Howard Urbine

Hello Angela,

Sorry but this property is just an empty lot. If you are looking for a home in the area, let me know. My office is in West Grove, near where this property is located. - Fri Oct 24 2008, 06:13

I wear many hats and that includes landlord in the Oxford area. I am sure he will give you a good reference while you are in his house and he wants you out. If you were already out, that would be a different story. While some think the laws may be slanted toward tenants, I feel they are fair or maybe slanted toward the landlord after all it is his property and you are breaking the lease, trespassing would be a good comparison, theft could be another way of looking at it. I know you would pay if you could, but you didn't and you used his property without compensation. I have only had to evict 2 tenants both times the judge blasted them as they were clearly wrong. I think while there are plenty of good tenants the judges don't see many of them. They get used to the same derelicts over and over so don't expect much sympathy, just the law laid down. As far as him changing the locks, there are laws about what he can and cannot do and if he violates them, he is in some big trouble. I am not sure but I thought the only one that could remove you was the sheriff or the like and there are just time frames that they go on. When the time is up, out you go by force if necessary. I have never gotten that far before as both times the tenants just left. You need to check the laws and make sure he is following them too. Try to be as understanding as you can for his position, he has a large investment he has to look out for himself. Try to get out and find somewhere else. 1500 is a lot of rent, it must be a large nice home for that much. Even my 4 bedroom units don't bring that much. If you need some help finding a new place, let me know. I have no vacancies now but there are others out there, some are listed with realtors. Check local papers too as most end up there. They usually go quickly as it is easy to rent homes around here. - Tue Oct 14 2008, 13:19

By all means, leave it on the market. I have had sellers in your situation before and I always tell them-- It only takes one buyer. If your house is resting off the market and that right buyer comes along you will miss them. Sure sales are a bit fewer in the winter, but there are also less tire kickers. People shopping now are more serious. One word of caution, sellers tend to be more over the top when a couple contracts fall through. Don't start demanding non refundable money or telling buyers it sells as is. You will only scare them away. - Thu Oct 9 2008, 20:54

I have been in your situation twice. Both times we went with new windows and never regretted it. Even good storm windows will not approach the efficiency of new windows and then there are all the other benefits. On my own home, it took 4 years to find the right window for us. We live in a log home with all wood inside too. We insisted on all vinyl and that they match well. We were the first to even order them that way, all brown vinyl, wood grain inside, triple pane, grids inside the glass with wood grain on the inside of the grid and brown on the outside, krypton gas, low e, lifetime warranty, the whole nine yards. It made an immediate change in heating and cooling, not to mention that they are easy to clean, never need paint, cannot rot, open and shut easily, they all have nice screens and while it changed the look of the house, it was minimal and even an improvement. That was a few years ago and the window options have expanded greatly so finding just the right ones is easier now. Other than swallowing the price, I doubt you will regret it. The manufacturer we used was Great Lakes Windows. - Wed Oct 8 2008, 05:10

Hello Nick,

The chances are good if other comparable homes are already taxed lower. I have used an attorney at least 4 times to get taxes lowered on rental properties I own. I could do it myself but didn't want to take the time. The benefit of the attorney is that he only gets paid if he wins and payment is based on the amount he saves. He is not too likely to take a case he cannot win and it costs us 74% of the first years savings. He has always won for us. Don't let doing it youself intimidate you. If you can make the time, besides filling out paperwork and doing your homework, you only get about 5 minutes in the hearing to make your case and out you go. Good luck - Wed Oct 8 2008, 04:57