All Forum Posts by: Albert Hasson

Marco, I see your point but my business partner and I both have full time non real estate jobs and live in different states. We rely on realtors to find properties, look at them, provide feedback, submit offers, arrange inspections and appraisals and generally advocate for us in our absence. My partner lives in south carolina so he would be able to actually see the homes if we get them under contract. If you can suggest an alternative to a realtor who can do all of the above for potentially no money I am all ears!!

Looking to expand out of Phoenix area. Does anyone have any suggestions for investor friendly realtors in Atlanta metro? We are a buy and hold investor.
Thanks!!

There is a unique class of renter right now, a group of former homeowners who lost their homes to foreclosure or short sale during the past 4-5 years. These folks are the vast majority of my current renters but I am starting to lose them as they requalify for mortgages and resume their former lives as homeowners. When they call me and let me know they are buying I congratulate them and wish them well. Without question these are the best tenants I will ever have, they understand home ownership, they take care of the property very well, they are re building their credit so I almost never have a late rent payment from them. The vast majority of this renter class will eventually become homeowners again.

Complete waste of money. You can discover all the info you need right here on BP for free.

I would sell, no question.

Are you sure the address is correct? Can you send a link to the property and maybe us Phoenecians can help out.

I too just had some issues with an FHA appraiser on a flip and I can tell you it's not completely random on which appraiser you get. Certain lenders work with certain appraisal management companies that have a small group of FHA appraisers that they work with. It is therefore very possible if you go through the same lender that you will get the same appraiser time after time. In my case I needed two FHA appraisals. The first one came in close to asking the second way under. To make a long story short the lender asked the second appraiser (via the management co.) to consider another higher comp. He did revise his appraisal higher but then asked me to perform some unnecessary modifications to the back door and side gate because he said they were not "pool compliant" My realtor complained and sent the city ordinance showing my house was already compliant to the lender who forwarded it to the appraisal management co. The management company then sent out a third appraiser to do the final inspection and bypassed the 2nd problematic appraiser.
It is my understanding that the appraisal management company can choose which FHA appraisers to contract with and that problematic ones can be weeded out by these companies.

You could let them paint under the following conditions:
1) you approve the colors
2) they must use your painter at their expense

Chances are they will not go for that and leave your beautiful walls alone.

To answer your original question, yes, it depends on the area and rent amount. Tenants paying 1400-1800/mo for a rental in a nice neighborhood expect 2" faux wood blinds or shutters. It costs me about $1400 to do an entire house with new 2" blinds. They look great, last for many years and enhance the value of the house. If they get damaged I would deduct the replacement cost from security deposit. However, I can't recall having to do that.

If you are going to be out of town a while but somewhere else in the US the post office can forward your mail to you.