary JayPosted
  • Glendale, AZ
  • Posts 1,270
  • Votes 226

Thank you guys!!! I appreciate it!!!

Post: A tenant wants to move in her adult daughter

Mary JayPosted
  • Glendale, AZ
  • Posts 1,270
  • Votes 226
Quote from @Nathan Gesner:
Quote from @Mary Jay:

Screen her first! You should always screen every adult, even if they are not working and are not contributing to the rent. For all you know, she just got out of jail for drug dealing or hooking.

Screen, approve, add to the existing lease. If she doesn't pass your screening, she doesn't move in.


 Thank you sir! Would you also attach to the addendum the old lease agreement that her mom signed and would make the daughter to initial every page?