Kathy A. Hertzog was recently quoted in at least two newspapers across the country that printed follow-up stories dated October 4, 2007 (additional articles may run on later dates in other papers). These articles ran in several papers, including ones in Ohio, Indianapolis and Nashville, Arizona, Kentucky. The articles contain information about the Fair Housing Act and how to identify and report different types of discrimination. Links to two of the papers carrying the story are shown below.
The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY - CLOSED DOORS: Housing discrimination complaints on rise across country - Update: Landlords can set standards for tenants, buyers
DEBORAH BARFIELD BERRY, Gannett News Service, October 4, 2007
AZCentral.com (Main Story) - CLOSED DOORS: Housing discrimination complaints on rise across country
DEBORAH BARFIELD BERRY, Gannett News Service, October 4, 2007
AZCentral.com (Where Quoted) - CLOSED DOORS: Housing discrimination complaints on rise across country - Update: Landlords can set standards for tenants, buyers
DEBORAH BARFIELD BERRY, Gannett News Service, October 4, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Update on ProposedTax Changes HB 3648
Thank you! Here is some additional information regarding H.R. 3648. It has been sent to the Senate Finance Committee. Information can be tracked at thomas.loc.gov (Library of Congress) under "HB3648," summary & status. Below are the members of the Senate Subcommittee on Taxation. This bill has passed the House, but it has not yet passed the Senate.
Janet
SUBCOMMITTEE ON TAXATION AND IRS OVERSIGHT AND LONG-TERM GROWTH
Kent Conrad, ND, Chairman
Jon Kyl, AZ, Ranking Member
Saturday, October 6, 2007
New Tax Changes Proposed by the House Ways & Means Committee (Introduction by Janet Bergeron)
There's a bill that was just put forth unanimously from the committee which takes away the tax exclusion of living in a house for two of the past five years, if it was a rental or vacation home.
There is some very minimal grandfathering, more of use to people getting out of the rental business sooner rather than those of us who want to hold. The whole banking industry is behind this bill: it's the one that relives people in foreclosure of their tax on debt relief - very popular right now. It will take lots of folks speaking up, but so far, all I've heard is silence in the press. You have a way of getting the word out. Some of the bill information is available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov.
Also, if it would be a concern that some landlords are in foreclosure, this doesn't have to be an either or. A bill can be written that eliminates tax on forgiven debt and does not take away the tax exclusion that so many landlords need when selling a house they have lived in & rented. But... the word has to get out. People's retirement savings is on the line!
House Committee on Ways and Means
There is some very minimal grandfathering, more of use to people getting out of the rental business sooner rather than those of us who want to hold. The whole banking industry is behind this bill: it's the one that relives people in foreclosure of their tax on debt relief - very popular right now. It will take lots of folks speaking up, but so far, all I've heard is silence in the press. You have a way of getting the word out. Some of the bill information is available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov.
Also, if it would be a concern that some landlords are in foreclosure, this doesn't have to be an either or. A bill can be written that eliminates tax on forgiven debt and does not take away the tax exclusion that so many landlords need when selling a house they have lived in & rented. But... the word has to get out. People's retirement savings is on the line!
| For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 4, 2007 | Contact: Matthew Beck or J. Jioni Palmer     (202) 225-8933 |
| Housing Tax Relief Bill Passes Full House Legislation would prevent families from receiving tax bill following mortgage foreclosure WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives gave overwhelming bipartisan support to H.R. 3648, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, today in response to some of the tax issues that have arisen as a result of problems in the subprime mortgage market. The measure passed the full House 386 to 27. Similar legislation is pending before the U.S. Senate. Under current law, debt forgiven following mortgage foreclosure or renegotiation is considered income for tax purposes, resulting in tax liability for individuals and families. The House bill, written by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), would provide tax relief to families by permanently excluding debt forgiven under these circumstances from tax liability. It is estimated that two million American families could lose their homes to foreclosure due to rising interest rates in the current housing market crisis. "I am happy that Congress came together to give bipartisan support for this common sense bill to help alleviate the pressure American families are feeling due to the subprime mortgage crisis," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel. "It is just not right or fair that families struggling through a foreclosure would then face a tax bill in addition to losing their homes when they have seen no increase in their net worth. This bill rights that wrong and provides tax relief to millions of American families." The bill would also help would-be homeowners secure their investments and avoid high interest, "piggy-back" loans for down payments through a long-term extension of the tax deduction for mortgage insurance while also easing restrictions for qualifying as housing cooperative corporations. Finally, the bipartisan bill would tighten requirements taxpayers must meet to exclude gain from the sale of certain homes that have been used as a vacation home or rental property. H.R. 3648 has received strong support from the housing and mortgage industries, including the National Association of Realtors, Mortgage Bankers Association and National Association of Homebuilders. Please click here to view a summary of the legislation and letters of support for H.R. 3648. Click here to view Ways and Means Members Support for Housing Tax Relief Bill. | |
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Gannet Newspapers Interview Landlord Association.Org President, Kathy A. Hertzog, for Follow-Up Regarding Fair Housing Law and Landlords
Gannett Newspapers have been running a series on fair housing laws and discrimination.
