Michigan Landlord Magazine April 2018

MICHIGAN

LANDLORD

April 2018

www.rpoaonline.org

TRULIA PICKS GRAND RAPIDS as the Hottest Real Estate Markets to Watch in 2018

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: • Will the Hot Market Trend Continue?

• Free Forms for Serious Investors!

• "The Best Conference Yet."

WHERE REAL ESTATE INVESTORS GO FOR SUCCESS

A PUBLICATION OF THE RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Haven’t signed up yet?

The Home Depot 2% RPOA Rebate Program Sign Up for The Home Depot Rebate Now! The RPOA membership in the National Real Estate Investors Association makes RPOA members eligible to receive this extremely valuable rebate.

Sign up for The Home Depot rebate program through the RPOA and receive 2% back on all your purchases*— no matter how small or big.

This rebate is on top of any other discount or sale price, including contractor rates!

Call the RPOA today and start saving!

616-454-3385 * For semi-annual purchases over $5,000. Rebate checks are sent out semi-annually, usually in March and August.

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WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

IN THIS EDITION

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20

17

FEATURES 4

FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR

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NEW MEMBERS

11

MEMBER-TO-MEMBER DISCOUNT PROGRAM

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UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS

31 AD-O-GRAMS 31

CREDIT & DECISION REPORTING PROCEDURES

ARTICLES

VOLUME 54, NUMBER 2

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www.rpoaonline.org

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LANDLORDS SUE BOWLING GREEN (OHIO) OVER TENANT RESTRICTIONS YARDI: NEW YEAR BRINGS LITTLE CHANGE IN U.S. MULTIFAMILY RENTS THINGS YOU (PROBABLY) DIDN’T KNOW WERE PART OF THE CODE ZILLOW’S 2018 PREDICTIONS: THE INVENTORY CRISIS WILL DRIVE THE MARKET

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TRULIA’S PICKS GRAND RAPIDS AS THE HOTTEST REAL ESTATE MARKETS TO WATCH IN ’18

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THE BEST CONFERENCE YET

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WILL THE HOT MARKET TREND CONTINUE?

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FREE MICHIGAN LEASING & REAL ESTATE INVESTOR FORMS FOR SERIOUS INVESTORS

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TRUTH IN RENTING

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EQUITY TRUST: NREIA/RPOA BENEFITS

MICHIGAN LANDLORD editorial goal is to provide a forum for real estate investment and rental property ownership and management ideas and news. Our articles, columns, and other features should not be construed as investment advice, nor does their appearance imply an endorsement by the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County or the Real Estate Investors of Michigan of any specific real estate investment or management strategy. An investor’s and manager’s best course of action must be based on individual circumstances.

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 3

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

From the Desk of the Director

We’ve just completed another successful conference. The buzz at the conference was more exciting than ever this year. The main presentation room was packed for every presentation. And, more than 50 exhibitors were on hand to discuss their valuable products and services.

All of this couldn’t be possible without our volunteers and staff. I want to take a moment and give a huge thank you to Kim Post who led the charge again this year as chairperson. Her tireless challenge to make the event better each year has paid huge dividends. Thanks Kim! As the Director of the RPOA, I want to thank our staff. Without them we couldn’t pull this event off. Each and every one of them gives their all to make the event go off without a hitch and—even if something hits a bump in the road makes problems go by unnoticed. We couldn’t do it without Heather VandenBos, Ava Grover, Angela Weston and Rachel Wood. I should also mention that we owe a great deal to our salesperson, Kathy Bartnick, for her enthusiasm and skill. The RPOA is blessed to have such an excellent staff.

And, don’t forget…we’ll do it all again next year! Put the last weekend in February 2019 on your calendar!

February 21-23, 2019 will be the dates for the conference next year in the same location, River Overlook area, DeVos Place, downtown Grand Rapids. Have suggestions on who the speakers might be? Or topics? Give me a shout at clayp@rpoaonline.org.

Advertise in

MICHIGAN

LANDLORD Contact Kathy Bartnick, RPOA Ad Salesperson, at 616-318-3503 to reserve your ad space today!

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WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS 3BF, LLC A.S. Creative Investments Anderson, Holly APROP LLC Baker, Aaron Ballmer, Elizabeth Banister, Daniel Bell, Bailor Ben M. Muller Realty Co., Inc. Benthem, Jim Bernhardt, Larry Berry, Joel Blough Properties MKB Holdings LLC Bolhouse Hofstee & McLean PC Bordeaux, Bathsheba Bracey & Dueker Brady, Ron Brenden Stark, LLC Bright, David Brooke, David Brown, Theresa Buer, Joseph Carbajal, Kristie Carpenter, Merle Castlebrook Properties CBB Investment Group Inc. City Wide Real Estate Services LLC Coldwell, Scott T Cooke, Josie County Line Townhomes LLC Crawford, Jim CRB Management LLC Culver CPA Group Culver, Diane Cutter, Sheri Davis, Steve Demling, Tina Denkhaus, David M DePalma, Douglas DiGiovanni, Michael D Drobeck, Jeremy DTE Energy Multifamily Program Dunn, Judy & Bill EACS Housing, LLC

Earnest, Mike & Sara Eleesee Solutions, LLC ESP Properties, LLC Farkas, Dan Fitzpatrick, Karen HaismaFoundation Specialist Foy, Howard and Siiri Franken, Michael Free and Unlimited Gandolfo, Christina Gelbard, Drorit Grand Slam Investigations Gress, Josh & Kelli Growth Property Acquisitions, Inc. Gustafson, Karen Hamilton Property Management Hamilton Property Management Harris, Austin Haskin, Chad Hennessey, Jan & Ben Hess, Kevin Howell, Samantha Huerta, Ramon J. Cook Design J. Map, LLC Jackson, David James II, LLC Johnson's Appliance Repair Johnston, Denise K & P Properties Kauffman, Mike Kehoe, Karen Kellett, Joel Kerrigan, Ryan Kopczynski, Mark Kreft, Kevin Lacey, James F Lakeside MHC LLC Larson, Dawn Law Offices of David Carrier Lilley, Travis LJ Residential LLC Lodenstein, Amy M20 Property Management, LLC

