Recently one of our clients suffered a fire in one of their rental houses. As a landlord myself I have also been through this and it’s tough. You lose the rental income, the use of your house and sometimes you have to return the customers deposit and put them up somewhere else until they can find suitable housing. It’s a mess!  It takes up a lot of time and energy to deal with:

• The tenant/customer, is everybody OK? Where do they go and what do they do?
• The fire department (make sure you get the complete fire report from the fire chief).
• The insurance company – the claim, the deductible $, the time, the details and the rehabilitation of the unit.  *Note you should be on a high deductible if you can afford it.

 
Remember your “claim record” is a bit like your “driving record” so if it’s a small claim you may want to think twice before making it. And using just any insurance company and any value can get you in trouble! So be prepared! Use a reputable insurance company that will pay their claims. If you are ready to quit reading by now because this is a boring subject just remember:

• Have a good agent that you can call! (See below)
• How much is your dwelling coverage (replacement costs)**? With values and construction costs going up quickly do you have enough coverage?
• Loss of rents? Fair Rental Value?
• Landlord Liability, 300K? More?

 
*Note these are only a few things that you need to be looking for in a Landlord Insurance Policy OR a Owner Occupant Policy. Disclaimer, I am not an insurance specialist. and I didn’t even sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night! 🙂 But if you want to be sure you are properly insured check in with your insurance agent today!
 
Two of our preferred insurance vendors are:
Stephen Piper – Piper Insurance – stephen@piperinsurancegroup.com  – 864-564-1654
Vic Morgano – Morgano Insurance – vic@morganoagency.com – 864-609-5285
 
PS – Make sure your tenant/customers are carrying renters insurance. This will help if something happens to their belongings. It’s good for them and good for you!
If you need help navigating this topic or any others that home ownership requires, please give us a call!  864-395-6538

To your success!
Thank you for your business! Call us today about renting or selling your property!
Robert

Recently I had several people ask; Do you think people will wait until after the New Year to move? Should we wait and see what happens with the new regime in Washington? – Hmm…I really think we give these things waaay too much credit. Not that elections are not important, they are. But most people are not going to put their lives on hold just because a change in government is coming up….. It’s always a good day to move if your life requires it!
The same applies to the question; should I wait until after the Holidays to put my house for sale or rent?  People who are renting or buying still want to move for many reasons! Reasons include; job transfers, change in marital status, school changes, cost of living increases, military etc.. And in 2020 a litany of other reasons.  Even the politicians are moving this time of year, good or bad, happy or sad!  So sell/buy or rent now!  Don’t wait.  The more time you have on the market and in the marketplace the better.
People move all of the time. And in our experience we have seen them move Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve you name it. They have more time off, their workplace might be slow or even closed for the Holidays. So moving is a year round sport!  If your property smells good, feels good, everything works, in good shape and it is fairly priced it will move!     Thank you all for your business, your referrals and your friendship this year! Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  

Houses & Then Some Rentals & Realty

**Note** Thank you to all of those who participated in our drive to provide backpacks for foster home children! We were able to assemble 42 back packs for children ages 2 to 6!  With items like; toothbrushes, combs, toothpaste, toys and blankets!  Thank you HTSI staff, clients and friends! Blessings to all of you for your generosity!
To your success!

Thank you for your business!
Robert

As a young man I first heard this saying from a used car salesman! I was a little confused as to what it meant at the time. But it sounded like something I “should” know.. He explained it to me this way; He would rather make $500 every day on a negotiated sale, than $1000 on a sale once a week and be proud that he stuck to his price!  As I look back he was really talking about cash flow!  So how does that fit into rental real estate? Robert Kiyosaki (author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and the Cash Flow Quadrant) said that the investor is looking for a place that his/her money can work in a profitable way!  So is your vacant property (your money) working to create cash flow or are you stuck on a rental rate that you believe in?   If so, You are costing yourself money!  Your property is sitting vacant waiting on the tenant/customer, that is willing to pay what you think it is worth, rather than what the market will bear.  Remember prospective tenants are consumers!  Most know value and like you, are looking to make the best purchase for their money.  

If you are looking for a rental rate analysis and consistent multi-media marketing plus a proven placement system, give us a call!  We would like to earn your business.

Our services include; Multi Media Marketing, Tenant Screening, Agent Assisted Showings, Rent Collection, 24 Hr. Maintenance Monitoring, Property and Project Management, Eviction Services, Financial Reporting, Free Lease Renewal, Six Month Lease Guarantee, Realty Listing Services and Buyer Agent Representation.


Houses & Then Some Rentals & Realty

***NOTE*** – This year we are giving back for Christmas and helping Seacoast Church gather items for “Journey Bags” for children arriving into the foster care system! The intent is to help a child be able to have dignity in carrying their belongings with a back pack (instead of a trash bag) and provide then with items that they can use to make their journey a little easier.  If you are interested in helping us with this email us at; property.htsi@gmail.com or call our office at 864-395-6538!  Thank you in advance for your participation!
To your success!

Thank you for your business!
Robert

Where is the Upstate Real Estate market going?

