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.