Miami Dade Housing Choice Voucher Program Building

HUD's fourth largest Section Eight or Plan Ocho program in the nation is managed by Miami-Dade Public Housing Agency MDPHA. It is a management nightmare! I remember the old Coral Way offices and waiting hours to see a Landlord case worker. The county decided to outsource the management of Miami-Dade Public Housing Agency MDPHA's Housing Choice Voucher Program. Miami-Dade awarded a multi-year contract to Quadel Consulting. They are responsible for:

• Section 8 Voucher Program
• Section 8 Home Ownership Program
• MDPHA Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program

This allows the MDPHA to save money and increase processing efficiencies.

Landlords, this is a great program to use for renting your investment properties. When a unit becomes empty, the clock starts ticking. You are losing MONEY! You need to lease this unit as soon as possible! Adding Section 8 or Plan 8 to your marketing funnel, increases the probability of finding a qualified tenant.

I put to together a simple video below that shows you the outside of the Miami Dade Housing Choice Voucher Program Building. Go down there NOW and set up an appointment to discuss the Landlord Program. Address is: 7400 NW 19th Street, Bay H, Miami, Florida 33126. Don't expect an appointment right away. They will schedule you via a 3-4 week window. Sorry, it is what it is!

Related Links, Maps, Blog Postings, Presentations or Articles:

• Miami Dade Housing Choice Voucher Program Building Map.
• Quadel Consulting Web Site.

Written by +Bob Burns.
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	Change! Nothing Stays the Same. MREIA's President about.me/RobertKBurns Telephone #: 305-586-5280 email: rkburns@investmentpropertiesmiamiflorida.com MREIA's Web Page: www.miamireia.com

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Miami-Dade Public Housing Agency MDPHA schedules meeting for Section 8 Landlords

Since REIC's blog discusses Section 8 or Plan Ocho in Miami-Dade County, I thought this news item should be posted. The budget for the US (United States) has gone through some serious cost cutting. HUD's Section Eight or Plan 8 will not be exempt from the reduction of funding. Section 8 landlords that have Section 8 HCV tenants or future landlords considering Section Eight, this meeting is vital for you to attend. I am SURE all the changes to the HUD' Sec. 8 program will be discussed by the Miami-Dade Housing Authority staff. Below is the meeting information:

"The Executive Director of MDPHA invites all owners and landlords with Section 8 (HCV) tenants to meet with him and his staff to discuss the HUD Financial Outlook and Changes. The changes impact: Payment Standards, Rent Reasonableness and Rent Increases.

Date: September 15, 2011
Time: 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Location: Port of Miami - 1015 N America Way to Terminal J Miami, FL 33132.
Security will require all owners and landlords to have registered for the meeting or they will not be able to gain access. You will also need to have a photo ID.
RSVP: September 6, 2011
E-mail: landlord@mdvoucher.com
Fax: 305-629-1032
Phone: 305-403-3222

Related Links, Blog Postings, Presentations or Articles:

• Section 8's or Plan Ocho's Landlord or Property Owner Housing Choice Voucher Reference Manuel for Miami-Dade County, Florida
• Video about how to use the Fair Market Rent tool provided by HUD's Section Eight Program.

Written by +Bob Burns.
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	"Be Viral!" MREIA's President about.me/RobertKBurns Telephone #: 305-586-5280 email: rkburns@investmentpropertiesmiamiflorida.com MREIA's Web Page: www.miamireia.com

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Top 10 Real Estate tips and tricks from Southern Florida

I was a young teen when my father started buying investment real estate in Southern New Jersey (Sea Isle, Avalon and Stone Harbor, Cape May County, New Jersey). He was a man that could do everything himself so being a real estate investor seemed like a good option for me since I knew a little about it. Boy was I WRONG! It is very difficult and frustrating but rewarding. I could give details but that is for another time.

While buying, rehabbing, landlording and selling in Southern Florida, I learned several tips, tricks and lessons that helped me during the investment cycle. These items will help you avoid mistakes, save time and money and make the process a little easier to manage.

