Saturday, November 15, 2014

Ask Jim and Cathy. Real Estate Questions & Answers


Question: I have a three-family home (3 unit building). I have renters in one of the apartments and when we tried to rent out the other two apartments the tenants would take down the signs and were rude to anyone that came to look at the apartments.
Now we are trying to sell the building. We didn't give the tenants a written letter, but we verbally asked them if they wanted to purchase the building and they refused, so now we have an agent trying to sell the house and every time he has an appointment to show the house the tenant decides to have a party or leaves the place a huge mess.
This last week we were to have an open house and my tenant had a week or so notice and he decided to have a party and made the agent leave and would not allow him to show the apartment. My tenant is on a month-to-month lease and is late every month. What can I do?
Answer: With proper notice, end the lease.  Either you own this property or you don't. A tenant has a right to fair notice when a home is shown to rent or sell, but no right to obstruct the proper activities of an owner.

Question: I'm a student studying at a local University. Currently, I am studying Economics in a Global Environment. Can you explain to me why housing prices vary from city to city?
Answer: Yes. Housing values vary extensively on a city-by-city basis because of supply and demand, land costs, construction expenses, taxes, population growth, incomes, weather, local industry, infra-structure and other factors.  In the U.S., most people prefer to live in major metro areas, especially along the coasts and in warmer climates. Demand for space in such areas means that property is more expensive than an equal amount of space in the middle of a northern wheat field.  

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