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H. Battle & Associates Certified Process Server and Mobile Notary

H. Battle & Associates Certified Process Server and Mobile Notary

  • Posted: Apr 23, 2020
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H. Battle & Associates
(727) 642-6473
Certified Process Server and Mobile Notary

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CPS#207414- 20TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
PROCESS SERVICE

  • Serving Summons, Alias Summons & Pluries Summons
  • Serving Complaints, Petitions, Motions, Notices, Interrogatories, Orders
  • Serving Mortgage Foreclosure Complaint and Lis Pendens
  • Serving Subpoena for Deposition, Subpoena for Hearing, Subpoena for Trial, Subpoena Duces Tecum
  • Serving Writ of Garnishment, Writ of Replevin
  • Serving Eviction Summons, Residential and Commercial

 

Harry Battle
PO Box 380056
Murdock, FL 33938
nsa-battle@comcast.net
Phone: (727) 642-6473
Fax: (941) 876-3326

 

Over 45 years of law enforcement experience and 20 years as a certified process server. I have the experience and expertise to offer you excellent service. I have the ability to serve those that don’t want to be served and in areas that many refuse to go.

VIETNAM VETERAN WHO WILL GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME

 

 

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For most, housing is the largest monthly expense. That means millions of Americans are struggling to come up with their rent for April and beyond.

For most, housing is the largest monthly expense. That means millions of Americans are struggling to come up with their rent for April and beyond.

  • Posted: Apr 18, 2020
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The coronavirus pandemic is responsible for some of the most staggering unemployment numbers our country has ever seen. In the last week alone, 6.6 million people applied for jobless benefits, according to the Labor Department. That number is expected to increase, and the unemployment rate may ultimately reach 32%.

Even though the coronavirus has significantly altered most aspects of daily life, one thing that hasn’t changed is the cost of living. Though some workers are fortunate to still have their jobs, many will be forced to make tough decisions about which bills get paid.

Nearly 3 in 4 Americans report personal finance challenges as a result of the crisis, according to an analysis by data research startup Elucd. Seventy-two percent of Americans are unable to pay their expenses as normal, while 18% report being completely unable to cover their expenses this month.

For most, housing is the largest monthly expense. That means millions of Americans are struggling to come up with their rent for April and beyond.

Ashley Hubbard, a 33-year-old freelance writer and blogger, is one of them. She couldn’t afford her $1,365 rent payment for April and is worried things won’t look any better in May. As someone who primarily covers the travel industry, the Nashville resident estimates her income has decreased by 80% to 90% over the last couple of months.

 

 

“I had multiple campaigns I was working on either be canceled or postponed indefinitely,” she said. “One, in particular, was a yearlong technical writing contract set to begin right at the time everything happened and was canceled with no set date to pick it back up again. Many publications are no longer accepting pitches, which drastically has narrowed the pool of opportunities.”

Hubbard was able to work out a payment plan with her landlord for her April rent. However, the solution is only temporary. “They are offering to break up the payment into four payments over the course of April and May,” she said. Hubbard was allowed to choose the amounts and dates of the payments, but she must be squared up by the end of May.

“This helps somewhat, but only if I start making more money in the next couple of weeks. And as of now, May’s rent will still be due on May 1, which means I’ll basically be paying double in May. So it somewhat feels like I’m just postponing the problem.”

 

 

Governments Issue Eviction Moratoriums As Coronavirus Wreaks Financial Havoc

With so many tenants in Hubbard’s position, emergency measures to protect against evictions due to nonpayment of rent have been temporarily put in place.

On the federal level, as part of the newly enacted CARES Act, a 120-day moratorium on evictions and late fees was placed on federally subsidized housing and properties financed through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or the Federal Housing Administration. Unfortunately, this applies only to 12.3 million rental properties, or about a quarter of renters. Most rental properties are financed by private lenders and therefore don’t qualify for the aid.

And it’s tough for renters to know if they’re protected. “As a tenant, it’s almost impossible to know whether you qualify for the eviction moratorium because your landlord has a federally financed mortgage,” said Holden Lewis, home and mortgage expert for personal finance site NerdWallet. “Your lease doesn’t contain information about your landlord’s mortgage.”

