MAY 19 2023 HOW TO EVICT A RENTAL TENANT LEGALLY P5 “BASIC LAWN UPKEEP UPS VALUES” P7 CLASSIFIEDS P7 INSIDE This Issue
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2 May 19, 2023 RE-Weekly To advertise in RE-Weekly or other Skagit Publishing publications, Call: 360.416.2180 or Email: ads@skagitads.com ©2023 by Skagit Publishing | All rights reserved.
RE-Weekly How to evict a rental tenant legally ..................... P5 Q&A Ask Our Broker ....................... P6 “Basic Lawn Upkeep Ups Values” ..................................... P7 Classi eds .......................................... P7 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 PAGE INSIDE own the local real estate market expand your reach when you combine the power of our digital audience and premium print ads in the re weekly ask your multimedia account executive for details. ContaCt: 360.424.3251 • ads@skagitads.Com
Real Estate Stat 28%
First-time buyers were responsible for 28% of sales in March.
Source: National Association of Realtors ®
Beware of Real Estate Scam s with Vacant Properties
The U S Secret Service has observed a sharp increase in reports of real estate fraud associated with vacant property Criminals are posing as real property owners and through a series of impersonations are negotiating the sale of properties which are vacant or lien free.
The Scheme:
• The criminal searches public records to identify real estate that is free of mortgage or other liens and the identity of the property owner These often include vacant lots or rental properties.
• The criminal poses as the property owner and contacts a real estate agent to list the targeted property for sale, and requests it being listed below current market value to generate immediate int erest
• The criminal, posing as the property owner, demonstrates preference for a cash buyer, and quickly accepts an offer
• The criminal (or co-conspirator) also impersonates the notary and providers falsified documents to title company or closing attorney
• Title company or closing attorney unw ittingly transfers the closing proceeds to criminal.
• All communication is electronic, not in person.
- Source: United States Secret Service Cybercrime Investigations
Mission Statement: The North Puget Sound Association of Realtors advocates for Realtors and their clients, and promotes the protection of property rights
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4 May 19, 2023 RE-Weekly RealEstate weekly
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by Erik J. Martin
If you’re a landlord of an apartment building, detached home or another type of residence, you’ve got a lot on your shoulders – from maintaining the property and making needed improvements to finding new tenants to pay the rent. But one of the toughest jobs a landlord ever has to face is trying to evict a renter from the premises. Eviction is often a challenging process that has to be performed carefully and legally, the experts caution.
“Eviction is a legal process of forcing someone to vacate their residence due to violations of their lease or violations of the law,” says Leonard Ang, CEO of iPropertyManagement Leasing. “ is requires the landlord to give tenants proper notice as well as multiple warnings in most
How to evict a rental tenant legally
jurisdictions, and many cities and states have courts specifically to deal with evictions, giving landlords and tenants alike a chance to plead their case.”
Ryan Byers, a Jacksonville, Illinois-based attorney who specializes in civil litigation and residential eviction, explains that the specific procedures of eviction will vary from state to state and could be impacted by local ordinances from city to city.
“However, in most cases, the eviction will require some sort of formal notice to the tenant that the landlord believes there are grounds to terminate the tenancy. en, if the tenant remains at the premises after the notice, court proceedings must be initiated to seek an order removing the tenant,” he notes.
e most common reasons for eviction include non-
payment or incomplete payment of rent, criminal activity, violation of lease terms – such as subletting or having pets without permission – causing significant property damage and any kind of domestic violence, such as stalking, harassment and intimidation as well as physical abuse, according to Ben Michael, an attorney in Austin, Texas.
“Another legal reason for eviction that has become more prominent since the pandemic is not abiding by community health or safety standards. For example, if an area is under strict quarantine rules but a tenant is hosting large parties, that could be grounds for eviction,” Michael adds.
Landlords have to be careful not to break the law or violate the rights of their tenants.
“I have encountered several cases in which a landlord
wanted a tenant to be removed immediately. But this is not possible in most cases, as the law provides procedural steps that must be taken before there can be an eviction,” Byers cautions. Indeed, attempting to evict a tenant for annoying but legally permissible behavior that isn’t covered in a lease agreement usually isn’t going to work.
“Noisy tenants, those who generate strong smells from cooking, incense or other non-noxious sources, or tenants who don’t fit in culturally with their neighbors could all be safe from eviction, depending on the wording of the lease,” says Ang. “Evicting a tenant who is locked into a low rent simply to raise the rent on the next tenant usually isn’t allowed either. And even tenants who are behind on rent payments may be protected by local or state
laws for a period of time.”
Be forewarned: If you try to evict improperly, illegally or without just cause, you may find it even harder to remove that tenant in the future.
“You may also end up paying fines or fees to city or state governments,” Ang cautions.
e steps involved with legally evicting a tenant could vary significantly from state to state and municipality to municipality. For best results, it’s smart to hire an attorney who has experience handling evictions.
