Your need an Apartment Locator SPECIALIST

If you needed Heart Surgery, 

would you go to your Family Doctor?

No, you would go to a Cardiac Surgeon with a great reputation.  If you are looking for an Apartment and you have a Felony, Deferred Felony, Serious Misdemeanor, or any serious criminal issue, you need an apartment locator specialist.

Like me. I specialize in these issues.  I have a database that helps me handle the following:

1. Felony charges (or pending felonies)
2. Deferred Adjudications for a Felony offense (both on and off probation)
3. Felony convictions
4. Serious Misdemeanors (serious meaning Class A or Class B)
5. Pardons of felony charges
6. Charged with a felony and found NOT GUILTY
7. Other Criminal issues that are getting you rejected at apartments
   

I can help with just about everything except for Sexual Offenses. If you need my services, complete a FIND MY TX APARTMENT form on my website:  www.AptFindFelons.com - it is a free service to you (I bill the apartments).

GENERAL INFORMATION: But the Leasing Agent said She Could Work with Me...

Another Lease Application Fee Lost - 

Why didn't they just tell me I would be Rejected?

I hear this everyday.  I can tell you the FIVE REASONS this happens:

1. You may not be aware of all the issues with your criminal report. I have had clients who have information on their criminal records that really isn't correct - example: dates listed for probation ending that look like other convictions. You can purchase your criminal records at my website: www.AptFindFelons.com for a nominal fee.

2. You may not be aware of your credit information. In fact, their may be a problem with your credit report. That is why I request all clients to run a copy (you can do it for free if you haven't run it in the past year) at www.annualcreditreport.com.

3. The Leasing Agent may not really understand the law enough to advise you. For example, few agents really understand Deferred Adjudication enough to know that the charges are DISCHARGED or DISMISSED when you finish probation - it's as it the charge never happened.

4. The Leasing Agent may not completely understand the policies of the complex.  This tends to happen most if he or she is new to the property.

5. The Leasing Agent may receive a bonus for Leasing and a bonus for applications submitted. This creates a situation where running applications generates income for the Leasing Agent. This may or may not be the case, but be aware that the leasing agent may not have your best interests at heart.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Apts that won't pay my bill

I've been trying to wrestle a complex down for my bill for over 400 days

In fact, they owe me 4 invoices, one is over 400 days, one over 300 days, and 2 are over 200 days.

I know the residents were there. I confirmed it.  They just won't pay.

And short of hiring a lawyer they could get away with this.  Unless I put the power of the Internet to use.  I'm going to blog about this place - I'll just tell you now it is in Conroe, TX (north of Houston) and is a voucher based property.

I voucher property that doesn't pay their bills or return phone calls.  If you think I'm mad about you, I sure am because the apartment has been collecting rent for months....don't you think they would evict someone if they strung them along the way they are stinging me along?

GENERAL INFORMATION: An Answer To a Social Agency's Question

Question: Can I get a List of "Felony Apartments" 

To Help Our Clients With Their Housing Needs"

Answer: It isn't that easy. My service is free to your clients and they can certainly go to my website www.AptFindFelons.com and fill out a FIND MY TX APT FORM for the city they want - example HOUSTON.

One of the biggest myths out there is that there are apartments that take ALL FELONIES. That isn't true. There are some that will take, for example, Possession but won't take Manufacturing or Delivery, some that will take violent felonies but won't take drug felonies, or ones that will take most felonies after a certain time frame.

In order to place a client, I have to pull their criminal and match their record up at over 7,500 apartment complexes in my database. I also look by number of bedrooms, price, area, ISD, etc.

It is only through the use of my enhanced database that I can meet the needs of felons. 

NOTE: to assist anyone with apartment placement in the State of Texas, you must be a licensed Real Estate Agent. So I'm not sure if you would be in violation of the law by trying to do this within your Agency without using a Real Estate Agent.

JOHN

GENERAL INFORMATION: Tweeting Works!

First Twitter Lead Came In Yesterday

The first lead for AptFindFelons.com came in yesterday via Twitter.  It pays to Tweet.  And it pays to make yourself available via all the communication methods.