The good news is, depending on your state, there may be local eviction moratoriums in place as well, according to Leslie Tayne, a debt resolution attorney and author of the book “Life & Debt: A Fresh Approach to Achieving Financial Wellness.” “At least 34 states have put eviction moratoriums in place, some banning all evictions for the time being while others only if the tenant has been diagnosed with COVID-19,” she said.

For example, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo suspended evictions for residential and commercial tenants affected by the coronavirus for 90 days. “Now housing courts are closed…. You cannot be taken to court for nonpayment of rent for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, and you cannot be evicted for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis,” said Celia “Cea” Weaver, campaign coordinator for the Upstate-Downstate Housing Alliance, who led the push for Cuomo to issue that moratorium.

The problem? Once the moratorium is up, there’s nothing in place to prevent landlords from then pursuing legal action for nonpayment. “It’s scary, but that’s what we’re working on right now,” Weaver said. “How we respond to the fact that nobody can pay their rent sets the tone for what an economic recovery could really look like.”

The end goal, she said, is to bail out people and not banks.

Similarly, in California, there is a moratorium on evictions for failure to pay rent through the end of May. “The moratorium only applies to tenants who are unable to pay rent due to a financial issue caused by the coronavirus,” said Paul Mankin, a consumer protection attorney in San Diego. For example, tenants must have lost their job, had hours reduced, become ill or have an immediate family member who is ill and must be cared for in order to qualify.

Tenants also have to write their landlord within seven days of rent being due, declaring their inability to pay and providing an explanation as to why. “I suggest tenants write the same letter in May if their financial situation has not improved,” Mankin said.

Dozens of cities have adopted similar measures, and some have put even stronger protections in place than the state. In Oakland, California, for instance, the Keep Oakland Housed program provides $2.5 million in emergency financial assistance, legal representation and more to local tenants.

 

 

Does This Mean You Don’t Have To Pay Rent?

Though there are various eviction moratoriums in place, there is currently no national or statewide rent freeze or executive order stating that tenants are not responsible for paying rent, according to Samuel Evan Goldberg, a tenant attorney with Goldberg & Lindenberg, P.C. in New York City. That means even if you are protected against eviction, you still have to pay up at some point.

“A moratorium isn’t a pass to skip paying rent,” Tayne said. “It means that your landlord cannot sue you for nonpayment or pursue the eviction process while the moratorium is in place.” The burden of responsibility still falls on the renter to work out a payment plan and eventually repay what they owe.

Mankin added that the expectation is tenants will have a reasonable amount of time to do so. As of now, however, there are no guidelines as to how long a reasonable amount of time is.

 

Is There Any Relief For Landlords?

Collin Crook, a San Francisco Bay Area resident who owns a rental property in Portland, Oregon, is beginning to feel the pinch from the other side. Crook said he rents to a couple who own a food truck and catered to both corporate and individual customers before the pandemic struck. “Their revenue… evaporated in less than 48 hours,” he said.

Crook explained that it’s critical for tenants who can’t pay rent to communicate with their landlords early and often. “They most likely hold a mortgage and need to make payments each month, too.”

Failing to receive rent payments for April and beyond could lead to the inability of some landlords to pay the utility bills for their units. And as more tenants lose work and fall further behind financially, it will create a snowball effect.

The stimulus bill does allow landlords of multifamily properties with federally backed mortgages to get a break on making payments if they promise they won’t evict their tenants. Again, however, this protects only a fraction of properties. And though private lenders have been urged to suspend mortgage payments and foreclosures on rental properties, local officials don’t have the authority to force them to do so.

Still, some banks are willing to be flexible. Crook said he holds two mortgage loans ― one for his primary residence and one for his rental ― and both banks have reached out to offer financial assistance. “Your landlord probably has the means to delay payment via their lender, and they should offer you the same flexibility,” he said.

Crook added that even though both tenants and property owners are facing an unprecedented situation, it’s landlords who ultimately took on risk and chose to leverage themselves and their liquidity to own property. “Just because the markets tank, or global pandemic hits and you never thought it could happen, does not absolve you from that,” he said. “Far too often, I see those in the position of privilege forget this.”

 

 

What To Do If You Can’t Afford Rent Payments

Even so, landlords also have bills to pay, including property taxes, insurance, wages for property managers and maintenance workers, and invoices for repairs. “If you can afford to pay your rent, either fully or partially, keep in mind that some of that money will go toward paying fellow working people,” Lewis said. In other words, if you can afford to pay rent, you should.