“In general, to be able to evict legally, you need to first determine what grounds you have for evicting the tenant,” recommends Byers. “ is will often dictate the type and amount of notice to vacate the property that has to be given. Once you have determined the
appropriate amount and type of notice, you need to ensure it is prepared and properly served to the tenant. If the tenant leaves the property within the time prescribed in the notice, further action is not necessary.”
But if the tenant remains in possession after the notice period has expired, filing a proceeding in your local court will likely be required.
“Typically, the most difficult tenants to evict our those who have been evicted before, whether once or multiple times. ese individuals are familiar with the process and specific steps they can take to create as much delay as possible while not violating the law,” Byers continues. “You need to maintain patience with these individuals and continue to follow the appropriate legal process.”
May 19, 2023 5 RE-Weekly
Real Estate Questions and Advice
Question:
We don’t seem to be building many new homes these days. How much of a problem is the fact that our housing stock is getting older?
Answer:
Many things become less usable with age. ere isn’t much of a market for televisions from the 1960s or dial telephones. e situation with homes is different. Older homes often gain value over time in part because they remain entirely usable.
e typical existing home is now 40 years old, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). But age does not mean such homes lack utility or value. In many cases they are the most valuable asset held by individual households and in the past few years their price has increased significantly.
ere are several factors that impact the value of older homes.
Location. Major metro areas have expanded as the population has grown. What were once farms and fields are now suburban locations covered with
homes, malls, and offices. Meanwhile, properties in older areas are often desirable because they involve shorter commutes.
Size. New homes tend to be larger than older properties. e website 24/7 Wall St points out that homes have grown over time – but not evenly. For instance, according to the site, the typical new home in 1920 had 1,048 sq. and just 800 sq. ft. in 1948. In the first quarter of 2022, according to NAHB, the typical new home had 2,310 sq. ft. Warranties. New homes come with construction and system warranties as well as appliance warranties.
Technologies. New homes likely have better insulation, doors, and windows. e result can be lower utility costs. New construction standards can have great value in the face of major storms. Larger lots. Older homes often have larger lots. As zoning laws change such properties can be good candidates for accessory development units – ADUs. ADUs can be smaller, separate houses built into or next to existing single-family homes. Such mini houses can be used by family members,
ASK OUR BROKER
By Peter G. Miller
rented out or made into an office area.
Personal preferences. Some people simply prefer older homes because of such reasons as design and location. Also, older homes may have well-established lawns and landscaping, and thus attractive curb appeal.
Preferences: With new homes buyers get to choose the colors and configurations they want. Many buyers may prefer older homes, however, and for their designs and traditional construction standards.
It should be said, however, that older homes are not locked into past styles and technologies. ere are often opportunities to remodel and renovate. Such upgraded homes can increase property values, especially when combined with established landscaping and advantageous locations. e result is that while a home may have been constructed in 1940, it may also have an effective age of just a few years.
Email your real estate questions to Mr. Miller at peter@ctwfeatures.com.
6 May 19, 2023 RE-Weekly
Q&A Q&A
“Basic Lawn Upkeep Ups Values”
Marilyn Kennedy Melia
Since the pandemic, the Great Outdoors has moved up a few notches in consumers’ estimation. Many ordinary backyards, “have been transformed into oasis with pools, patios, plants and greenery,” says Jessica Lautz, VP of research at the National Association of Realtors® {NAR}.
But home sellers get the biggest boost in sale price for their dollar invested with hohum services like lawn care.
e NAR, along with the National Association of Landscape Professionals and HouseLogic.com, conducted a survey to find which projects bring homeowners the most “joy” versus profit.
Specifically, the study found that lower “joy” rated services like standard lawn care
[includes six applications of fertilizer and weed control] averages $415 nationwide in cost but boosts value by an average of $900. And landscape maintenance, which includes season-long lawn mowing, mulching, pruning shrubs and planting 60 flowers, costs an average of $4800 and boosts value by $5000.
Keeping Up A Front
quality may also convey information on the generalized upkeep of the property.”
Seeing Your Profit Growth
A nationwide survey on ROI estimates for outdoor projects is a guide for individual homeowners, whose own price boost will depend on their particular home and market, notes Memphis residential appraiser Eric Trotz.
“
ere are two main reasons why landscaping service may provide a greater return on investment {ROI} than pricier, splashier projects,” says Erik Johnson, University of Alabama professor who has studied the value of curb appeal.
“First, landscaping services are often oriented toward the front of the property. is provides a more immediate impact on potential homebuyers. Second, landscaping
Yard upkeep has high curb appeal that usually impact sale prices. Plus, buyers tend to view photos of the front of a home first when shopping online, Trotz notes.
