September 28, 2016 by Myke Leatham

Make note that there are several different search engines within Brazos County to help you pre-screen future tenants. It’s important to check these links each and every time you get an application. It may be foolish to let your guard down when leasing out one of your most important investments.

Justiceweb I’m not suggesting that you search every link for every potential tenant (though it doesn’t take long), because some of them are not as applicable to you as others. But I highly encourage you to save the Judicial Records Search and be cautious who you lease to.

Sheriff Jail Search is updated as soon as someone is booked into jail in this county. It shows you their latest address given to the jail and their latest mugshot, plus all the charges. Criminal Case and Criminal Hearing searches are not updated immediately and those search engines are designed to let the public keep track of where someone is in the judicial system once arrested.

J.P. Civil Search . This allows you to see if judgments against a person in the way of eviction, also called Forcible Entry Detainer, has occurred in this county. These eviction judgments are not posted on Justiceweb until the judge issues eviction after a civil court hearing. So, if the tenant is served with a hearing date for an eviction, and they move out before then, obviously, there will be no court date. When this happens, there will be no evidence of the problem tenant on J.P. Civil Search. So be aware. This group attempts to fill that gap among other loopholes that often allow you as landlords to get burned by low-quality tenants.

J.P. Criminal Search

Criminal Case Search

Yahoo Neighborhood Website for Bryan, TX owners and property managers. This site has a list of past tenants who have been evicted, skipped, done damage to a property, or bounced checks, etc…. It’s a good ‘DO NOT RENT TO’ list which was designed by officer Will Holt in the Bryan Police Department so that when one tenant does damage to a property, that they won’t be able to go across the street to another unsuspecting landlord and do it again. Once you have applied to gain access, you will be able to post to it. This site is well worth your time and it is updated regularly. Click on ‘Groups’ at the top, then ‘More’, then choose the database to the ‘Proceed with caution tenants’.

Your detective work may be made a little easier if you utilize Facebook and these other tools to help prescreen applicants.

“Generally people leave their pictures up and leave themselves unguarded. When you do your email pre-screen, most people give their real name. It’s very easy to look up a given name on Facebook. If you look up an applicant’s post on Facebook for instance, and they’re celebrating being clean X days with pictures of needles, you may find other posts which substantiate what you are really thinking.

The other thing about Facebook is that you can see applicants’ pets and get at least a good idea of how many people are in their family. If they post that they have three kids and they show pictures, then that unmasks the pre-screening claim that only two people will be living in the house. Hmmmm… Also, the gal that replied in this pre-screen questionnaire, said that she had an “English terrier” (which doesn’t exist). So of course it was obvious that it’s a pit bull mix.

If you’re not on Facebook, you might fake a profile so you can check these things! It’s also interesting to see their friends. It’s not necessarily about partying, just what’s acceptable among their group. You can see if the applicant is a gamer, a gangster, if they have dogs, and what clubs they belong to in some cases. For example, if the applicant is a biker enthusiast or sympathetic to questionable groups of your way of thinking. It could be very telling.

It’s my hope that all my investors will have a rewarding and satisfying experience as property owners. Prescreening is an important way to keep not only our properties safe and sound, but our communities as well.

I’m here if you need me.

Myke

‘Let Myke Help You With Your HOMEwork!’

Myke Leatham, Broker

Brazos County Realty, LLC

13464 I and GN Rd.

College Station, TX 77845

Email: [email protected]

Office: 979-693-0201

Website: www.CollegeStationHomes.com

Category: Blog, College Station housing market, Investment properties in College Station, Rental Scams, Rentals, Student properties

About Myke Leatham

I’m so glad you found me – your College Station and Bryan, TX real estate source! When you choose to buy or sell a home in College Station/Bryan, TX or other surrounding areas using our expert services, you will receive a free consultation to determine your needs, free listings, and free reports sent to you by email. These weekly reports will show you how hard the members of my team are working to accomplish your property goals, and we guarantee the best service and consultation you have ever experienced. You’ll find the best community information for the College Station, Texas region right here.

It’s nice to know YOUR Realtor will still be of service after the sale.