If, on the other hand, you’ve lost income in the last couple of months and covering your rent isn’t a possibility, there are a few steps you should take.

First, find out if your state or city has an eviction moratorium. Each city and state has its own guidelines, so be sure you understand the rules before you skip your payment. “The coronavirus has put a lot of hardworking Americans in a tough financial situation, so keep in mind that as the epidemic progresses, it’s likely that we’ll see more laws put into place to help those that lost their jobs avoid eviction,” Tayne said.

If you have a pending eviction notice, Tayne recommends contacting the agency listed on the warrant to make sure it is aware of any eviction moratorium in place.

In the meantime, it’s a good idea to discuss your concerns with your landlord. “Try to work out a payment that makes sense for you and that the landlord is willing to accept during this time,” Tayne said. You should also regularly check the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s rental help resources for each state.

If you own a small business, Mankin said, you could consider applying for a Small Business Administration disaster loan. “These loans are fairly easy to qualify for and are approved quickly,” he noted.

“For others, there really aren’t a lot of great options out there in terms of accessing money,” Mankin said. You might be tempted to turn to risky payday lenders or car title loan companies as a means of quick cash, but Mankin warned that these options are incredibly expensive in the long run.

For now, you may have a stimulus check to rely on for temporary financial assistance. But depending on where you live, that may or may not cover even one month’s rent. As the pandemic continues and financial fallout intensifies, more will need to be done.

“The reality here is that this is the definition of kicking the can down the road,” Weaver said. “It’s really postponing a crisis; it’s not solving it.” There will still be millions of people who can’t afford to pay their rent, regardless of whether or not they can be evicted, she said, and that problem isn’t going to go away when the threat of the virus has lifted.

 

We provide and help with eviction’s in every State. Many Landlords and Managers own or manage properties that are leased to tenants in exchange for monthly rental fees. Some have an effective rental plan; but what do you do when the Tenants don’t pay the rent? or break the rules defined in the lease?

Companies can be hired to carry out the duties often associated with landlords, such as rent collection and maintenance. It is here that we help property owners and investors with evictions when there is a Non Paying Tenant in your properties. NationalEvictions and our protections help you with evictions for your properties.  Learn the Eviction Process, Find the Forms you will need in an Eviction, Search for Companies on our Directory: Law Firms, Process Servers, Court Services and Filing companies all of them are ready to help.

 

Florida tenants can’t be evicted during governor’s moratorium on evictions

Florida tenants can’t be evicted during governor’s moratorium on evictions

  • Posted: Apr 18, 2020
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Attorney suggests tenants contact landlord to work out alternative arrangements, This does not mean you dont have to pay rent!

 

We are here to help Landlords and Tenants navigate evictions.

Find out more on NationalEvictions.com

 

 

On April 2, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order suspending evictions and foreclosures for 45 days amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Some residents in Orlando say that despite that order they’re still receiving eviction notices from their landlords.

Michelle Hinden is a Central Florida attorney specializing in residential and commercial real estate law. She said while landlords can still send out eviction notices, they won’t be executed until the moratoriums are lifted.

During News 6’s digital town hall Thursday, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings explained that the county is following that order.

“Evictions can’t be processed further by the clerk or served by the sheriff. What I’m saying to you is, there is no mechanism to evict people in the state of Florida. That won’t last forever, those property owners will be able to get their money,” Demings said.

With $1,200 COVID-19 federal stimulus checks going out this week, some people said they are concerned that landlords are expecting them to use that money for rental payments. Hinden said there may be certain instances where the money may need to be used for an ill family member or to support children, and landlords can’t force tenants to use that money to pay for rent. However, she said tenants are still contractually obligated to pay their rent and any back rent they owe.

“I can’t think of anything that would permit a landlord to have any claim to any of those funds unless they had some sort of garnishment order in place, and I feel like that would have been done way before this event anyway,” Hinden said.

Hinden says if you are financially strapped right now, talk to your landlord. They may be understanding and able to work out an alternative payment agreement.

“Landlords may have certain obligations themselves that they have to comply with, so the tenant might not even realize the landlords themselves have issues they’re worried about which is why they’re trying to collect on rent. I like to say, contact your landlord, explain what the situation is. If it’s a COVID-19 situation, provide documentation that you were furloughed or laid off or your business shut down. Explain the circumstances,” said Hinden.