And, though, “since the pandemic, there has been more appreciation or outdoor features,” he thinks some of the survey ROI estimates are too high. Patios, for instance, are pegged at a 95 percent payback, while Trotz says 60 to 70 percent is more realistic.
May 19, 2023 7 RE-Weekly
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ForeSt ridge PLace, MouNt VerNoN
Custom built for enter taining and for longevity, this beautifully appointed 3,006 square foot home has no steps; wide door ways and hallways: walk in pantr y, spacious open kitchen, fabulous primar y suite with two separate baths and generous sized walk-in closet accessible from both primar y baths; storage and more storage throughout Third bath off hallway connec ts to guest bedroom. Large office/den/work/recreation space Spacious,
60102 State route 20, MarBLeMouNt $675,000
Mondo is a well- established and well-loved family-style restaurant at the foot of the Cascade Mountain Range Locals and travelers make this par t of their Hw y 20 and Nor th Cascade National Park trip. Major ar terial choice to Newhalem and continue on to Winthrop; or cross the Skagit River bridge and continue up to Cascade Pass and hiking to Stehekin. The restaurant is warm and inviting, with incredible fare. Ver y spacious dining area. Some outside seating available Small gift shop area. The kitchen is beautifully remodeled New flooring and ex terior lighting MLS#2038466
Buyer S ageNt
Conveniently located corner building lot with available utilities. Build your dream home in this neighborhood that is close to schools Hillcrest Park, and the 18th Street Water
Easy access to I-5, shopping, and medical facilities.
Many investment possibilities with this home & proper ty: Classic 4 bed/2.5 bath farmhouse style 2560 sq. ft. home with east-facing deck on 1.76 acres. Home offers kitchen w/island & ceramic tile floors, office, bonus room, mud/laundr y room, living room with propane fireplace, built-in bookshelves & beautiful laminate over hardwood floors Detached building per fec t for office or studio. The proper ty features a 16,000+ sq. ft. pole building with its own water, power & septic Pole building includes a large, insulated shop area & expansive ex ternal parking area; RV hook-up at the east end, per fec t for guests. Potentially income -producing proper ty. Special Use permits were previously approved for home -based businesses (in 1995 & 2010). MLS#2028784
8 May 19, 2023 RE-Weekly w w w.sk agittr aditionr ealt y.c om 3780 E. College Way, Mount Vernon 363082-1 360.424.0300 JoAnn Boudreau (360) 391-0746 Patricia Box Office Manager O: (360) 424-0300 C: (360) 941-9186 Danya Wolf Broker/Owner (360) 708-8294 CRS/CBA/GREEN Juanita Bunch (360) 941-5530 Russ Lanker (360) 708-1117 Brett Tacker (360) 840-7931 Suzanne Jenkins (360) 941-2983 CRS/SRES Elva Hunter (360) 202-3086 CRS/SRES Carla Fischer (360) 982-0010 CRS/SRES NHN S. 15tH Street, MouNt VerNoN $199,000
MLS#2029949 Suzanne Jenkins (360) 941-2983 Carla Fischer (360) 982-0010 Kato LaNe, MouNt VerNoN $149,000 Ver y private
just off Mountain View Road. Come check it out, a great neighborhood. MLS#1880968
Park.
5 acres
Elva Hunter (360) 202-3086 1521
$925,000
convenient utility room. Enameled metal roof Ex tremely large 3 car garage (1,178 square feet) with 1/2 bath, and even more storage and work area. Large deck with gazebo for outdoor enter taining and enjoyment on this beautifully landscaped .49 acre lot Circular drive, lots of ex tra parking; generous sized RV space MLS#2067842 Danya Wolf (360) 708-8294 24017 triNit y LaNe, Sedro-WooLLe y $859,000 Danya Wolf (360) 708-8294 Patricia Box (360) 941-9186 Buyer S ageNt
Danya Wolf (360) 708-8294 OWNER FINANCING AVAIL ABLE!
BUSINESS ONLY $375,000
13136 BridgeVieW Way, MouNt VerNoN $1,450,000
Patricia Box (360) 941-9186
Patricia Box (360) 941-9186
This 4 bed/ 3.5 bath, 3982 sq ft home is per fec tly situated on a shy acre offering exquisite one -level living in prime location with a spec tacular bay and mountain view Away from the hustle and bustle yet so incredibly close to ever ything! Easy access to Hw y 20 for travel West to Anacor tes, Deception Pass, and beyond; or travel East to I-5 for commuting (Nor th and South) or continue Eastward to the beautiful Nor th Cascades Recent upgrade of kitchen cabinets, decks on nor th, south, and west sides of the house, 3 car garage, expansive driveway parking, sauna, Thermo -spa Aquasizer, updated professional landscaping, sprinkler system, and garden space Near to beach, park, and Padilla Bay trails; great area for walking, jogging, and biking MLS# 2047824