Looking for Rentals in Lakeland Florida - Do your homework before you sign?
It is not a surprise anymore when I drive with my clients looking at homes that have For Sale and For Rent signs placed in the yard for the same house. Typically, when an owner put up a For Rent sign and he gets a call, the caller will have to go through multiple steps to qualify before signing a lease agreement.
- Verification of Employment
- Credit Check
- Background Check
- Personal References
There are people, who simply can't buy a home at this time, but need a place to live. With plenty of unsold homes that owners throw into the pool of Lakeland rental homes on the market because they can't make their mortgage payments anymore. Prospective tenants could be victimized, end up losing a lot of their hard earned money and could end up being homeless if they don't do their homework.
Prevention is the Best Remedy
Before you sign on the dotted line of the lease agreement, qualify the owner of the home (landlord) you are about to lease. How Do I Do That?
Verify the address and owner - search the Property Appraisers web site- Is there a Lis Pendens filed? - search the Clerk of Courts web site
- Is there a Tax Lien on the property? - search the Clerk of Courts web site
- Have your attorney look at the lease agreement before you sign - a clause to the effect when landlord defaults facing foreclosure that landlord is responsible for moving expenses etc. could be valuable.
- Become acquainted with the Florida Tenant Law
I'm not a lawyer and I don't give legal advice. If you are in a situation where you have been served a foreclosure notice, contact your attorney and/or the bank's attorney immediately - remember it's not the bank's attorney fault that the property you are leasing is in foreclosure; so please be polite.
Copyright © 2008 http://www.petranorris.com| All Rights Reserved |
Looking for Rentals in Lakeland Florida - Do your homework before you sign?
Petra Norris - Realtor®
CDV TransAtlantic, Inc.
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
PO Box 92050 - Lakeland, FL 33804-2050
Telephone (863) 619-6918
Managing Broker - CDV TransAtlantic, Inc.
(863) 619-6918
I wrote a sad story about two weeks ago about a poor lady that bought a house on owner financing and the seller let the home go in to foreclosure on her.
It really was sad, but all I could tell her to do was contact an attorney.
Todd- I've read your blog and it was indeed a sad story. Since Tenants have almost no right when it comes to their owners foreclosure and this a real problem now, we only can put out the word and educate folks. I appreciate you commenting on this issue.
HI PETRA!
This is ideal info, especially with so many folks renting now. Great idea for a post.