Maas Real Estate Investing Marcus Holdings LLC Marley Investments, LLC Marlow, Matt & Amy McCall, Wendy Mercantile Bank Motor City Property Managers N1 Properties LLC Nederhoed, Keith & Matilde Occupied Incorporated Okuniewski, Victoria A OZ LLC Palmer, Larry Palusky, Tammy Parkanzky Leasing, LLC Parks, William Pasadena Property Mgmt Company Peltier, Randy & Karen Pitsch, Gary & Karen Prepared Place Prime East Properties, LLC Qualified Maintenance & Home Improvement, LLC Renewed Homes Rhinoski LLC River Valley Insurance Romancky, Joyce Ross Investments LLC Schrock, Kristy Shekinah Holdings & Management Inc Shield Insurance Agency

Shields, Lonnie & Diane Siudyla, Leonard SOS Financial Services, LLC Spartan Real Estate LLC Taylor, Gloria L Terrell, Shelley The Roof Dr. Thiss, Rodney Thompson, Sean Titan Lawn & Home LLC United Bank of Michigan Upright, Ron Urban Living Van Dyke, Tiffany VandenBerg, Eric VanDeusen, Greg Varnado, Jr., Jeffery Verboncouer, James Villas of Cascade Association Vu, Khanh Watkins, Nick Weathersby, Beverly Welch, David West Michigan Home Watch Westdale, Fred and Cheryl Wilks, Deborah Winkle, Mike Witte, Trisha WMAM, LLC Woldring, Christine Wood, Dustin Young, Joseph B Yurgaites, James

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 5

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL SPEAKER HIGHLIGHT

Landlords Sue Bowling Green (Ohio) Over Tenant Restrictions The City of Bowling Green, in northwest Ohio (home of Bowling Green University) is facing a lawsuit from a group of individuals, their landlord, and additional 20 local landlords over zoning restrictions that limit the number of unrelated individuals allowed to occupy a home. According to the Toledo Blade, multiple police calls to the plaintiff's property caught the attention of the city's zoning office, which then began an investigation.

Editor’s Note: The RPOA in Grand Rapids has held recent meetings with City Commissioners and the Mayor to discuss the elimination of “no more than four unrelated” zoning law. The RPOA’s position is that the rule is discriminatory and creates a disparate impact on families that choose to rent. The zoning law also reduces the availability of affordable housing. The RPOA has suggested that the City use the occupancy guidelines as stipulated within the property maintenance code (International Property Maintenance Code) which bases occupancy limits on the number and size of bedrooms and the size of food preparation, living and dining spaces.

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WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

Yardi: New Year Brings Little Change In U.S. Multifamily Rents With an all new format to start the year; the latest Yardi Matrix says U.S. multifamily rents rose $1 in January to $1,362. Looking at it on a year-over-year basis, rents increased 2.8% through January and were up 20 basis points from December.

After two years of consistent, above-trend increases, rent growth has remained within a fairly narrow band over the past year, with a high of 3.0% and a low of 2.4%. Rent growth tends to be flat through the winter, so the next few months should provide a clue as to the type of growth we will see in 2018. We expect multifamily rent growth to remain in the 2.5% range.

616-885-0132 David H. Bigelow RPOA Member

Bus: 616-453-5368 Cell: 616-822-4710

Grand Rapids Carpet & Furniture Cleaners since 1944 We use

RPOA members receive a 25% Discount

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 7

Rockfinch is a full service property management and real estate brokerage. Our experience can guide your next transaction as a first time home buyer or a seasonal investor.

Chelsea M. Roelofs Broker, Rockfinch Realty 616.446.0041 C 616.265.5284 O hello@rockfinch.forsale 925 Bridge Street NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504

www.rockfinch.forsale

WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

www.westshorepropertymanagement.com

WE ARE CPA’S WHO OWN REAL ESTATE

SAVING YOU TIME & MONEY

Do you know where your money is going, or how to stop the leaks? We let you focus on running your business, and we handle the numbers . . . saving you time and money.

culver | group CPAs & Business Advisors

616.456.6464 . culvercpagroup.com . 1419 Coit . Grand Rapids

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 9

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know Were Part of the Code AKA: When the City Lets You Off the Hook Occasionally, there are things in the City of Grand Rapids Property Maintenance Code that run counter to the code that was in place when homes were built. Some of these are just plain annoying while others would seriously impair the use of a home. The most serious situation is where ceiling heights in existing bedrooms are less than the minimum code requirement. In some properties this would effectively outlaw all the existing bedrooms.

To eliminate repeated appeal cases being brought to the fore in these situations, the City of Grand Rapids Housing Appeals Board sets policies to deal with them. Here are the current policies that all rental property owners and investors should be aware of:

ALLOWABLE CEILING HEIGHTS Ceiling heights of 6’ 3” and higher are considered to be in compliance with the code. Additional requirements: • • • • •

Does not apply to “drop” ceilings.

Ceiling heights of less than 6’ 3” must be approved through permitted reconstruction or an approved waiver.

Smoke alarms must be in approved location, preferably located on the wall.

Any sloped ceiling must comply with the existing Property Maintenance Code.

Light fixtures must be recessed or a surface mounted type designed to hug the ceiling.

RECEPTACLE IN TOILET ROOMS Toilet rooms may exist without a receptacle. Additional requirements: • A toilet room is defined as a room containing a water closet or urinal but not a bathtub or shower.

TOILET ROOM VENTILATION Toilet rooms may exist without ventilation. See definition of “toilet room” above. Ventilation is typically required by either an openable window or exhaust fan.

LAVATORY ALTERNATIVE Some “toilet rooms” were built without a sink/lavatory which is required per the code. In those cases where a lavatory cannot be easily installed, an easily refillable liquid hand sanitizing station shall be permanently installed.

(A counter top bottle dispenser of hand sanitizer is not an acceptable alternative.)

In all cases, the inspector should document the use of the policy in case notes.

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RPOA Member-to-Member Discounts:

WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

Members offering members BIG savings.

Check out the discounts being made to RPOA members only: Patronize one of our Associate members participating in the Member-to-Member Discount Program!

ANDERSON BROS STEAMATIC Carpet cleaning – 3 Rooms for $119 | furniture cleaning – $15 off of $75 or more | 10% discount on area rug cleaning (in shop only and free pick up and delivery). Call for a free quote 616-949-2453. www.absteamatic.com

BENDER MAINTENANCE & HOME IMPROVEMENT 10% off hourly rate for RPOA members. Property maintenance, general repairs; prepare property to rent at acquisition; inspection compliance for Section 8, City of Grand Rapids. General Contractor, Cer tified Lead Renovator, RPOA Member. 616885-0132.