Landlord Association.Org President, Kathy A. Hertzog, was interviewed by Deborah Berry, a reporter for the Gannet Newspapers, on October 3, 2007. Her comments may appear in a follow-up article expected to be published in October.
Here are links to the first in a series on fair housing laws and discrimination. If and when the follow-up story is run, it will be linked in another posting.
Landlord Association.Org President, Kathy A. Hertzog, was interviewed by Deborah Berry, a reporter for the Gannet Newspapers, on October 3, 2007. Her comments may appear in a follow-up article expected to be published in October.
Here are links to the first in a series on fair housing laws and discrimination. If and when the follow-up story is run, it will be linked in another posting.
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Friday, September 28, 2007
Hoarding and Cluttering Conference 2007 - Progress Not Perfection: Improving Health, Safety and Comfort Through Harm Reduction
I am a representative of the Mental Health Association of San Francisco. I would love your site's help in publicizing our event: Hoarding and Cluttering Conference 2007 on October 18. The event pertains to those who are landlords as hoarding and cluttering is highly correlated with eviction rates.
THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SAN FRANCISCO PRESENTS:
Hoarding and Cluttering Conference 2007 - Progress Not Perfection: Improving Health, Safety and Comfort Through Harm Reduction
Date: Thursday, October 18, 2007
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(Registration begins at 8:15 a.m.)
Location: St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Keynote Speaker: Michael A. Tompkins, Ph.D.
This is MHA-SF's 10th annual Conference on Hoarding and Cluttering.
Compulsive hoarding and cluttering refers to the acquisition of and failure to discard a large number of possessions, which appear to be useless or of limited value, in an attempt to decrease stress and anxiety. This serious and prevalent problem can lead to eviction and homelessness. It is often a feature of several psychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit disorder and major depression, and can be caused or aggravated by problems associated with increasing age or physical disabilities.
Online registration is now available from our website! Click here to register now!
For more information about the conference click here.
(http://www.mha-sf.org/programs/hcconf.cfm)
If the above registration link does not work, paste this URL into your browser to register now!:
https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/MentalHealthAssociationofS/HCRegistration
THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SAN FRANCISCO PRESENTS:
Hoarding and Cluttering Conference 2007 - Progress Not Perfection: Improving Health, Safety and Comfort Through Harm Reduction
Date: Thursday, October 18, 2007
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(Registration begins at 8:15 a.m.)
Location: St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Keynote Speaker: Michael A. Tompkins, Ph.D.
This is MHA-SF's 10th annual Conference on Hoarding and Cluttering.
Compulsive hoarding and cluttering refers to the acquisition of and failure to discard a large number of possessions, which appear to be useless or of limited value, in an attempt to decrease stress and anxiety. This serious and prevalent problem can lead to eviction and homelessness. It is often a feature of several psychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit disorder and major depression, and can be caused or aggravated by problems associated with increasing age or physical disabilities.
Online registration is now available from our website! Click here to register now!
For more information about the conference click here.
(http://www.mha-sf.org/programs/hcconf.cfm)
If the above registration link does not work, paste this URL into your browser to register now!:
https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/MentalHealthAssociationofS/HCRegistration
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Do Heating Bills Leave You Cold? Natural Gas Costs To Rise Sharply In 2008- Are You Prepared?