Hinden wants tenants to remember, they will eventually have to pay for rent they owe.

Evictions, foreclosures suspended for 45 days

One day after the rent was due, evictions and foreclosures in Florida were suspended for 45 days under a statewide order issued Thursday. The measure is meant to help people remain in their homes at a time when people are supposed to stay inside to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued the executive order Thursday afternoon to provide some relief for renters and homeowners in an economy battered by the global pandemic. The announcement coincided with soaring unemployment claims in Florida and across the U.S. Nationwide, at least 10 million are out of work. In Florida, 227,000 people have filed for unemployment.

As Florida began a month-long “stay-at-home” order, the number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases surpassed 9,000 statewide Thursday evening, jumping by 1,235 from Wednesday. Results from recently increased testing suggest more widespread testing is needed to draw conclusions about how the virus is behaving in the South Florida community, according to experts.

The Florida Department of Health said 144 people have died from the virus that can cause severe respiratory illness. The death toll jumped by 43 new deaths Thursday, the single-largest increase in a day.

 

 

O bviously once this moratorium has lifted, they can proceed with evictions. And once the eviction is filed, tenants have only about five days to deposit any of those back-dated funds into the registry. You may find yourself in a situation where you have to come up with the back rent quickly and you want to be in a good position with your landlord,” she said.

 

Hinden said if you work out a payment plan with your landlord, be sure to get the details of the agreement it in writing with signatures.

 

  • With $1,200 COVID-19 federal stimulus checks going out this week, some people said they are concerned that landlords are expecting them to use that money for rental payments”
    Well isn’t that what the checks are supposed to be for? People paying needed expenses? This isn’t so people can go on a shopping spree or get their “hair did.” If you don’t pay your rent, they will just evict you the day that the order expires. The landlord has bills to pay, too. Those late fees are going to pile up.

 

 

 

Concerned Landlords who have been notified by their renters that rent will not be paid due to the coronavirus. They are asking what should we do?

Concerned Landlords who have been notified by their renters that rent will not be paid due to the coronavirus. They are asking what should we do?

  • Posted: Mar 26, 2020
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Landlords who have been notified by their renters that rent will not be paid due to the coronavirus. What should they do?

They are asking us, how should we as rental housing providers respond to and handle these situations?

On March 16, 2020, The White House signed an Executive Order allowing local jurisdictions to enact eviction protections for renters that experience substantial financial hardships as a result of a tenant’s medical expenses, childcare, loss of wages, layoffs or reduction of hours relating to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Following the order, cities have issued executive orders or have passed ordinances barring certain residential evictions.

 

So, what should you do if a renter tells you that he or she do not want to pay their rent?

Here are a few ways to approach this delicate and challenging issue:

 

1. Communicate With Renters:

First, communicate with your renter. Empathize with them and let he or she know how you feel about these unprecedented circumstances. Explain that all of us are in the same situation and because you want to ensure you can continue to provide them with a safe, well-maintained home, that would be impossible without receiving the rent you depend on to maintain the building and to support your own family.

2. Offer Deferment Of Rent:   read more below on – our five-point plan for dealing with late or missing rent.

Next, when necessary, consider offering a full or partial deferment of rent. But let your renter know any reduced or deferred rent is not forgiven rent, and that they will have to repay you.

3. Ask them to Provide Written Documentation:

Any renter that asks you to reduce or defer rent must provide you with written documentation that they have suffered adverse financial consequences due to the COVID-19 virus resulting in a “substantial” reduction or loss of income for any of the following reasons:

Sickness with COVID-19 or caring for a household or family member who is sick with COVID-19.

Lay-off, loss of hours, or other income reduction resulting from business closure or other economic or employer impacts of COVID-19.

Compliance with a recommendation from a government health authority to stay home, self-quarantine, or avoid congregating with others during the state of emergency.
Extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Childcare needs arising from school closures related to COVID-19.

 

If you have been impacted by one of the situations above, your renter must provide you with written notice of his or her inability to pay the rent as soon as the circumstances set forth above arise. In addition, in order to temporarily avoid eviction proceedings, your renter is obligated provide specific, verifiable supporting financial, employment and/or medical documentation of loss of income and reflecting that his or her loss of income is directly attributable to COVID-19.  After the expiration of the local emergency, the tenant must repay within the period of time set by local ordinance or government order. Be sure any rent reduction or agreement made with your renter is documented in writing through a lease amendment.