COMPASS REALTY RPOA exclusive discount! Up to $500 off listing services.

Call Tom at 616-550-4447 or www.teamkoetsier.com.

DISCOUNT HOME IMPROVEMENT RPOA members: receive 6% off your order. 616-451-3600.

FARM BUREAU INSURANCE Jeff Lamborne Farm Bureau Insurance Agency offers group discounts. Call Jeff for details.

616-447-0274.

GRAND RAPIDS CARPET & FURNITURE CLEANERS RPOA Members receive 4th room free! Call Dave, 616-453-5368.

HOME DEPOT

JR MORTGAGE SERVICES

RMS LLC

Sign up for the Home Depot rebate program through the RPOA and receive 2%* rebate on all your purchases—no matter how small or big. Call the RPOA office to get your rebate program started now! 616-454-3385.

Free appraisal for 1 to 4 family unit homes with closed loan application for RPOA members only. Jim Riley, 616-292-4491.

*2% OF TOTAL PURCHASES OVER $1,249

Protect your investment! RPOA members, call for special pricing.

Need something other than carpet cleaning? We provide FREE ESTIMATES on all of our services: air duct and dryer vent cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, and flood/fire/mold restoration.

Call the Simple & Quick cleaning and restoration experts! 616531-1666

Towing of abandoned and improperly parked cars on your property. Offering to RPOA members at no cost. Free signage for RPOA members if required by State of Michigan laws. Call 616-475-9836 for impound or email impounds@rmsonline.us.

SEMI-ANNUALLY.

INDOOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS Offering all RPOA members Grand Rapids heating inspection stickers for $50.00 each and 5% discount on repair or replacement of any HVAC equipment. Over 40 years experience servicing and installing furnaces, boilers, air conditioning.

616 - 8 91 - H E AT (4328) www.indoorclimatesolutions.net.

JACK’S LAWN SERVICE Jack’s Lawn Service is offering an exclusive discount to RPOA members only. Call for your exclusive discount today. 616698-8616.

JB HARRISON INSURANCE AGENCY Independent agents repre­ senting several companies (Auto-Owners, AAA, Citizens, Hastings, Hartford, Pioneer State Mutual, Progressive). We do the shopping for you. Group discounts available for RPOA members. Call Mike Murphy at 616-868-0050 for details.

MODERNISTIC CLEANING & RESTORATION

OFFICE MAX/ OFFICE DEPOT O f f i c e M a x o f fe r s s p e c i a l discounts on expensive supplies like ink cartridges. More than a vendor or a supplier…they’re your strategic partner, your ally, your advocate. To access this discount, contact the RPOA office. 616-454-3385.

REPUBLIC WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES Exclusive RPOA New Members and Existing Members discount $12.13 rate per month is good for one year. Republic reserves the right to increase rates at any time. Call Roy James at 616662-6862.

RYLEE’S ACE HARDWARE 10% discount on all purchases.

S o m e r e s t r i c t i o n s a p p l y.

Offer valid at our two Grand Rapids stores, 1234 Michigan St. NE and 1205 Fulton St. West and our Walker store, 4300 Remembrance Rd. www.ryleesace.com.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS Sherwin Williams offers a 30% discount on paint products and also offers a 30% discount on paint sundries. Applicators are discounted 35%. Other pricing is very competitive within the local market. A special discount card must be obtained from the RPOA. 616-454-3385.

SOS HOME REHAB $10 off the first work order perfomed for RPOA Members only. Call Shane Sarver at 616-446-4899 or email at ssarver@soshomerehab.com

Associate members who would like to participate in the discount program should call 616-454-3385.

"The promotion of offers, including discounts, rebates and other such benefits, goods, and services provided by the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County (“RPOA”) members and advertisers within the Michigan Landlord magazine (collectively, the “Offers”), are for informational purposes only and are not an endorsement or recommendation. The Offers are not made by the RPOA or the Michigan Landlord magazine and the advertiser/member is solely responsible to you for the delivery of any goods or services. Your correspondence or business dealings with, or participation in the Offers or promotions of, advertisers/members found in the Michigan Landlord magazine, including payment and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such advertiser/member. Neither the RPOA nor the Michigan Landlord magazine guarantees the existence or continued existence of any Offers, which may change from time to time. You agree to waive and release the RPOA and the Michigan Landlord magazine from and against any and all liability, loss or damage of any sort, incurred as the result of any such dealings with, or as the result of the presence of, any advertisement or promotion within the Michigan Landlord magazine.”

April April2018 2018 MICHIGAN MICHIGANLANDLORD LANDLORD 11 11

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Rental property financing solutions from United Bank.

Here at United Bank, we do more than write mortgages; we create, customize and innovate to provide a loan that fits your unique situation. Whatever it takes, we’re here for you. Now that’s a real mortgage solution.

UnitedBank4U.com | 616.559.7000

Member FDIC

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WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

SELEWSKI SPECIALTY UNDERWRITING, LLC For All Your Landlord REO Insurance Needs Program Highlights: 1.

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Insure unlimited properties on one policy Easy online access to your policy to add/change/remove properties Insure vacant/rehab/new builds/tenant occupied homes on the same policy One easy monthly bill for all properties insured Insure multiple entities on one policy Replacement cost or Actual Cash value available Simple Property Reporting form Insure Property in any of the 48 continental states

Call today for your free quote, whether you have one property or one hundred, we can help.

855-50-INSURE (855-50-467873) Email: nselewski@yahoo.com www.noelselewskiagency.com

Important information for: Farm Bureau Great Lakes Mutual Insurance customers As of 10/01/2014 Farm Bureau Insurance will no longer be associated with Great Lakes Mutual Insurance. This change in carrier may result in a premium change. If you are currently insured with Great Lakes Mutual and you would like to keep your policy where it is, you will need to switch to a licensed agent. Our agency has been writing with Great Lakes Mutual for the past 6 years and we have an outstanding record with the carrier and our customers. Please contact our office today if you would like to keep your policy with Great Lakes Mutual Insurance. We can write in any area of Michigan, West, East, North, South.