Do Heating Bills Leave You Cold?
Natural Gas Costs To Rise Sharply In 2008- Are You Prepared?
Utility costs are one of the largest operating expenses facing multifamily property owners. The demand for natural gas in the
Until today, there was not an effective and reliable way to bill residents for heat system expenses because of device tampering and undetected hardware malfunctions. The industry has forged ahead despite some early challenges because the benefits of heat cost allocation far outweigh the risks. Thankfully, those early hurdles have been overcome and heat cost recovery systems are better than ever. Benefits include:
- Recover gas costs, increasing the value of your property
- Receive consulting on gas conservation and heat ventilation and air conditioning systems
- Lower resident heat consumption
- Improve resident satisfaction through lower heating bills
- Manage costs through budgeting, analysis and cost recovery reporting tools
Heating Systems are Like Snowflakes
Every property has unique features to its heating system, and the heat cost recovery solution will need to be tailored to each location. When you select your service provider, make sure that they are staffed by certified technicians who are trained to perform a detailed, on-site survey to evaluate and recommend the most complete and efficient utility allocation system for your property.
Cool New Hardware Choices
There are many hardware solutions on the market that can measure time; there are also new solutions that measure both time and temperature for optimal accuracy. This technology allows property owners and managers to measure the individual use of forced hot air furnaces, hydronic baseboard and fan coil boiler/chiller systems, fireplaces and domestic hot water heaters.
These advanced devices detect and remotely communicate whether each monitoring device is working correctly and if it has been disabled, which ensures flawless and accurate heat cost monitoring to recover maximum gas costs and equitable billing of residents.
ista
Heat Cost Monitoring Systems Save Money
A heat cost monitoring system helps recover the rising costs of natural gas, and provides a rapid return on investment, thereby increasing property value. Once you start monitoring your heating costs, you will also need to have a system in place to bill your residents. Many companies offer both hardware installation and billing and support services. When selecting a company to provide your heat cost monitoring and billing services, you should consider the following:
- What hardware do they use?
- How much experience does the company have billing for heat?
- Are their technicians certified and prepared to conduct a thorough onsite survey?
- Do they have in-house regulatory expertise that is familiar with the billing regulations in your state and county?
- Are they prepared to customize a solution to meet your property’s unique circumstances?
- Do they offer a call center for resident billing questions and disputes?
- What kind of training will they provide to your on-property staff?
- What kind of maintenance plan do they offer?
- Do they offer financing options?
- Do they offer any additional services that can enhance your billing program?
Resources:
- www.ashrae.org - Ashrae Guideline 8p Energy Cost Allocation for Multiple-Occupancy Residential Buildings
- http://www.price-hvac.com/media/trainingModule.aspx#flash – Basics of HVAC Flash module
- www.ista-na.com
Thursday, August 2, 2007
ZERO TOLERANCE - Learn About What It Means to Enforce A Zero Tolerance System
So You're a Landlord? Or are you thinking about becoming one? Let me tell you it ain't easy!
You're probably sinking in your chair right about now thinking, "I'm not even two sentences into the article, and already I'm nervous." Don't be. We here at LandlordAssociation.Org believe in giving you the truth - nothing more, nothing less.
Let's talk about one of the fundamental aspects of our business that no one seems to talk enough about. This is the avenue of collections, i.e. you getting paid on time. We want you to develop what we call a "Zero Tolerance Policy." We're not advocating that you become a ruthless tyrant or an old man Potter from "It's a Wonderful Life", but we are saying that you ought to have a line that no one crosses. It's really up to you set that line, but you have to have one. It is an absolute must. This business that we are involved in is a very simple, yet very complicated business. Many times you are faced with decisions that, as a business owner, are easy, but as an individual, are difficult. In those times, you must remember why you are in this business . . .TO MAKE MONEY.
You may be asking yourself, "How do I create a Zero Tolerance Policy?" This is what we recommend.
1. BE THE BANK. - The bank doesn't care about your inability to pay. They are all business - so are you.
2. DRAW THE LINE. - You don't have to throw people out on the street on the 2nd of the month. You should have a system set up. For example: The rent is always due on the first, there is a grace period until the fifth. After the fifth, there is a $25.00 late fee. If the rent is not received by the 10th, then the eviction starts.
