Todays Rental News » Screening

Check your tenants rent paying history, not credit

Tim Ballering — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:35:34 +0000

We recommend that you look at alternative methods to achieve your goal. First, you will need a written authorization from each tenant to obtain a report.

via SFgate.c0m

Landlord-tenant hell: reference checks

Tim Ballering — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:27:40 +0000

My former tenants frequently use me as a reference when they switch apartments. I think it is because I am both a landlord and a real estate broker; they think I can talk the talk.

Well I can, but a lot of the landlords and agents who call me can’t.

Here are the two worst types of reference check calls I get:

via Boston.com.

Landlord Association Recommends High Credit Standards For Tenants

Tim Ballering — Tue, 18 May 2010 23:51:11 +0000

A recent report from The National Association of Independent Landlords recommends that landlords complete background checks for tenants.

And it makes perfect sense.

via The Real Estate Bloggers.

Protect Yourself from Bad Tenants

Tim Ballering — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:18:10 +0000

Years ago, it was common to use the Sunday newspaper to advertise one’s rental properties. However, due to rising ad costs and a generation that uses the Internet instead of the newspaper, the best way to get large responses to a rental ad has now become Craig’s List.

via The Tycoon Report – Ethan Roberts

Rental nightmare: Tenants face trespassing, bad check charges

Tim Ballering — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:52:32 +0000

Bakersfield landlord said people moved into his rental home without his permission after paying the deposit with a bad check. That started a much bigger case that ended with the arrests.

via Bakersfield Now

Landlord drops Section 8 due to tenant damages

Tim Ballering — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:20:39 +0000

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – A Dubuque landlord has decided to no longer accept Section 8 tenants after he found a rental unit in shambles and the tenant gone.

via Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports.

Increase Occupancy and Reduce Vacancies

Tim Ballering — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:22:23 +0000

Vacancies in many apartment buildings have increased to between 30% and 40% in many areas of the country. Apartment building owners who just a few years ago had occupancy rates as high as 90% to 100% are now facing a situation where they are unable to pay their mortgage and can’t cover their operating expenses.

via Read More.

Credit Based Rent Pricing

Tim Ballering — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:48:28 +0000

Some landlords are starting to adjust the amounts they collect from their tenants based on the credit strength of the tenants. Many claim this is discrimination and there are probably some localities either preventing it or limiting it, or they will

via Investing Notes from REAL Investors.

The wrong tenant will cost you

Tim Ballering — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:02:28 +0000

Ziv described a “professional tenant,” someone who goes from rental house to rental house, causing problems and then bailing, repeating the process. “They look good in theory, but when you check them out they are not,” he said.

Running background checks on some people is not always convenient, which is why Ziv would like to see a Web site where landlords can collaborate and share information about problem tenants.

via ColumbiaTribune.com.

6 New Real Estate Investor Mistakes

Tim Ballering — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:39:41 +0000

…along with a couple of deadbeat lease option tenants who decided to trash the house and skip town for Alaska in the middle of the night. True story. Had I bothered to screen them properly, this could probably have been avoided, but I was so eager to get a paying tenant into the property that I didn’t bother. (Mistake #1).

via Bigger Pockets .