Experience Counts: Broker/Owner of Brazos County Realty
Over 25 years of sales experience. With past ABR, GRI, CRS, & Epro designations.
Continuing education in real estate: Education is paramount in an ever changing industry like Real Estate. Myke has taken over 1000 hours of real estate specific courses which include but are not limited to: Residential Appraisal, Marketing, Law Contracts I & II, Finance, Residential Inspections, Principles and Practice, Law of Agency, Code of Ethics, Bankruptcy/Easements/Surveys/and Probate, Home Warranties, 1031 Exchanges and hundreds of hours of extensive real estate training.

Reputation: SALES LEADER since 1998; Top Producer 2000 through 2009. Listed among the top agents in the county. Consistently ranked among top realtors for total sales volume out of 900 realtors for commercial and residential real estate in the Bryan/College Station, TX area. When Myke represents buyers, she presents all viable options to her clients, including those properties that are not officially listed, but could be available for sale based on her inside information. Her expertise lies with investors and marketing homes of all price ranges in College Station/Bryan to local, national and global buyers, across all major media channels and through her extensive, personal network of contacts.

Myke is among the top 1% of all Realtors in North America!
She has earned the Designations of ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative), CRS(Certified Residential Specialist), GRI (Graduate of Realtors Institute)CHMS (Certified Home Marketing Specialist), and E-pro (Certified Internet Professional)
Fewer than 3% of all Realtors nationwide earn these certifications. They are not only a symbol of Myke’s commitment to this business, but these designations are your assurance of a skilled, trained real estate professional.

Myke is a consummate real estate professional who not only understands the art of deal-making, but also the art of relationships. She makes the process of buying and selling homes an uplifting and fun experience. She has a tremendous appreciation for Bryan and College Station, its rich history, and Texas A&M traditions having lived in the area for 25 years. Her knowledge of Bryan/College Station’s real estate market and market trends is unparalleled. Having been personally involved with clients through their remodeling, purchasing and selling processes, she knows intrinsic quality and value when she sees it. When she doesn’t see it she lets her clients know, without hesitation.
Myke’s proven track record and affiliations in the field of real estate demonstrates her high level of professionalism.

* High energy and enthusiasm
* Aggressive marketing
* Expert negotiating skills
* Ability to listen and ascertain customer’s desires and needs
* Fun to be with
* Internet savvy
* Because Myke is an experienced investor, she quickly helps her customers locate and define good business opportunities. No one likes the feeling of being ‘sold to’ so Myke provides as much information as possible to help you make the right decision.

Personal Commitment:
I am prepared to go the ‘Extra Mile’ for you, because I understand the financial and emotional significance of purchasing and selling your home. I will carefully listen to your desires and arrive at a workable plan. I believe sensitivity, listening, and service are important keys to success.
Whether you are buying or selling a home or you are just curious about your home’s market value, I’d be happy to provide my market expertise and intelectual property without obligation, or meet with you to evaluate your home for future reference. I want my customers to have a great time and enjoy the total process of purchasing or selling property. It gives me great pride when my customerspass my name on to their friends and family. I will continue to work hard to make sure critical information is available at www.AggieRealEstate.com and I invite all interested investors to search my site for cash flow opportunities. I will dedicate my time and talents to helping you achieve your goals. It is my goal to make your buying and selling experience extraordinary. Look closely and you’ll see how much I love meeting and working with people. You’ll experience the difference in working with an experienced and dedicated professional.

Personal information:
Michelle goes by ‘Myke’ and is the proud mother of 6 children – 3 girls and 3 boys. Her husband is David Leatham. They met at Brigham Young University. They have been married since 1977. David is a finance professor, and Associate Head over graduate studies in the Agricultural Economics Department at Texas A&M University, and speaks fluent Spanish. They have lived in College Station since 1983 and loved every minute of it. Myke loves to quilt, sing, swim, ‘sing’, bake bread, ‘sing,’ garden, ‘sing’, sell real estate, and ‘sing some more’ :-). Family, church, and real estate consume most of her time. Truth, honor, integrity, kindness, loyalty, gratitude, and service are very important words to her.

Slogan: ‘Let Myke Help You With Your HOMEwork!’

Referrals: The highest compliment I can get is when you pass my name on to others or post a kind remark on the internet. When you send your friends and family my way, I’ll always provide them with the highest quality of service that I know you would appreciate. Thanks in advance for all your support and friendship.

Student Guide for Texas A&M