I use Twitter, Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Craigslist, Backpage, Bing, and more to get the word out that I help people with criminal issues rent.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Updated Website -- AptFindFelons.com

We are celebrating our first birthday at AptFindFelons.com

Now we can say we have been helping people with criminal issues rent in the great state of Texas for OVER ONE YEAR.

We have become aware of many other issues during the past year and have updated our web site to reflect the issues facing our clients.  These include:

• Misdemeanors
• Not Guilty Verdicts
• Pending Felony Charges
• Problems with Pardons
• Deferred Felonies (or deferred adjudications for a felony)
• Felony Convictions

The website now addresses all these needs and gives additional ways to contact us.

We are thankful for our many clients and the testimonials they have added to the site.  

We have also added the ability for our clients to purchase their criminal record report for a low price - gone are the days when you have to drive downtown, park, and pay 2 or 3 dollars per sheet for a copy of your 5 to 20 page criminal record.  I can provide a Texas only report for less than $10.

If you or a friend need our service, you can call or text 832-303-3002 (our 24/7 message line). We'll get right back to you.

JOHN

GENERAL INFORMATION: New Mexico Oklahoma Arkansas & Deferred Adjucations

3 Different States: 

all have their own way of handling a Deferred Felony

All these States have a Deferred Adjudication - type of law but they all call it something different.

In New Mexico, they use a term for their Deferred Felonies that I think describes the situation even better: Conditional Dismissal.

Oklahoma calls their deferred felony situation a similar name - a Deferred Sentence.


Arkansas is one of the few states to convict for a deferred felony then upon completion of the probation, they "un-convict" - they call this a First Offender Sentence.


The good news is that I have apartments in Houston, the DFW Metroplex, Austin and San Antonio that will work with your Deferred Felony, no matter where you "got it" and whatever it is called.


John

GENERAL INFORMATION: Sneaking Around - A Rotten Way To Live

Do you have to be "on the lookout" for the Apartment Staff?

So many of my clients have rented under someone else's name in the past or have lived at their boyfriend's or girlfriend's apartment without being on the lease.

They tell me they do this to get around a broken lease, an eviction, or a criminal conviction.  In MOST cases, they really don't have to do this.  There is a place for them; they just don't know it.

Today, I found that I was dealing with a guy who had a deferred adjudication for a felony (robbery) and a girl who had an eviction.

I didn't know they wanted to live together - they weren't being completely honest with me.  The solution was 2 places in the area that they wanted to live and at a price range they could afford. 

Actually, in most cases, the eviction causes more problems than a Deferred Felony (or as Texas calls it - a Deferred Adjudication for a Felony). She will have to make payment arraignments before she can be accepted.

Just be honest with me. And let's stop the sneaking around. You don't have to do it - it can't be fun!

GENERAL INFORMATION: Summer Moving Season is Upon Us

The Summer Is Almost Here - Leasing Season Has Begun

I called a complex today that doesn't have a thing until mid-June. That does 2 things to potential tenants:

1. Reduces the selection of available apartments AND drives up the price of the apartments that will open up

2. Makes everyone move in the heat of the Summer.  

I don't know which is worse.  But I do know this, make up your mind quickly because the selection is decreasing every day you wait.

GENERAL INFORMATION: The Street Sign Said "Second Chance Leasing" . What's That?

Does 2nd Chance Leasing apply to Criminal Convictions?

Hi, 2nd Chance leasing does not refer to Criminal Background.  It refers to Broken Leases and Evictions. Usually a place will consider some broken leases and evictions in tough times, like those we are facing today, to give folks a chance. They usually just charge a higher deposit (sometimes the deposit is non-refundable and they actually take out insurance with the funds).

I wish it would refer to a criminal background.  But don't lose hope.  If a place can't fill up their occupancy will 2nd Chance leasing, I have often see them ease their criminal policy -- at first they usually add Deferred Adjudications or lower the number of years they look back.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Biggest Myth in finding Felony Apartments

There is NO SUCH THING as an Apartment for All Felons

I get one or two line e-mails all the time asking me to send a list of apartments in an area of town that will rent to felons.