 

Remember, the law does not eliminate your renter’s obligation to pay the unpaid rent. After the expiration of the local emergency, your renter is obligated to repay any deferred or forgiven rent, and you as an owner may seek payment of the unpaid rent. if they dont? You may need our services for an eviction or an legal agreement?

 

Of course, if you’re not a landlord, you’re probably wondering, “What’s the big deal? Just do the nice thing and don’t make anyone pay rent.” But as Property Owners, Managers and Landlords we know that’s not necessarily possible, right?

 

I mean—unless the government changes something,  we aren’t just going to be able to stop paying our mortgage payments, our taxes, the insurance, and everything it takes to keep our properties running. And despite what the general population thinks, most landlords are not rich, greedy, multinational corporations with billions sitting in the bank.

Most landlords are people just like you and me—people who, whether by accident or on purpose, ended up with a few rental properties and are trying to manage them while also working a job or running a business.

Most won’t be able to pay the bills on their properties long-term without receiving rent from our tenants.

How can we look at this situation and make decisions that are best for all. Well, I can’t answer for you necessarily, as we all have unique situations. But I can at least share with you my exact strategy that we have come up with.

 

Here’s our five-point plan for dealing with late or missing rent.

 

Step 1: Have a Plan:

Ok, this is kind of a summary point, but it needs to be made. Whether in the Wild West or dealing with a tenant, shooting from the hip is generally a pretty terrible plan. Making decisions on the fly usually results in bad decisions being made, so step one is commit to having a plan written down for how you will deal with this issue.  Because for most property owners, this is not a question of IF but WHEN. Maybe this can become a plan that you follow, but even if you do something entirely different from what I’m about to say… just be sure you are prepared. This way, you won’t be shooting from the hip when that dreaded phone call comes in from the tenant who just lost their job.

Step 2: Empathize:

Now, the remainder of the steps here are more concrete, but I want to make sure we address this. Tenants are people, and they are going through a remarkably scary time, as well. Perhaps it’s even worse than you’re going through, because you’re probably more financially educated than many of your tenants.

So before anything else, listen to your tenant. Talk with them. Empathize with them. We’re all in this together, so let’s remember to be human and keep people before profit in our discussions.

Now that said, we still need rent. We can’t survive financially without it. So, that brings me to step three.

Step 3: Explain That Rent Is Still Due:

For as long as there have been tenants and landlords and bills to be paid, there is a super interesting piece of human behavior at play: People will pay the bills that give them the greatest consequence of not paying. In other words, most people financially struggling can pay most of their bills—but not always all of them.

This is why late fees are so vital in normal landlording. When the choice between paying rent and buying a flat-screen TV are presented to a tenant, the late fee and threat of eviction tips the scale toward using that money to pay rent.

But we’re not really dealing with flat-screen TVs today, are we? Regardless, the principle still applies. It’s likely your tenant is going to have to make some serious decisions on which bills are being paid. This is why after talking with the tenant and sympathizing with them, I believe it’s still important to let them know that the rent is still due.

As I’m sure you’ve heard, evictions are being suspended in most areas of the U.S. right now. The ability to issue a late fee might also be banned soon. Your tenant very well might assume that this means the need to pay rent is being suspended, and it’s your job to inform them otherwise.

Even if you can’t evict right now, it doesn’t mean they still don’t owe the rent, and it doesn’t mean you won’t evict when the courts open back up. You don’t need to be a jerk about it, but letting them know that you have a mortgage and other bills to pay is going to be important.

 

Step 4: Give Your Tenant Options:

Once you’ve explained that the rent is still due, now it’s time to help the tenant navigate this difficult time. We plan to do this by giving them their options, as they may be unaware of the different ways they could come up with the rent.

First, we plan to keep an eye on programs that the government is designing to help tenants. This is a rapidly changing time, so we’ll keep current on assistance programs. Right now, there is a very real possibility that the government is going to issue cash payments to every adult American, which could help. But even if they don’t, there may likely be local, state, or federal programs that could.

Also, we are going to offer other suggestions, as well. For example, could they borrow the money from a relative? Or could the rent be paid via credit card?