Noel Selewski Agency Inc. Ph: 855-50-INSURE (855-50-467873) Email: nselewski@yahoo.com www.noelselewskiagency.com

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 13

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Zillow’s 2018 Predictions:

The Inventory Crisis Will Drive the Market Occasionally, there are things in the City of Grand Rapids Property Maintenance Code that run counter to the code Urban sprawl is coming back big in 2018, or at least that’s what Zillow says due to limited building space in the nation’s urban areas. They also predict that current homeowners will remodel their homes instead of selling (making inventory even tighter) and new homes will be designed with both millennials and aging baby-boomers in mind.

Specifically they predict: • • • • • •

Inventory shortages will drive the housing market.

Builders will turn their focus to entry-level homes.

Millennials will move to the suburbs.

Many homeowners will remodel rather than sell.

Baby Boomers and millennials will drive home design.

Homes prices will continue to grow, but at a slower pace.

“…We’re on the other side of the housing recovery, and the real estate market looks quite different than it did 15 or even five years ago. We have a huge generation entering the market.

They really want to be homeowners, and they’re faced with an inventory crisis that leaves them with few options….” Click here to read the full story on www.Zillow.com.

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WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

According to the latest Zillow Rent Forecast (covering August 2016 through August 2017) rents will rise in 34 of the 35 largest U.S. metros. Overall, rents are forecasted to rise 1.7% over the next year, the same rate of increase as the past 12 months. Interestingly, the northwest cities of Seattle & Portland are projected to rise 7.2% and 6% respectively-which will outpace San Francisco's projected increase of 4.9%. Go here for more. http://realestateinvestingtoday. com/zillow-forecasts-rising-rent-large-u-s-metros/

Is it time to check your

Install a smoke detector in every bedroom of your home and in the hall that leads to one or two bedrooms, and make sure there is at least one on each floor of your home, even in your basement.

Smoke Detectors?

Test your smoke detector each month and replace it if it doesn't work or if it is already 8 to 10 years old.

Smoke alarm safety is very important.

Having enough smoke alarms and keeping them in working condition are important fire safety steps you can take to save lives in your home and in the homes of your renters.

Replace your smoke detector batteries at least once a year and especially when you hear the warning signal that the battery is low.

BUY MORE & SAVE! Buy 20 - SAVE 10% Buy 100 - SAVE 15% Buy 200 - SAVE 20%

SKU 50001194 SKU 5069026 Grand Rapids City Approved Detectors

Rylee’s

Grand Rapids - 1234 Michigan St. NE 616.451.0724

ryleesace.com

Hardware

1205 Fulton St. West 616.233.4711

Walker - 4300 Remembrance Rd. 616.453.7741

WE’RE HERE TO HELP: MONDAY - SATURDAY 8AM - 8PM, SUNDAY 10AM - 5PM

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 15

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Work With Realtors Who Actually Own Rental Properties.

Multi-Family and Commercial Specialist

+ Heating & Cooling 24/7 Emergency Repair Furnace, Rooftop & A/C Systems Repair & Replacement Municipal Housing Inspections

+ Boiler Systems 24/7 Boiler Repair Installation & Replacement Preventative Maintenance State of Michigan CSD-1 Boiler Inspections

+ Plumbing 24/7 Plumbing Repair Water Heater Replacement

#1 Seller of Multi-Family Properties in West Michigan 2 Years in a Row! • Do you need help defining your investment goals?

• Do you want to improve your cash flow?

• Is now the best time to buy or sell for you?

Tom Koetsier 616-550-4447 tkoetsier@grar.com

Allison Koetsier 616-633-9445 akoetsier@compass101.com

www.teamkoetsier.com

Free 1 hour of Real Estate Consultation

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Tub & Shower replacement Fixture & Faucet Replacement

+ Drain Cleaning & Sewer Jetting 24 Hour Emergency Service Sinks, Tubs, Floor Drains & Main Sewer Lines Video Inspections Documentation/Electronic Reports Locating & Line tracing

Providing a great value is our

"Service Contract"

ONE-CALL SOLUTION SERVING Investment Property Owners Managers and Residents

24/7/365 Service Hotline

(616) 477-2525

WWW.MAGNUMPLUMBINGHEATING.COM

TRULIA PICKS GRAND RAPIDS

WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

as the Hottest Real Estate Markets to Watch in 2018

Heading into 2018 Trulia looked at the 100 most populated metros across the U.S. using five key metrics to come up with the top 10 hottest housing markets they believe are positioned for growth. They looked at job growth, affordability, low vacancy rates, home search rates on Trulia. com, and a high population of younger households. Interestingly, Texas has 4 four spots on the list and Ohio has two. But it’s Grand Rapids, Michigan that comes in the number one position.

Truila says “Every home purchase is also a huge investment—possibly the biggest you’ll make in your life.”

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RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

“The Best Conference Yet”

“The best speaker line-up and the best conference ever” —that is what nearly 1,000 attendees at the 2018 RPOA annual conference, Michigan Landlord & Real Estate Investor Conference & Expo had to say.

To make the event possible, we would like to thank our volunteer committee members: Kim Post, Event Chairperson Brian Hamrick, Programs & Education Committee Chairperson Gary Hall Angela Hovermale Tom Koetsier Keith Littlepage (A special thanks to Keith for being the events MC! Great job!)

Sharon Olson Russ VandenToorn Justin Workman And, it would be impossible for the event to happen without our fantastic and generous sponsors. A huge thank you to them!

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WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR VENDORS AND SPONSORS!

A.C.N.

Sherwin-Williams

Auction.com

Shield Insurance Agency

B2B Capital Funding LLC

Simple Home Management

Bath Fitter

SOS Financial Services LLC

Base Rent

Western Star Insurance

Byo-Safe Environment

Westshore Property Management

Champion Home Exteriors

Get The Lead Out Grant & Healthy Homes

College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving

Coalition

Columbo’s Floors to Go

Grand Rapids Green Spaces

Compass Leasing Services

Grand Slam Investigating

Compass Realty Services

Kent County Housing Commission

Consumers Energy

LAST BIDrealestate.com

Culver CPA Group

Law Offices of David Carrier

DTE Energy

Michigan Agency for Energy (LARA)

Equity Trust

Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial

Feel Good Inc.