At least once a day someone ask where do you think this real estate market is going?  First off, we live in a blessed part of the country!  Greenville and the surrounding areas have been experiencing a real estate boom for several years and predictions are that housing values will go up (year over year) another 10% ! That’s good news!
However if you are a real estate investor investing in single family, small multi-family there are some headwinds;
1. High material costs and an uncertain supply availability
2. Contractor and labor volatility
3. Inflation issues – Fed spending etc.
4. Eviction moratorium and rental issues
5. Foreclosures on hold

We can look at all of these and point to the ever present Covid as the cause. We are all living with it, and trying daily to dodge it. But here is the good news, you can do something about it. (Compare list below to the list above)
1. Work with your subs and source different materials if needed. Some Old School methods may apply here like reusing wood and repurposing other used items!

2. If you are flipping right now and have existing relationships with contractors push through the challenges and become more involved than ever before. Keep those relationships strong!

3. Inflation can be good for holding an asset like rental real estate long term! Things cost more but your rental rates could go up to cover some or all of these additional costs.

4. Eviction issues are sticky right now but the good news is most renters are paying their rent. Our client portfolios have been holding at a 1.5% default rate for the last few months. And nationwide the default rates even in states like New York are in the 7 to 12% range.

5. Banks were the cause of the last downturn so as long as the banks continue to use stimulus money and other methods to ensure their balance sheets stay solvent we should be good.   However the proverbial can, cannot be kicked too far down the road on both eviction and foreclosure delays before we begin to have larger issues.

So if the market is still going up it’s a good time to invest!  Money is still cheap!  Find the opportunity and the “deal” where and when you can! Strike while the iron is hot!  “One person’s headache is another’s fortune”.  Make sure YOU keep one eye open to the issues above but don’t let them get you down!
(Disclaimer, I am not a financial advisor and I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night!)
To your success!
Thank you for your business! Call us today about renting or selling your property!
Robert

Last quarter of the year! Bye baby bye..

Well here we are! Last quarter of the year! Are you happy with your 2020 in Real Estate?
 
So it’s the last quarter of the year and most of us are thankful that this year is about to come to a close, right!… Bye Bye – But have you met your real estate goals that you set back in January?  Are you happy with your accomplishments?  Hmm, I know what you are thinking “we have had so much happen this year so how can I meet my goals?”.   Did you sell your house?  That one should have happened for sure! The real estate market in Greenville and surrounding areas is so HOT we have to wear shades!  So yes some of you have met your goals!  

Did you buy a house?  How about keeping your property rented?  How long did it sit empty?  Or have you been able to work on that empty house and get it ready to sell or rent?  This year all of us should have had more time to deal with these projects.. But if you didn’t, there is good news!  The year is not over yet!  So if you have been waiting to have time or have someone help you Rent, Buy or Sell!  We can help!

Our Rental and Realty Services include; Realty Listing Services – Buyer Agency Representation –  Multi-Media Marketing – Tenant Screening and Placement – Agent assisted showings – Rent Collection online and in person – Maintenance – Project Management – Financial Reporting – Eviction Services – Quick Pay Direct Deposit – Free Lease Renewal – Six month Placement Guarantee
To your success!
Thank you for your business!

  Robert

Do you have questions about
maximizing your return on your
real estate investments?  I invite
you to call me and discuss your needs. 
With many years in the business, I’m
confident our team can guide you in the
right direction.  We help our clients
rent, buy and sell real estate in the
upstate of South Carolina.


We’ve moved to 211 Roper Mountain Rd. Extension, Greenville 29615
Come see us!

Call 864-395-6538 for more info on
how to make money in real estate!


                        Talk soon.
     Thank you for your business!
     We appreciate your referrals!

Real Estate Market vs Crisis

 

“What do you think the real estate market is going to do?”.  This has been what has been on everyone’s mind lately.  Active Real Estate buyers and sellers are trying to time the market and figure out where and when they should be investing.  The truth is, nobody really knows.  But we do know that right now nothing much has changed in the Greenville/Spartanburg  area real estate markets.  Competition for deals and owner occupied homes is still fierce!  And expensive! The market is up and climbing, regardless of the crisis going on around us!  So drawing on the past and knowing that we are experiencing economic headwinds.  Are changes coming in the market?  Most likely.  However, evidence suggests that real estate market conditions may remain largely unchanged in the near future.  And we know that in the last “downturn” it took 18 months to begin to feel a negative impact on real estate values. The difference this time is the crisis is country wide and hitting all at once so it may take less time.  Keep one eye open to watch the real estate market and buy for value not speculation. This is a practice that you need to make a habit in times like these!
Let us know how we can help. We help our clients rent, buy and sell real estate!

To your success!

Thank you for your business!
  Robert
Do you have questions about
maximizing your return on your
real estate investments?  I invite
you to call me and discuss your needs. 
With many years in the business, I’m
confident our team can guide you in the
right direction.  We help our clients
rent, buy and sell real estate in the
upstate of South Carolina.

Serving the Greater Greenville and Spartanburg area! Now serving Gaffney and Anderson County!

Call 864-395-6538 for more info on
how to make money in real estate!


                        Talk soon.
     Thank you for your business!
     We appreciate your referrals!