All Forum Posts by: Chris McDaniel

@Cody L. and @Mike Landry thank you for the recommendations!

Hello fellow BP'ers. I was looking for a real estate attorney in the Houston or Harris County area. If anyone has any recommendations I would greatly appreciate it. I really dont want to randomly pick someone from google. Thanks!

Greetings fellow Houstonians,

I have a property that I am looking into and have hit a wall. I was wondering if anyone has any contacts for a real estate attorney that they can recommend? Here is the story on the property, it was purchased at a tax sale in 1999 and HCAD shows change of ownership. But, from talking with the neighbors everyone is fairly certain that the tax sale buyer cant get a clear title for some reason because the property has sat vacant since 99. I was looking for an attorney to research the property and let me know what my options might be. Thank you!

Has anyone had any luck getting a delinquent tax roll from Harris County? Every time I try to call them they keep directing me to the tax sale. I cant seem to make them understand that I am looking for people who just owe back taxes but still own the property. Any help would be much appreciated!

@David Veikune who's bank statements do you show the seller, yours or your private lender?

When you are buying a property off of the MLS, and using private money, how do most of you show proof of funds? Most of the time I am asked for bank statements or something similar, is it the same when using private money? Thanks for your help!

Are we done with Dr. Who for the season?

@Colleen F. what I meant was, if your septic system has been properly maintained over the years you should never have to have it pumped out for solids. If you have to have it pumped, then the anaerobic bacteria level has been to low for to long or people are throwing things in the toilet that they shouldn't. Anaerobic bacteria are responsible for digesting all solids in the septic system. If you have ever opened one up, the bacteria are the black tar like substance on the walls of the tank and are the bottom of the 3 liquid layers in the tank. @Huy N. if you live in Harris County, just call one of the many septic services in the area to check it out. I think it will be hard to know you have a problem until you start using the system. But, if its 50 years old like you say, then the system has run its course and probably best to replace it. I wish i didn't know anything about septic systems, but i had to learn the hard way and have lived my entire life with one here in Texas. 

There will be problems with it for sure. If the system is that old there will probably be tree roots grown into your drain field, old rusted out iron pipes and a host of other problems. A new arobic system will cost you 10k but I'd budget 12k. Depending on the problems and where your located, you may not even be able to repair any damage to it because the county may not issue you a permit, but a county engineer will have to decide that. Getting it pumped out for inspection is definatly a good idea, you should never have to pump out a tank for solids on a routine basis, if you have to then you system is not working properly. What are you planning to do with the property?

Thanks everyone for their feedback. I leased the property tonight to a nice couple with 3 small children. Now my focus is going to be on the slumlords who own the house next door!