National Real Estate Investors Association

Fund Your Deal LLC

Northpoint Bank

Green Property Management

Republic Services

Indoor Climate Solutions

RSI Home Products-Hampton Bay Cabinets

Mercantile Bank

Specialized IRA Services

Michigan Lawn Service & Snow Inc

Steamatic Restoration & Cleaning

Modernistic Cleaning & Restoration

The Home Depot

Noel Selewski Agency, Inc.

United Bank

Real Estate Investors Success

United Properties of West Michigan

Real Property Management

Velo Law Office

RK Property Management

Wex2 Management, LLC-DBA Junk King

Rockfinch Realty

Williams Distributing

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 19

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Will the Hot Market Trend Continue?

With inventories at record lows and home prices edging higher, realtor.com put out a list of the 20 hottest markets this past summer. They looked at the nation’s biggest metro markets to determine which are buzzing with activity – in particular the number of listings at their time on the market.

Red-hot California shamelessly dominates the list; however, there are seven cities in the Midwest.

“The housing market has now gone 24 months in a row seeing inventory drop on a yearly basis, the longest streak in over two decades,” said Javier Vivas, manager of economic research at realtor. com, in a statement. The shortage is hitting even more markets, he added—8 out of every 10 have fewer homes for sale now than this time last year.

Four of the top markets are within pretty close to home.

To add to this, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently reported that sales of new single-family houses in November 2017 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 733k. This is 17.5% higher than October’s revised and is 26.6% higher than November 2016. The median sales price of new houses sold in November 2017 was $318,700. The average sales price was $377,100.

There were an estimated 283k new houses for sale at the end of November representing a 4.6 month supply.

Let us know what you’re experiencing with your real estate investment or sales business—are houses still moving fast? Are you able to find houses to flip or wholesale? Thinking of shifting your real estate investment strategy? Send your thoughts to clayp@rpoaonline.org. Let us know if we can quote you.

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Top Trending Markets Vallejo, CA San Francisco, CA Kennewick, WA Sacramento, CA Columbus, OH Detroit, MI Boston, MA Colorado Springs, CO San Jose, CA San Diego, CA Dallas, TX Waco, TX Grand Rapids, MI Stockton, CA Midland, TX Fort Wayne, IN Santa Rosa, CA Denver, CO Yuba City, CA Modesto, CA

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WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

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It’s true. Your source for paint is also your source for flooring.

Count on Sherwin-Williams Floorcovering Centers for leading brands, 24-hour turn and reliable installation.

And, of course, know that our Paint Stores are right around the corner with the coatings, tools and expert advice you need to complete the job. You see, for quality, competitive prices, and expert service, we’ve covered it all. To find the nearest Sherwin-Williams Paint Store or Floorcovering Center visit sherwin-williams.com/store-locator ©2015 The Sherwin-Williams Company

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 21

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

CHECK OUT THE RPOA MEETUP GROUPS! For more information go here: www.meetup.com

“

Over 100,000 listeners in Michigan, all 50 States and throughout the world.

“

Each week we discuss topics, tips and techniques designed to make you a more confident and successful rental property owner and real estate investor.

Interviewees include buy and hold investors, flippers, wholesalers, property managers, brokers, legal advisors, insurance providers, mortgage brokers— you name it; we’re talking to some of the top names in the real estate investing business in Michigan.

Our host is Brian Hamrick from Hamrick Investment Group. Brian is a successful multi-unit and apartment investor with over 450 units in Grand Rapids, Wyoming and Lansing, Michigan.

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WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

Free Michigan Leasing & Real Estate Investor Forms for Serious Investors Why pay over and over again or out the nose for leasing and real estate investor forms when you can get free forms tested in Michigan courts for decades? No need to reinvent the wheel or trust that a form found online is legal and correct for use in Michigan. As a member of the Rental Property Owners Association (RPOA), the largest REIA in Michigan and one of the largest in the country, you’ll get free online access to leasing forms and many other real estate forms. These forms are developed by Michigan landlords and investors and reviewed by an experienced attorney right here in Michigan.

And, hey, you not only get forms by being a member, you’ll also get access to huge national discounts at retailers like Home Depot, OfficeMax/Office Depot, Republic Waste and more. You’ll also get up to date state and local news that affects investors in Michigan. And, we’re the only association looking out for your interest at the state government level. On top of all that, you can call the office anytime with your leasing or real estate questions and we’ll be glad to help. And, that includes free limited legal advice by five different attorneys. There’s no reason to take a chance on bad online advice when you can get the right answer the first time around. And, with over 1,200 members, if we don’t have the exact answer you need, we can always refer you to an experienced investor or other real estate professional that can help—right here in Michigan. (Oh…did I mention that we also have over 18 courses taught by professionals and experienced investors?)

Here are just some of the forms you can access FREE online as a member: Rental Application Month-to-Month Residential Lease Year Residential Lease Document Receipt Acknowledgement Addendum Pet Agreement Lease Guaranty Notice of Damages Beginning & Ending Inventory Checklist Smoke Detector Acknowledgement Addendum Bed Bug Addendum Medical Marijuana Lease Addendum Rental Release Rent Adjustment Rental Holding Deposit Option to Purchase with Lease Rental Lead Based Paint Disclosure Mold Addendum Land Contract Memorandum of Land Contract Land Contract Statement of Payoff or Assumption Quit Claim Deed Need a paper copy of one of these forms? You can buy pre-printed ones from us at prices less than $2.00 each. Not only that, we have paper eviction and small claims forms for purchase—and, free help filling them out.

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 23

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

TRUTH

IN RENTING If we were teaching a class entitled Michigan Landlords 101, it might start with a primer on the Michigan Truth in Renting Act (“Renting Act”). The Truth in Renting Act (Act 454 of 1978) regulates residential leases. Its three major functions include: 1. requiring landlords to disclose certain information in every lease; 2. guaranteeing tenants certain rights under the law; and, 3. prohibiting lease provisions that attempt to waive a tenant’s guaranteed rights.