It doesn't work that way.

Apartments have rules, even the ones that rent to felons have rules. The rules are usually by "crime and time". In other words, they have rules based on the type of felony and how long it has been since either the commission of the crime or date of conviction before they will take a felon.

If you have a sexual felony - forget about it. If you have a violent felony, there will be few choices. Same with a manufacturing or delivery felony. If you felony was 2 years ago, there will be fewer choices than if it was 12 years ago or 8 years ago.

Crime and Time is the rule. 

GENERAL INFORMATION: You deserve a Home: That's why I don't accept the first NO

My clients deserve housing and my calling is to serve them

This doesn't mean I will do anything unethical but it does mean that if I understand an apartment to have a policy then I won't accept a no from a leasing agent as a "final no".


One thing that frustrates me is the general lack of training of many, not all, but many of the leasing agents. I bet only 25% can articulate what a Deferred Adjudication for a felony is...and with the managers and assistant managers it is probably about 75%. Many of the complexes don't do the job they should in training people about misdemeanors, classes of misdemeanors, felonies, deferred adjudications and the other terms that will come up in day to day dealings with the public.


Have I been told NO by a leasing agent only to have a manager correct the statement? All the time. I have had leasing agents tell me "they don't accept felonies" when they take Felony 3 (but not Felony 1 or Felony 2). I have had people tell me they don't take felonies when they mean they don't take MOST felonies but they will accept a hot check felony or a DWI felony. I've had people tell me NO because they didn't want to be bothered.


One of the reasons I am successful at a tough job is I call back and speak to Assistant Managers and Managers. I am polite but I do not accept a first NO for an answer.

That isn't me.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Deferred Adjudication called different things in different states

Do other states have different "criminal terms"

They sure do...different classes of felonies, different terms, different everything.

I became aware that the only "standard" is that people are confused by the experience and how their attorney or Public Defender explained the charges. 

Other than the charges, here are some differences you need to be aware of:

3 Classes of felonies is the standard in Texas, some states have more classes.

Texas labels their misdemeanors A, B, C, but some states have numbered classes that can go up to 7 or more levels.

Some States have a category called Deferred Adjudication; Some call it a first offender status, others Conditional Dismissal.  They all have a different impact although they are similar in their aim.

Some states automatically seal deferred records once the offender completes probation - others only do if you pay an attorney to do it.

Some laws, which are misdemeanors in some states are considered felonies in others.  Example: a bad check in Arkansas for $258 will result in a Felony in Arkansas but only a misdemeanor in Texas.

I'm not an attorney, if you have specific questions about finding an apartment in DFW, Houston, San Antonio, or Austin - call me.  If you have a legal question, call an attorney.

GENERAL INFORMATION: What - my arrest is not on the state database

You can't find my arrest or conviction - WHY?

If I can't find your arrest and/or conviction record, it is USUALLY one of four reasons:

1. It was a Federal crime and not a state crime
2. It wasn't an arrest - maybe you turned yourself in
3. Perhaps the conviction was sealed (some states, unlike Texas, have a category like Deferred Adjudication or Conditional Dismissal, where          charges are sealed after the probation)
4. Different name or date of birth recorded

Does that mean you don't need to be worried - NO, it means that I can only go by your recollection of the event. I can't provide guidance. 

But it doesn't mean I can't help you.  It just means we may have additional options.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Two Very Special Leasing Agents

Sometimes the very act of 
trying to HELP 
is all you can do

I'm not successful in placing 100% of my clients - no one is.  I know Leasing Agents that try their best to get client's approved and I always appreciate their efforts, even if they can't place my client.

That is, to me, what makes an outstanding Leasing Agent - and an outstanding person.  One who tries to help - one that will take the extra step to get someone approved, even after they have been turned down.

This month I have 2 leasing agents (for the same company but different properties) who took issues forward to get a "second look" on a rejection, one was successful and one was not.  But they both TRIED and are both super leasing agents in my book.