In fact, to help where we can, we plan to offer to pay the fee associated with using a credit card. Now would be a good time to get set up with a rent collection system that has the ability to get paid via credit card.

 

Step 5: Emergency Rent Deferral Plan:

Now, this is where I hope my tenants don’t watch this video—because I don’t want the tenant really knowing this is an option. If I brought this up at the beginning for tenants, most everyone would jump at it. Remember, humans will naturally pay the most pressing bill, so I need them to know that rent is incredibly high on their priority list.

So, step five is our “worst-case” measure that will only be mentioned to tenants when they don’t pay their rent—not when they call and say they won’t be able to. We will still let the tenant know that rent is due on the 1st, give them the options I just mentioned, and even still issue a late-notice to the tenant if they miss rent.

But what if they really have exhausted their options and just can’t pay the rent?

This is where we will introduce the tenant to our

 

Have a Rent Deferral Plan
_________________________________________________

And because you followed step one above, we have a specific plan in place to deal with this inevitable situation. Having this documented plan in place shows the tenant that this is not us winging it—but we have a system in place to handle it.

First, there is a really important question we will ask each tenant: “How much CAN you pay toward your rent?”

Chances are, even if they can’t pay all their rent, they can probably pay some of their rent. Maybe their rent is $1,000 per month, and they can only pay $300. We’ll accept that $300 and move onto the deferral plan.

 

Simply put, the ERDP allows the tenant to opt into a payment plan for their rent over the following 10 months. The deferral plan is an addendum to their lease that gives them the ability to take their rent and pay it in equal portions over the next 10 months (beginning the second month after enacting). It basically gives them an extra month before the increased payment begins.

For example, let’s say we’ve gone through all this, but the tenant simply cannot make the April 1st rent. They owe $1,000 in rent and because we asked what they can put toward it, they are able to pay $300. The remaining $700 becomes $70 per month and gets added to their rent beginning June 1st.

So, starting June 1st (not May 1st, and I’ll explain why in a second), they will pay $1,070 per month in rent until next March.

Why not start the payment next month? Simply because I have a strong suspicion that this is not going to end that quickly and a one-month deferral may not be enough time to get back on their feet. This is why we’re going to wait an extra month before adding the extra amount.

Furthermore, it is our company policy that during this time, a tenant will be allowed to use this twice. Of course, we won’t tell them this immediately, because we want to work through steps one through four first on the next month, as well. Rent has to remain a priority.

If after two months they are still unable to pay, the tenant may just need to be removed. This is completely uncharted territory we find ourselves in today, so I’m not going to lie to you and tell you I know exactly what we’ll do then. But the government can’t forever stop evictions and stop making people pay rent while continuing to force mortgage payments and foreclosures—or nearly every single landlord in the country will eventually go bankrupt.

 

If this social distancing, job loss, and potential economic meltdown continues, we’ll make new rules as it happens. My guess is that the government will offer more and more programs to attempt to help, because remember—you and I are not in this alone. Everyone is trying to figure this out.

And we will. Humans have an incredible ability to figure stuff out when the night is darkest. We will get through this. We will survive. We will emerge stronger.

I hope this sheds some light on what I’ll be doing in my personal rental portfolio to handle potential rent issues in the near future. Maybe you’ll be doing something different—and that’s great. I encourage you to share your thoughts below and let us know what your plan is. And perhaps together, we can help the world move forward financially.

 

NationalEvictions.com is here for you, We can prepare notices to be sent to Tenants, Have them Served to your Tenants,  If and when the Notices expire have all the court forms ready to file with the courts for all Landlords

Find out more about your rights on our website: https://NationalEvictions.com

 

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Millions of U.S. households are expected to face financial burdens in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Millions of U.S. households are expected to face financial burdens in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Posted: Mar 26, 2020
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Millions of U.S. households are expected to face financial burdens in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

If you are facing reduced hours or job loss and are worried about making your rent or mortgage payment this month, stay calm — President Trump said Wednesday that the Department of Housing and Urban Development will suspend “all foreclosures and evictions” through the end of April.

That said, you will still want to discuss your options with your mortgage lender or landlord if you have experienced a disruption in your income. Here are some steps to take now.