Property leases are not required to be uniform across the board. Most leases do differ from each other in varying terms. Yet, at bare minimum, a lease agreement should be in writing and include the following: • • • • • • • • • • • •

•

24

name and signature of the landlord; name and signature of the tenant; address of the rental property; amount of the security deposit; name and address of the financial institution holding the security deposit; rent amount to be paid; frequency of rent; rent due date; where rent is to be paid; start and end dates of the lease (for a fixed-term tenancy); mailing address of landlord; notice of the tenant’s obligation to provide a forwarding address to the landlord within four days of terminating the tenancy; an explanation of who is responsible for which

utilities; • a detailing of repair and maintenance responsibilities; and, • eviction procedures.

Any additional terms or conditions agreed to by the landlord and tenant should also be memorialized in the lease; this serves to avoid future conflicts and/or misunderstandings.

Lastly, the following statement must be provided in a prominent place in the lease, in a font that is at least 12-point in size: NOTICE: Michigan law establishes rights and obligations for parties to rental agreements. This agreement is required to comply with the Truth in Renting Act. If you have any questions about the interpretation or legality of a provision of this agreement, you may want to seek assistance from a lawyer or other qualified person.

If the lease fails to contain the landlord's name and address or the required notice, the tenant can sue to: • void the rental agreement; • force the landlord to include the required notice statement in all rental agreements he or she enters into; and, • recover $500 or actual damages, whichever is greater.

This article is not intended to serve as a comprehensive manual on the Truth in Renting Act. Yet, the following highlights may serve as a guideline creating awareness of the different kinds of prohibited lease clauses. Should you have detailed concerns about a

WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

provision and whether it is disallowed by law, it might be a good idea to either work with a licensed attorney or contact RPOA directly.

Mandating Payment in Full Upon Breach Under a fixed-term lease (typically 6 months to a year), the lease cannot require a tenant to automatically pay the entire amount of outstanding future rent payments if they break the lease early (otherwise known as rent acceleration). In the instance of an early termination, both landlord and tenant have a legal duty to mitigate the damages. The landlord should do whatever is necessary to find a new tenant, and it is in the vacating tenant’s best interests to assist the landlord in finding a new, suitable tenant. Once this process has been concluded, the landlord will likely charge the vacating tenant for rent lost during the period between tenants.

This, in addition to any costs incurred (advertising, broker fees, non-routine cleaning, etc.) for having to put the property on the market.

Waiving Security Deposit Rights A security deposit is specifically tailored to reimburse the landlord for damage to the rental unit, unpaid rent, or unpaid utility bills incurred by the tenant (utility payments that were to be made to the landlord).

Security deposits are governed by Michigan law, which prohibits a lease from waiving any of a tenant’s rights under the Landlord-Tenant Act. For more information on security deposits, please see RPOA’s related article Security Deposits: What Can Be Deducted at the End of a Lease?

Requiring the Tenant to Make Repairs Michigan law (MCL 554.139), obligates a landlord to ensure that all residential rental property is fit for the use intended by the parties. The landlord is also required by law to keep premises in reasonable repair while complying with state and local health and safety law. In general, maintaining the structural integrity of the property (the roof, plumbing, and windows) is the landlord’s sole responsibility. As for tenants, it’s their responsibility to maintain a safe and clean rental unit.

Should the landlord and tenant both be agreeable, they can modify some of these obligations if the term of the lease is one year or longer.

Forcing the Tenant to Pay for Landlord Attorney Fees A lease cannot require a tenant to pay for his/her landlord's attorney's fees in the event of a lawsuit.

Leases are also prohibited from containing language that permits the landlord to choose the tenant’s attorney. Language that forfeits the tenant’s right to a jury trial, or requires the tenant to plead guilty in any court dispute, is also disallowed.

Automatic, Discretionary Eviction Any conditional language that provides for automatic eviction of a tenant is prohibited by law. A landlord cannot evict at will. Rather, he/she must provide “notice.” Notice is the official legal document necessary to start an eviction. There are various types of notices. The type of notice used will depend on what type of eviction is being initiated. Please see the RPOA Eviction Timeline & Notice Forms chart for more information on the types of evictions, forms used, waiting periods and typical timeframe it takes for each type of eviction.

The time period for advance notice will depend on the type of notice. Typically, the time period is 7 to 30 days. In some cases, the notice period can be as little as 24 hours.

Following proper notice, the landlord must take the tenant to court, win the court hearing, and then wait until the tenant’s appeal period has expired before conducting an eviction. Even then, only a bailiff or sheriff with a court order can physically remove the tenant from the rental unit.

Be warned: landlords who use force, remove a tenant’s personal property, change the locks, shut off utilities, or introduce any other sort of barrier or nuisance without court approval are subject to strict penalties for conducting an illegal eviction.

For more information on evictions, please see RPOA’s related article What are the steps to legally evict a tenant in Michigan?

Continued on page 28

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 25

Upcoming Seminars & Events

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

CE = CERTIFIED COURSE FOR REAL ESTATE CONTINUING EDUCATION PHP = PROFESSIONAL HOUSING PROVIDER CREDIT

HELPING REAL ESTATE INVESTORS BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL

Learn how to use self-directed IRA’s to finance real estate deals while increasing profits and avoiding taxes. Did you know you can transfer money from your Traditional IRA into a Roth IRA? And use the money in your Roth IRA to buy real estate and flip it or rent it—all without paying taxes on the profit? Investors have been using self-directed IRA’s to build huge real estate portfolios that enable them to retire in style and/or leave substantial cash for their family.

A successful real estate investment starts with buying the right property and doing the right rehab for the right type of investment. Newbies and experienced investors alike want to know how the successful investor finds properties, evaluates potential ROI and determines what kind and to what extent rehabbing a property is necessary. There’s a big difference between rehab jobs for buy and hold or flips. As they say, the devil is in the details. This course won’t be your typical overview—it will cover everything from A-Z and include on-site visits to existing properties for real world estimation. When you’re done with this course, you’ll know everything you need to know to get started and do your first rehab for a rental or buy and flip. Experienced investor and licensed builder, Justin Workman, will be the instructor for this multi-day event.

Joedi Patrick, owner of Quest IRAs in Okemos, will be teaching this course.

May 10 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

April 10 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

SELF-DIRECTED IRA’S 2 Hours CE Credit for Licensed Real Estate Professionals 2 Hours Credit for RPOA PHP All real estate investor and landlords should take this course to understand this important wealth building tool.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND HOUSING CODES

April 11 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

AUCTION.COM LUNCH & LEARN

2 Hours CE Credit for Licensed Real Estate Professionals 2 Hours Credit for RPOA PHP (Professional Home Provider)

Bring your laptops or electronic devices to this lunch & learn with Kasey O’Neil where you will see firsthand what an auction is like!