To Your Success as an Investor, Rehabber and Landlord:

1. Make sure you have the mail forwarded to your business address after you purchase a new investment property....Why? Read my previous blog about this one at: Make sure you have the mail forwarded blog...
2. Check to see if you have any liens or violations caused by your tenant before giving back their security deposit. I got nailed for $500 for a pit bull violation (future blog posting).
3. Make sure during a title search that your title company checks for Open Permits. More than once this has hampered a pending sale.
4. Make sure when a potential client places a deposit for a rental property, you make them sign a document that explains the rules of the deposit, refund or non-refund terms, what it represents, disclosures, etc. Several times I received calls from potential clients wanting their deposits back after you, the landlord, already took your property off the market. Protect Yourself.
5. You make or lose money on an investment property when you gain control of the property at a specified price. Make sure you follow the Maximum Allowable Offer MAO rule! See my MAO blog about this....
6. When purchasing an investment property, make sure the tax records match the property description on the MLS. If the property is listed as a 3/2 but tax records say a 2/1, there may be a problem with the structure being legal.
7. By checking the number of water meters and electrical meters will help you tell whether the multiunit structure is a legal structure.
8. Make sure when you are about to sign any real estate contract for a property: Florida FAR BAR, short sale option contract, purchase contract etc., all parties are there for signature. If the significant other is not present you may have problems later on. By Florida law if the couple is divorced, unless the property has been settled previously (request documentation as proof), both husband and wife are entitled to the property therefore you need both signatures. Your first Question for any deal is "Are You or Have Been married?"
9. While rehabbing a property, make sure your mailing address is posted somewhere that the mailman can read it. Otherwise, he will not deliver your mail or make sure you have the mail forwarded.(See number 1)
10. Land Lords have more than one option for collecting rent and utility payments from their tenants. Section 8, Section Eight, Plan 8 or Plan Ocho is a government subsidized program that pays the monthly fees for low income families associated with living in the Land Lord's apartment, condo or single family home. For more information go to: Section 8 - Information for Landlords and Tenants.

Do you have any tips or tricks with the buying, selling, rehabbing or landlording that you would like to share?

Related Links, Blog Postings, Presentations or Articles:

• Make Sure You Have Mail Forwarded.
• Using MAO rule for determining your properties value!
• Sec 8 or Plan Ocho - Info. for Land Lords and Tenants.

Written by +Bob Burns.
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	cya, MREIA's President about.me/RobertKBurns Telephone #: 305-300-6242 email: rkburns@investmentpropertiesmiamiflorida.com MREIA's Web Page: www.miamireia.com

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Landlords, use HUD's Housing Quality Standards Checklist for your Section 8 property inspections.

HUD's Section 8 department has a program called the Housing Choice Voucher Program. This is the most popular of all the available programs Section Eight or Plan Ocho provides.

There are three parties involved when a voucher transaction occurs:

 

1. The Property Owner or Land Lord.
2. The County's Section 8 representatives.
3. Tenant or Voucher Holder.

Each side has different responsibilities to allow and maintain the rental agreement. I intend to discuss each party's responsibilities over time but today I am reviewing the Land Lord's.

As you may know or may not, HUD has a list of HUD's HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS CHECKLIST. Before a Tenant can move into a property, HUD must perform an inspection of the UNIT (rental property). A HUD certified inspector and the Land Lord schedule an appointment to inspect the UNIT (rental property). The inspection entails checking:

• Mechanical.
• Plumbing.
• The UNIT's Interior.
• The UNIT's Exterior.
• Stairways.
• Other.

For more inspection details, make sure you visit our HUD's HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS CHECKLIST page.

If you should fail the initial inspection, the Land Lord has 15 days to correct the all the faults discovered by the HUD inspector and reschedule.

After you pass HUD's initial inspection, your potential Section 8 Tenant can move in after their paper work has been processed.

HUD is not finished!!!!!

In addition to the initial check, HUD performs a yearly inspection of the UNIT and provides their findings to the Tenant and Land Lord. Each violation will be accountable to either the Tenant or Land Lord. The letter will mention what date these violations must be corrected to avoid further action by the Housing Authority.

From my experience with my own properties, I only failed a HUD inspection once and that was beyond my control (hurricane damage).

Do you have any experiences with Section Eight or Plan 8 inspections that you would like to share with us?