I consider myself lucky to know them both.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Apartment Manager of the Year - 2009

Never Met Cody, in person, but Her Attitude ROCKS!

I spend a lot of time on the phone. At least 6 hours a day. In fact, so much I wear a headset for 12 hours each day.

In a typical day I might talk to 12 to 15 clients and at least that number of leasing professionals.

So was Cody my number one manager - YES in so many ways.  In terms of sales - No. 

The reason for this award is to recognize the apartment manager who should typify the norm in the residential housing industry - IN MY OPINION.  

What does Cody win?  Nothing, but she knows she made a difference in someones live. And their kids.

You see Cody has the "secret" in working with clients and apartment locator's. She takes the stance that she is in the RENTAL BUSINESS and she looks for reasons to say YES, not reasons to say NO.

Is this like calling the glass half-full instead of half-empty?  I don't think so. I think it is about trying to make sure that she serves her employer, her residents, and her potential residents in making sound business decisions.

Did she turn me down on some clients?  Yes, but she always told me a business reason, that was well thought out, and it was expressed sincerely.

You can't argue with that.

So for all the Cody's out there, I salute you.  And for you that aren't, I hope in 2010 you display more of her attributes.

She is a winner.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Don't drop the "F BOMB"

DON'T DROP THE F-BOMB

It's not what you are thinking...

Strike the word FELONY from your vocabulary if you have a Deferred Adjudication for a Felony (also called a Deferred Felony).  

Why?  Some apartments will consider a DA but will not consider a Felony Conviction.  After all, the Texas law states that after you have completed your probation that the judge will find you NOT GUILTY. Thus, you won't have a Felony Conviction.

And if I send you a list, DON'T CALL THE COMPLEX and ask them if they take Felonies. Not smart at all. Let me check it out.  It is why I'm working for you.  Don't mess up the deal because you may not know the policies of the complex (like I do).

Trust me to deliver.  After all, it's the only way I'm paid.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Don't give up finding a great place

Had the Ex call me when his ex-wife couldn't

find a "decent" place because of her Felony

The client was presented by their previous locator with one option, and not a very attractive one. She had been accepted there but her Ex said he didn't feel this apartment was "safe". 

That's why he called me.

Within a day, I identified several places that they could visit. One of them was nice, convienent, and priced right.  The management told me they couldn't pre-qualify and the manager placed the odds of acceptance at 50%.

But I had dealt with this firm before on very similar cases and my clients HAD been accepted there. I told my client that it was a 50/50 shot but I advised him to go see it with his Ex and apply.

Sometimes, just letting a complex meet and talk to you makes a real difference. Especially when you can "humanize" your legal difficulties and explain what happened.  Let the complexes see that "you may have a conviction, but you aren't a bad person".

The morale of the story - don't settle for an apartment that you don't feel safe in. You have options. You just need an apartment locating specialist, after all this is all I do -- help people who have convictions (felonies, deferred adjudications, and misdemeanors) find Texas apartments in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin.

GENERAL INFORMATION: My 2 Requirements when I accept Clients

I have only two Requirements of all my Clients

Nothing makes me break off helping my clients unless one of these two are violated:

1. Complete Honesty.  

I want to place you; I won't judge you. I need to know all your arrests (both misdemeanor and felony) and how the charge was "disposed of" - Conviction, Deferred Adjudication, Dropped, Reduced, etc.

Don't tell me you have "a possession charge" when you have a possession charge, a violent felony, and a Burglary of a Habitation.  

Just lay it all out - I'll find out anyway. I check everyone's record.

2. Complete Dedication to "put my name down" so I can be paid a commission. 

I work hard for my money. I try to make it where you won't lose any of yours. 

Don't tell me that another locator also mentioned a place that I gave you and you want to "put their name down because they will give you $25 more of a gift". If you do, you will never work with me again.

I know you wouldn't work for free.  I can't afford to either.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Now offering to Check Criminal Records

I've Responded to the requests of my clients

My clients really need help to get proper housing and often they don't remember the exact charge, dates, or even whether the conviction was a misdemeanor or felony.