3. KEEP FLEXIBILITY IN CHECK. - We're not trying to contradict our previous statements or confuse you, but this is your opportunity to be a humanitarian - without getting burned. You may choose to grant a one time extension to an individual who really needs it. This extension should not be so long that it leaves you exposed. A respectable extension could be five days. You should only decide to grant this extension, if the tenant has contacted you. Never, never, grant an extension to an individual that you have to contact for the rent. You will most likely be out five more days of rent. Also, make absolutely certain to inform your tenant that this is a one time extension and that this cannot become a habit. If after the five days, the tenant balks when you ask for the money, YOU EVICT.
4. STICK TO YOUR GUNS. - When the time comes, you will do what you have to do. This is not something that is fun or comfortable it's business. You have to put food on the table and you also have to pay a bank that doesn't accept excuses as payment.
5. OPERATE FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH. - Make certain that you pace your business growth. Just because you can buy a piece of property doesn't mean that you can afford it. Understanding this principal will help keep you out of financial trouble. If you are desperate for money because you're spread thin and have no cushion in the bank, you're going to start playing "Let's Make a Deal." This is not a game you want to play when you're collecting rent. It is better to take the loss and evict, than to hope that some late payer will get you out of hot water. Believe me, money in the bank takes a lot of stress out of this business.
Don't deviate from the system! Don't do it! I know that there will be times that you will want to, but it is in your financial best interest not to. Believe me, I know!
You're probably sinking in your chair right about now thinking, "I'm not even two sentences into the article, and already I'm nervous." Don't be. We here at LandlordAssociation.Org believe in giving you the truth - nothing more, nothing less.
Let's talk about one of the fundamental aspects of our business that no one seems to talk enough about. This is the avenue of collections, i.e. you getting paid on time. We want you to develop what we call a "Zero Tolerance Policy." We're not advocating that you become a ruthless tyrant or an old man Potter from "It's a Wonderful Life", but we are saying that you ought to have a line that no one crosses. It's really up to you set that line, but you have to have one. It is an absolute must. This business that we are involved in is a very simple, yet very complicated business. Many times you are faced with decisions that, as a business owner, are easy, but as an individual, are difficult. In those times, you must remember why you are in this business . . .TO MAKE MONEY.
You may be asking yourself, "How do I create a Zero Tolerance Policy?" This is what we recommend.
1. BE THE BANK. - The bank doesn't care about your inability to pay. They are all business - so are you.
2. DRAW THE LINE. - You don't have to throw people out on the street on the 2nd of the month. You should have a system set up. For example: The rent is always due on the first, there is a grace period until the fifth. After the fifth, there is a $25.00 late fee. If the rent is not received by the 10th, then the eviction starts.
3. KEEP FLEXIBILITY IN CHECK. - We're not trying to contradict our previous statements or confuse you, but this is your opportunity to be a humanitarian - without getting burned. You may choose to grant a one time extension to an individual who really needs it. This extension should not be so long that it leaves you exposed. A respectable extension could be five days. You should only decide to grant this extension, if the tenant has contacted you. Never, never, grant an extension to an individual that you have to contact for the rent. You will most likely be out five more days of rent. Also, make absolutely certain to inform your tenant that this is a one time extension and that this cannot become a habit. If after the five days, the tenant balks when you ask for the money, YOU EVICT.
4. STICK TO YOUR GUNS. - When the time comes, you will do what you have to do. This is not something that is fun or comfortable it's business. You have to put food on the table and you also have to pay a bank that doesn't accept excuses as payment.
5. OPERATE FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH. - Make certain that you pace your business growth. Just because you can buy a piece of property doesn't mean that you can afford it. Understanding this principal will help keep you out of financial trouble. If you are desperate for money because you're spread thin and have no cushion in the bank, you're going to start playing "Let's Make a Deal." This is not a game you want to play when you're collecting rent. It is better to take the loss and evict, than to hope that some late payer will get you out of hot water. Believe me, money in the bank takes a lot of stress out of this business.
Don't deviate from the system! Don't do it! I know that there will be times that you will want to, but it is in your financial best interest not to. Believe me, I know!
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