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.