So I've registered for a service to search criminal records.  You have asked for it and now I can offer it.

I will require you to ask me to check your records.  I will review the records to help me place you but I will not provide the records to apartment complexes or to others.  

It is my hope that offering this free service will assist my clients in finding the best housing they can qualify for.

HOUSTON: Do you know where The "Triangle of Death" is?

Houston's Triangle

The Caribbean has the "Bermuda Triangle", Iraq has a triangle of fighting, and Houston has a triangle which has an inordinate amount of crime.  It is known as the "triangle of death" or triangle of crime.

It is on Houston's southwest side and has a triangle of roadways that border the area.

Do you know where it is?  You should and you should be cautious whenever you are near it.  

The triangle I'm speaking of is bordered by Bissonnet Street, 59, and Beltway 8.  

But there are more areas you should be aware of...be cautious and never rent an apartment that you don't feel safe in.

AUSTIN: Only 20 apartments in Austin will accept you until Year 10

Only 20 Places until Year 10

Well, 20 total places for a felony conviction are available. But what applies to you will certainly be less than that number.  Location, price range, availability, and the "crime and time" restriction will certainly affect your choices.

What do I mean by CRIME & TIME?  Many apartments have a rule on when they will consider you for an apartment.  Usually the more "distasteful" a crime is creates their guidelines.  Let me give you 3 examples:

1. A hot check felony may be accepted at year 1 by some complexes since they view their risk as minimal (they will insist that you pay with a money order).

2. A marijuana possession crime may be accepted by some complexes at year 5.  However a dealing or distribution crime may not be accepted until year 10.

3. Some complexes will never take an aggravated felony (weapon or threat used in a crime) or violent crime while others wait for 10 years.

Austin has one of the highest rental rates in Texas.  The owners protect their investment and I know of no places who do not check back to see criminal backgrounds.  Unless you want to risk your application fee, you should call me or submit a form to request my free service.

SAN ANTONIO: Only 28 Apartments accept a Felon in the entire SA area

Only 28 Apartments will accept you until Year 10

Well, 28 total places for a felony conviction are available. But what applies to you will certainly be less than that number.  Location, price range, availability, and the "crime and time" restriction will certainly affect your choices.

What do I mean by CRIME & TIME?  Many apartments have a rule on when they will consider you for an apartment.  Usually the more "distasteful" a crime is creates their guidelines.  Let me give you 3 examples:

1. A hot check felony may be accepted at year 1 by some complexes since they view their risk as minimal (they will insist that you pay with a money order).

2. A marijuana possession crime may be accepted by some complexes at year 5.  However a dealing or distribution crime may not be accepted until year 10.

3. Some complexes will never take an aggravated felony (weapon or threat used in a crime) or violent crime while others wait for 10 years.

Don't believe that your "crime" will "drop off" at year 10 or 12. It just doesn't happen.  Unless you like to risk your application fees, you really should call me.

DFW: Only 118 Apartments will accept a felony until Year 10

Less than 120 Apartments in the entire 

DFW Metroplex

will accept a Felon until year 10

Well,  118 total places for a felony conviction are available. But what applies to you will certainly be less than that number.  Location, price range, availability, and the "crime and time" restriction will certainly affect your choices.

What do I mean by CRIME & TIME?  Many apartments have a rule on when they will consider you for an apartment.  Usually the more "distasteful" a crime is creates their guidelines.  Let me give you 3 examples:

1. A hot check felony may be accepted at year 1 by some complexes since they view their risk as minimal (they will insist that you pay with a money order).

2. A marijuana possession crime may be accepted by some complexes at year 5.  However a dealing or distribution crime may not be accepted until year 10.

3. Some complexes will never take an aggravated felony (weapon or threat used in a crime) or violent crime while others wait for 10 years.


And some places, in fact most places, will never accept a felon.  Don't believe that your arrest and conviction will "drop off" at year 10 or 12. Most apartments in the Internet age will go back a "lifetime" or 99 years.