Related Blog Postings, Presentations or Articles:

• Section 8 slide show presentation for Land Lords.

Written by +Bob Burns.
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	"Dale!" MREIA's President about.me/RobertKBurns Telephone #: 305-300-6242 email: rkburns@investmentpropertiesmiamiflorida.com MREIA's Web Page: www.miamireia.com

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Section 8 or Plan Ocho Podcast

Below is a podcast I did with a buddy of mine named Larry King. I know what you are thinking but no not the CNN host. He did a telephone interview over the phone with me about Section 8 or Plan Ocho a while ago. The interview is slightly dated but evergreen (perennially fresh or interesting; enduring). I wouldn't post it unless I felt that it had some value for Real Estate Investors that will eventually be Land Lords.

The interview last for about an hour so make sure you set some time aside for listening.

Section 8 Podcast
(Click HERE)

Related Section 8 Blog Posts:

• Section 8 or Plan Ocho Offices in Miami, Florida
• Section 8's calculations for Fair Market Rents FMR
• Real Estate Investment Strategies for Rehabbing Houses

Do you have any experiences with Section 8 that you would like to share? Post your comments below.

Written by +Bob Burns.
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	"Words can Hurt or Remedy!" MREIA's President about.me/RobertKBurns Telephone #: 305-300-6242 email: rkburns@investmentpropertiesmiamiflorida.com MREIA's Web Page: www.miamireia.com

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Accepting New Section 8 Applications for Waiting List in Pensacola, Florida

The City of Pensacola, Florida is currently processing applications for placement onto Section Eight' Subsidized Rental Assistance Program. Applicants must apply over the phone. Pensacola's Section 8 or Plan Ocho offices will be taking 25 applications every 2nd Wednesday of each month. The telephone number to call is (850) 858-0340 beginning at 7:00 am.

For Elderly, 62 or older and Disabled applicants have to call on the 2nd Thursday of each month to (850) 858-0350, starting at 7:00 am.

Note: Only one application per person per program. Once applicant's information has been taken over the phone, a preliminary application to complete will be mailed to determine eligibility for placement on Pensacola' Section 8 or Plan 8 Waiting List.

City of Pensacola's Housing Department Important Information for Tenants and Land Lords:

• Address: 222 West Main St. Pensacola, FL 32502, Tel. (850) 435-1603
• City of Pensacola Housing Department.
• Rental Assistance Programs.
• Apply for Rental Assistance Information.
• Land Lord Information.
• Waiting List Information.
• Landlord forms.

Written by +Bob Burns.
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	"I rather watch the grass grow from above than below!" MREIA's President about.me/RobertKBurns Telephone #: 305-300-6242 email: rkburns@investmentpropertiesmiamiflorida.com MREIA's Web Page: www.miamireia.com

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Hialeah Housing Authority HHA Opens Lottery-Based Section Eight Waiting List!

The Hialeah Housing Authority HHA has started accepting pre-applications from eligible families to be placed on its lottery-based waiting list for the Section 8, Section Eight, Plan 8, Plan Eight or Plan Ocho Voucher Program.

HHA will accept up to 2,500 applications via the internet or direct mail starting April 21, 2011 at 8:00 AM through April 22, 2011 at 8:00 PM. Here is the Internet application link: Hialeah Housing Authority Pre-Application Link or printed applications are to be published April 21, 2011 in The Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, The Miami Times and El Diario de las Americas. You can mail in your pre-application via direct mail to: Hialeah Housing Authority, PO Box 110670, Hialeah, FL 33011-0670. The pre-application envelope must be postmarked no later than April 27, 2011 after which the application process for this waiting list will be CLOSED.

For more information about this HHA event please access the following documents:

1. HHA Section 8 Waiting List Press Release
2. Hialeah Housing Authority Pre-Application Link to apply on-line
3. Log-in to VIEW current Application Status.
4. Click HERE to lookup your position on HHA waiting lists.

Use these keyword phrases together on Google: Hialeah Housing Authority & Miami Herald & Section 8

Written by +Bob Burns.

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Put things into Motion! MREIA's President about.me/RobertKBurns Telephone #: 305-300-6242 email: rkburns@investmentpropertiesmiamiflorida.com MREIA's Web Page: www.miamireia.com

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