Frustrated with rental housing inspections? Not sure what is required of you? Need to know how to appeal something you believe is wrong? Experienced landlord, James Loftus, will provide in-depth training on:

This is a free event. Space is limited to 20.

April 12 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

UNDERSTANDING LEASES & CONTRACT LAW 2 Hours CE Credit for Licensed Real Estate Professionals 2 Hours Credit for RPOA PHP Thinking of writing your own lease? Confused about the terminology used on a lease? How about basic contract law?

Know what a security deposit and an inventory checklist are?

This course will provide a foundation of the requirements for leases in the State of Michigan. Participants learn about what can and can’t be in a lease, how tenants can walk away from a lease, clause requirements within a lease, and more. Presented

by Justin Wheeler, attorney at Kries Enderle.

•

State laws regarding rental housing maintenance

•

Local codes affecting rental housing

•

International Property Maintenance Code (most locals use this code)

•

Local rental inspection programs & how they work

•

Complying with the code and getting the maximum cert length for the least cost

•

Appeal process

•

Tips on dealing with inspectors

May 15 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm April 17, 19, 24, 2018 • 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Part 1, 2, 3) – Three nights!

REHABBING FOR RENTAL AND FLIPPING PROFITS (PART 1, 2, 3)

2 Hours CE Credit for Licensed Real Estate Professionals 2 Hours Credit for RPOA PHP

8 Hours CE Credit for Licensed Real Estate Professionals 8 Hours Credit for RPOA PHP

26 26

MARKETING & SCREENING FOR PAYING TENANTS

Learn effective and proven ways to fill your apartments using

REI Happy Hour Meetup

RPOA Women's REI Meetup

4nd Monday of the Month at 5 p.m.

Harmony Hall 401 Stocking Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI

Once a month at 5:30 p.m.

See our meetup group on www.meetup.com for updated information

! s u n i Jo

! s u n i o J

REAL ESTATE INVESTORS (REI) FRIDAY MORNING BREAKFAST ROUNDTABLE Held every Friday, 8–9 a.m.

Cheshire Grill / 2162 Plainfield NE, Grand Rapids, MI

West Michigan REI Club Meetup WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS 2nd Monday of the Month at 6 p.m.

Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar 2720 44th St. SW, Wyoming, MI

REGISTER BY CALLING 800.701.7762 OR EMAIL CONTACTRPOA@RPOAONLINE.ORG different marketing tactics. And, learn how to effectively screen for good paying tenants that will take care of your rentals and stay out of trouble with the law. This course covers the essentials needed to find and attract the best possible tenants and help you increase your rental profits. Emma Persons, Property Manager, will present the course, which includes: • • • • • • • • • •

A primer on federal, state and local fair housing laws Preparing your property for showing to attract quality tenants Setting rent Where to advertise Incentive programs Setting screening criteria Screening for tenants using free online resources Using decision reports How to use the Tenant History Website to screen for tenants Reasons you can refuse a tenant

May 17 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

FOUNDATIONS OF BUYING, LEASING & SELLING RENTAL PROPERTY 3 Hours CE Credit for Licensed Real Estate Professionals 3 Hours Credit for RPOA PHP This course covers a complete overview of the entire rental business–from buying a property through management and selling.

If you’re a beginner, this course is a MUST! As the saying goes, you don’t know what you don’t know. Not knowing can leave you in the crosshairs of a government agency or, worse yet, an ambulance chasing attorney. Even if you’re not new to the rental business, there are lots of things to learn, including updates on local and state laws. It never hurts to take a refresher course as good insurance against future mishaps. Presented by Clay Powell, RPOA Director, and Licensed Real Estate Salesperson. Some of the points covered in the course include: •

Proper due diligence before buying or turning your existing home into a rental property.

•

Federal, State, and local regulations regarding rental property ownership and management.

•

Methods for effective management, including tenant screening, dealing with problem tenants, evictions, and more.

•

Setting rental rates and effectively advertising rental

property.

•

Proper forms to use for leasing.

•

What to do before selling a rental property.

Upcoming EPA RRP Courses April 26 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

EPA RRP CERTIFICATION TRAINING 8 Hours CE Credit for MI Licensed Real Estate Professionals & Builders Earn EPA RRP Renovator Certifications Not knowing how to work in a lead-safe manner can expose your rental business to liability. The EPA now requires all landlords to use lead-safe work practices and be certified under the new RRP rules. Ed Wenz, Certified Lead Safe Work Practices Trainer, licensed contractor and Landlord, will teach lead-safe work practices in a comprehensive session. Seating limited to only 12 participants! Don’t wait to register. $215 Members/ $235 Non-members

April 27 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

EPA RRP REFRESHER COURSE This course teaches rental property owners, contractors and other paid professionals how to work safely in housing with lead-based paint and comply with EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, and HUD’s Lead Safe Housing Rule. If you have a current RRP Certification, look at your expiration date. If you took the RRP class 5 years ago, you are due for recertification. Sign up before your expiration date to maintain your eligibility for this class. Those who wait until or after the expiration date will be required to take the 8 hour class instead of the 4 hour class. $168 Members/ $188 Non-members

All events are held at the RPOA office unless otherwise noted.

Cost: $35 Gold/Silver/Affiliate members, $45 non-members unless otherwise noted.

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 27

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

TRUTH IN RENTING Continued from page 25

Rent Adjustment Provisions A landlord cannot alter a lease provision without the written consent of the tenant. However, a lease can contain a provision allowing for certain rent adjustments, provided that the tenant is given at least 30 days advance written notice. Permitted adjustments include increases that are: • required by local, state or federal law; • required to protect the tenant's health, safety or enjoyment of the property; or • necessary to cover additional operating costs resulting from increases in property taxes, insurance premiums, or utility bills.

Rent increases for other reasons, such as increased maintenance and labor costs, are not permitted.

The Consequences for Violating the Truth in Renting Act When a tenant discovers a prohibited provision in their lease, the Renting Act encourages them to write a letter to their landlord, pointing out the questionable provision(s). Once the landlord receives the tenant’s letter, he/she has 20 days to correct the problem (not just in this lease, but in all leases containing the problematic provision) by: 1. notifying all tenants potentially affected by provision; and 2. voiding or altering the illegal provision.