 

 

If you are a homeowner

Contact your lender

Financial planners and consumer advocates are encouraging homeowners to reach out to their loan servicer directly to discuss payment options as soon as they can.

“Borrowers should first reach out to their mortgage holder and inquire about resources they have to delay payments,” John Graff, a Los Angeles-based real estate broker, tells CNBC Make It. “Many lenders have implemented special waivers due to COVID-19, you should check with them first.”

Lenders have certain obligations under your mortgage contracts, says Ira Rheingold, executive director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. If they aren’t willing to work with you, he suggests reporting them to your state attorney general’s office and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

“You’ve got a long-term relationship with them and they have certain obligations under the law,” says Rheingold. “Contacting them before you are behind is a good thing to do.”

 

Reach out to your bank or credit union

Your bank may also offer hardship programs you can tap into. Don’t wait until your mortgage payment is due to find out about this, call today.

“You have to call and ask about it and most likely apply,”  “Don’t wait until your mortgage payment is due to find out about this, call today. Remember that you don’t have to take advantage of these programs, but it’s worth it to know what’s out there.”

If that doesn’t work,  we suggest contacting your bank to discuss your personal loan options to continue making payments. “Low rates coupled with mass benevolence from corporate America means you may be able to borrow some cash to help tide you over,”

Many banks are already putting together coronavirus response pages. Here are a few major ones:

 

Put your loan in forbearance

A less-than-ideal alternative for homeowners is forbearance, a hardship option that allows you to postpone payments.

“The key here is to inquire about options available for a delay in payments under so-called hardship circumstances,” says Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate.com.

Although this can provide immediate relief, interest will still accrue on your loans. Since you won’t be paying down your principal balance, that means you will likely owe more in the long run because you will owe more in interest than you would if you made regular payments.

If you have to go this route, ask your lender what terms they can offer you. They will be different for each person depending on their financial history and loan provider.

 

If you are a renter

Give your landlord notice

Renters are advised to contact their landlords as soon as they can to talk through delayed or partial payment options.

“Most landlords would be willing to work with a good tenant who is experiencing hardship due to current events,” says Graff.

Work out a payment plan

It’s best to give your landlord at least a partial payment if you can, says Long. Make a payment plan with them with repayment dates, and get everything in writing. She suggests using the following script and inputting your own financial details:

Hi landlord, as you probably know, I’m off work right now. Will you accept $500 this month rather than the typical $1,000?

If you believe you won’t be able to make a payment at all, bring it up to your landlord as soon as possible and, again, ask if you can put a plan into place to pay once you have income again. Long says to ask if you can skip a month and spread the payment out over the next six months (or whatever is realistic for you) once you are back to work.

“Remember that your landlord needs income too, so approach this with empathy for what you’re asking,” she says. Make clear that “you’re just paying late rather than asking for free money.”

You can also call 211 for your local United Way to see if they are offering rent help, Long suggests.

Look for outside assistance

If your landlord refuses to work out a payment plan, Graff suggests turning to your bank for a short-term loan.

“Many banks are offering to help their customers during this difficult time and you should absolutely take advantage of the assistance if you need it,” he says.

 

 

Housing is your top priority

Housing and food should be your top priorities, says Long. After that, take time to figure out what’s going on with your other bills. Both renters and homeowners can check in with creditors and utility companies to see if they are offering financial hardship assistance.

“If your utility company is willing to waive late fees and give you a payment plan with super low interest for your bill, but your internet provider won’t be flexible, you may opt to pay your internet bill before utilities,” she says. “The goal is to minimize the long-term impact of paying late or less than in full.”

 

Eviction bans

Before Trump announced that the federal government would take action, many cities and some states said that they would implement 30-day or indefinite eviction bans so that renters cannot be kicked out of their homes during the crisis.

“In Los Angeles, for instance, renters experiencing hardship due to COVID-19 qualify for the eviction moratorium and will have up to six months to repay any unpaid rent,” says Graff. “You should check local and state government websites to see if there are options like this available in your area.”

Other cities and states doing this include Baltimore, Boston, Kansas, Miami, New York state, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has asked mortgage servicers to offer borrowers options to reduce or suspend payments for up to six months, says Jill Fopiano, CEO of Boston-based O’Brien Wealth Partners. She also advises homeowners to consult the CFPB’s Find a Counselor tool, which provides a list of counseling agencies.

 

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