If the landlord fails to cure the lease within 20 days, any affected tenant may seek relief by taking one or more of the following actions to: • • • •

void the rental agreement and terminate the tenancy; enjoin the landlord from using the prohibited provision in any future rental agreements; require the landlord to remove the provision from all other existing rental agreements; or, recover damages in the amount of $250 or actual damages, whichever is greater.

Again, this article is intended as an overview. Should you have detailed concerns about a lease provision and whether it is disallowed by law, it might be a good idea to either consult with a licensed attorney or contact RPOA directly.

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WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 29

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

ARE YOU READY FOR RETIREMENT? How do you know?

Equity Trust can give you the peace of mind you need to get there with tools like the Self-Directed IRA Success Kit. And did you know that RPOA Members receive: • a free account for one full year • no annual maintenance fee • National REIA Gold Level Service • over $700 of wealth building education & tools for free Head over to the RPOA website to learn how you can start taking advantage of discounts like this as well as many others from national and local businesses. www.rpoaonline.org

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WHERE LANDLORDS GO FOR SUCCESS

Procedures & Prices RPOA & REI DECISION REPORT REQUEST

PLEASE FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES BELOW WHEN REQUESTING DECISION REPORTS FROM THE RPOA: • When possible, please use the RPOA Decision Report Request

Form and fax it to the RPOA office at 616-454-6163 OR send us an e-mail with the same information to: contactrpoa@rpoaonline.org.

(DO NOT fax applications to us.)

• You must have the following minimum information to run a report: • First and last name of prospective tenant(s).

• Current address of the prospective tenant, including street with number, city, state and zip code.

Ad-o-Grams CARPET CLEANING RPOA members receive 25% discount. Premium carpet care at affordable prices. Call for free estimates! RPOA member Dave Bigelow at 616-822-4710 or Grand Rapids Carpet and Furniture Cleaners at 616-453-5368.

• Social Security Number.

• Date of Birth • Your RPOA member #, name of membership, and an indication on how you would like the completed reports handled, i.e. faxed back to you (if so, provide the fax number), or you will call the office for the report, or you will pick up the report in person.

• WAIT AT LEAST THREE (3) HOURS before contacting the RPOA office for your reports. Though we can sometimes get reports done quicker, there are many things out of our control that can interfere with this process, including but not limited to credit reporting agency computer problems.

• Contact us for your decision report results promptly. For reasons of confidentiality we shred all reports after 3 days.

AAA

OTHER GUIDELINES FOR DECISION REPORTS: • You cannot run a decision report on yourself.

• You can only run a decision report on another family member if you are doing a business transaction with that person that is related to real estate or rental property.

• You cannot run a decision report for another business person, real estate agent or landlord. Your credit reporting privileges through RPOA extend only to your personal business.

• You can only run a decision report for a legitimate business transaction where credit is required. These transactions include owner financed real estate, leasing, collections and land contracts.

High Efficient Heating & Cooling, LLC

616 -301- 4195

Discounts to RPOA Members!

Ed Stawicki

Certified City Inspections

Commercial Residential Licensed & Insured

• You must follow all the rules and regulations of the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. A copy of this Act is available at the RPOA. • You must give a person denied housing or financing because of information contained in a credit report a notice to that effect. Examples of notices that you can use and what needs to be included in the notice can be found in the RPOA office; or log on to the RPOA website (www.rpoaonline.org) and go to Tenant Screening.

REPORT PRICES (AS OF JANUARY 2017) Single: $18.50 Double: $30.50 Criminal Background Report, additional charge.

(616) 532-3626 or (888) 821-8846 Gerritsappliances.com

April 2018 MICHIGAN LANDLORD 31

RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Tom Koetsier (616) 550-4447 Email: tkoetsier@grar.com President Elect: Brian Hamrick (616) 975-9770 E-mail: brian@higinvestor.com Secretary & Past President: Mark Troy (616) 452-4200 E-mail: mtroy@compass101.com Treasurer: Russ VandenToorn (616) 965-2300 1459 Michigan St. NE • Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Phone:

(616) 454-3385 • Fax: (616) 454-6163

E-mail:

contactrpoa@rpoaonline.org

Web Sites:

www.rpoaonline.org

www.MIrentalguide.com

www.tenanthistorywebsite.org

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The Rental Property Owners Association is a nonprofit business association whose mission is to support and facilitate its members’ success in real estate investment and management.

Steve DeKoster (616) 776-0572 Ryan Hansen (616) 891-4328 David Hill (616) 254-8417 Chad Hovermale (616) 890-2550 Allison Koetsier (616) 633-9445 Brandon Krieg (616) 606-3390 James Loftus (616) 889-0488 Sharon Olson (616)498-4896 John Potter (616) 957-1294 Mark VanderHyde (616) 301-0999 Justin Workman (616) 318-6400

E-mail: russ@rentupm.com

E-mail: sdeko@aol.com E-mail: ryan@indoorclimatesolutions.net E-mail: dhill@kreisenderle.com E-mail: hovermac@gmail.com E-mail: akoetsier@compass101.com E-mail: info@thehoneybeehomes.com E-mail: loftja@gmail.com E-mail: smolson4@live.com E-mail: jpotter@grar.com E-mail: mark@grmetroplumbing.com E-mail: worknitproperties@gmail.com

RPOA STAFF: (616) 454-3385 Clay Powell, Director E-mail: clayp@rpoaonline.org Ava Grover

E-mail: avag@rpoaonline.org

Heather VandenBos E-mail: heatherv@rpoaonline.org Rachel Wood

E-mail: rachelw@rpoaonline.org

Angela Weston

E-mail: rpoaoutreach@rpoaonline.org

MAGAZINE EDITOR Clay Powell (616) 454-3385 E-mail: clayp@rpoaonline.org

MAGAZINE DESIGN & LAYOUT Rachel Wood

E-mail: rachelw@rpoaonline.org

AD SALES Kathy Bartnick (616) 318-3503

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E-mail: kvallie@aol.com

MICHIGAN

LANDLORD THE PUBLICATION OF THE RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION 1459 MICHIGAN STREET NE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503 PHONE: 616.454.3385 FAX: 616.454.6163 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED