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@AAQ
The late Mrs CTL and her mother A”H were RE Brokers for more than 40 years. The CTL firm handled all closings flowing through the office. Several of my children and grandchildren are licensed and keep the agency alive.In CT, RE agents do not get any income on a residential renewal; so most agents can’t be bothered with rentals
@AAQ
You write about the need to have the highest paying renters in my response to not renting to students; a group I label as destructive and transient,
So, if I can rent a 3br to six students for $4800 month plus utilities or a couple with 3 children for $4100 per month. I’ll take the family. The wear and tear from 6 students far exceeds the family. They tend to move friends in without permission. They tend to leave after the academic year and the unit needs painting every time. They have no pride in the place.
The family wants to live in nice surroundings and does not generally trash the place. Typically only have to paint after 4 years if they renew leases. They want stability, don’t trash the grounds, etc.Yes property is expensive, but I look at the rental market and aim for 85%of market rate on a new purchase that is financed. If it can’t carry at a 10% return, not worth buying,
Typically, landlord loses a month’s income every time there is a change of tenant. Lease expires 11:59:59 pm and can’t expect to have it ready for move in at midnight.
Outside of NYC, landlord pays real estate agent, typically one month’s gross rent on a year’s lease.
I don’t use agents, we own an in house Real Estate Agency. Mostly get my tenants by referral from happy existing tenants whose friends and families are anxious to live in my properties.BTW you talked about appreciation in deterring your profit. You neglect to mention depreciation, that wonderful accounting system that throws off tax saving snd profit. After 29 years (used to be 15) and depreciation to zero one doesn’t sell and have a huge taxable capital gain from reduced cost basis. Instead one doesn’t a like kind property swap, avoids the tax and gets to start depreciation again. I’m
It is not about making as much profit as possible, but a fair return on your money.
If I had mortgages (and did in the past) I still used a 10% Return on Investment as a fair profit. 7% return on the money (as I can easily get in securities and 3% for my time and effort (management).
If I paid professional managers, those costs would be figured in the expenses before setting rents to give a fair profit.
There is an old axiom in investing: bears make money, bulls make money, pigs get slaughtered. Don’t be greedy! Make the rents too high and tenants can’t pay, or double up causing excess wear and tear. Real Estate is not a get rich quick scheme. It is hard work over the long term.
Epithets belong on gravestones
Let’s wait until he is dead to assign one
Appropriate during different points in his life:
Adulterer
Felon
Deadbeat
Barker
Liar
Charlatan
Presidential Victor
Presidential Loser@AAQ
We have a mixed portfolio:
Suburban one and two family homes
Urban 3 family homes
Urban apartment buildings geared to seniors
Commercial properties
All above in CTSingle family blue collar tenant homes (NY)
Retirement apartments (FL)Many of our CT properties are near universities but we do not rent to students. Too destructive and transient.
I bought my first rental property when I was 25 and the system has worked well (B”H) for almost 50 years.
@fakenews
B”H my properties are not financed, so I am not subject to fluctuations in interest rates.In 2007/8 when the markets imploded, real estate values dropped. Many with mortgages found themselves underwater and lost their properties.
AND: my real estate taxes dropped for a year when my town made the next year’s budget. I passed the savings along to my tenants by lowering their rents proportionally for my tax savings for the renewal one year leases.When taxes and insurance and maintenance are stable I do not increase rents at renewal time. This year real estate and fire taxes are increasing 2.5% based on the grand list of Oct 1, 2025 (payment due in January 2026-we pay taxes in arrears in CT). Tenants will get a proportional increase when lease renews. Example 2 family house with $600 tax increase, each tenant will get a $25 increase for the coming lease year. I don’t increase their $2500 month rent by 2.5% which would be $62.50 unjustly enriching myself.
I set a 10% net ROI for myself (7% which I could get in a stock dividend<which I do regularly for clients and self for 40 years >, and 3% for my efforts/labor time in managing the properties, doing bookkeeping and taxes, etc.)If I had to pay a mortgage those 3Br 2 bath central A/C modern apartments would have to bring in $3800 mo rent, which is comparable in the area.
I’d rather have long term stable families as tenants who can afford the rent on dad’s income while mom can raise the children and watch over the property.Not unusual for me to get a text from a tenant stating that the kitchen faucet broke and the bought a mid price replacement from Home Depot for $40 and they asked their son in law to install it so as not bother me to get a plumber. I immediately Zelle them the cost of the faucet and express my thanks.
Long term good tenants are the key to financial sucess as a landlord, turnover is a killer.
Today is the last Friday of the month bc and many of my tenants have already paid rent for July. I have not had to bring an eviction action in about 20 years and I”H will never have to do so again@coffeeaddict
Been here just over a year and loving it
Still go to the CT compound and see the family and handle some business occasionally.B”H remarriage and relocation was the right decision for me
I have been a landlord for many decades. When my expenses (taxes, maintenance, insurance) rise then rent has to increase at renewal time. I keep my net constant, but why should you expect me to subsidize my tenants?
I do not look at what the current rentals in my local markets are to set rents. They are set based on expenses and a reasonable Return on Investment.
In years when taxes and insurance does not go up, I renew at current rental amounts.This may be one reason that most of my tenants have been in place more than 10 years.
It ended in the 1970s, been downhill since
Since I only drive through the Bronx and Queens when going to and from Nassau and Fairfield County homes I doubt I will make changes in my life.
No reason to visit the city for business, entertainment or shopping.@Suare Root
My comment has nothing to do with the substance of your comments:
You are violating Federal copyright law when you constantly post direct passages from published and copyrighted works such as the Artscroll books you mentioned in this thread.
I suggest you read the copyright notices in the front of these books before you post.
Posting copyrighted material without permission and/or payment of royalties is ganeva.
In addition to possible civil action by the copyright holder you could be subject to criminal prosecution if the infringed presses the issue with the US Attorney
Major error in headline and your post.
The female was not YET (and will now not be) the diplomat’s fiancée. He bought the ring and was about to propose.
This is typical goyische method, buy and show the ring to entice girl to say yes. Does not say much for the midos of the women swayed into marriage by the sparkle of a stoneDividing Jews serves no purpose.
My first MIL was born in Germany. Her parents were OstJuden born in Poland. In 1936 her parents had their business and property confiscated and were forcibly dumped over the Polish border. She and younger brother were considered German citizens so they were interned in a German (not Jewish) orphanage for years. In 1939 they escaped and with a group of young Jews walked all the way to southern Jugoslavia and they made their way to Palestine by ship.
Her parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins were all killed in the camps.
She survived the Holocaust, thus was a survivor. She complained in her adult life that she was excluded by survivors and organizations of survivors because she was not in the camps. She also never received any reparations because she was born in what became East Germany.Her husband was born in Vienna. After the Anschluss he watched his grandparents and brother rounded up and sent to the camps, never to return. He was forced into slave labor for years. Again no reparations for family home and business or Austrian pension because Austria claimed it was an occupied country.
He got the same reaction: slave labor camp, not a survivor, death camp a survivor.This whole topic is utter nonsense
@Lakewhut
Always do sure and always so wrong.
There is no requirement that a Democratic candidate running for office be a supporter of the party platform.
In fact a new platform is voted on at every National Party Convention for the purpose of electing a President.Candidates run for election in years when there is no platform.
Some state parties have a platform, some don’t.A vote for a Democratic candidate I. A local election in no way means you are supporting a national platform (that doesn’t exist in 2025).
@CS
Your logic about a picture being okay, but not on the eastern wall is faulty.
When I end my Kaddish, I back up three steps and end up praying to the south, east and then north. In Kabbalah Shabbat I turn to the west to welcome the Sabbath Bride I. The final stanzas of Lechs Dodi.@Neville
I am talking about NY
I did not daven in my small CT town Chabad but they had the banners and picture in the lobby, not shulThis Misnagid says welcome and so long in advance for your short stay.
I won’t chase you away nor encourage you extend your time in the CR.I will relay an anecdote:
Members of the CR are aware that I have married again and moved to NY this year.
This month, this month an older brother was. niftar and I sat Shivah with minyanim in my new home.Every shul Rabbi in town came to be Menachem Avel during the course of the week which was quite a zchus.
The Chabad shul Rabbi (who the new Mrs. Has known well for 20+ years and had a brocha under our Chupah) came on day 6. During our conversation he asked why I have yet to daven, even once, in his shul. I explained that when he removed the Melech HaMoshiach banners and pictures of the Rebbe from the Beis Knesset I would be happy to do so.
I have nothing against the Rebbe, he was a great tzaddik. I had the Zhus to meet him a few times including a private audience almost 50 years ago where I received a brocha leading to the birth of my b’chor; but davening with the portrait of any human hanging in the Beis Knesset smacks of idolatry to me.
The local Rabbi whispers to me that he’d like to remove the banners and picture and place them in the shul lobby but his funding source would dry up.@CoffeeAddict
Too long@AAQ
Having professionals not related to the institution relieves a lot of stress and protects the privacy of the applicant. As JFS professionals they often have access to other resources for the applicant that can help reduce the cost burden (programs, grants, private scholarships that the school head may not know about).
In small communities there are not usually more than a couple of day schools/yeshivos so having choice based on price competition does not exist. What does exist is the schools are constituent agencies of Federation and revive a slice of general Jewish Fundraising in the community (something that doesn’t happen in NY).
When the last day school was built in our area of CT, 80% came from the general Jewish Community, not the frum community. OOT the non-observant Jews realize the importance of keeping these schools healthy and also contribute to scholarship funds.I’d like to make a few comments after reading this thread.
I have never been through the tuition/scholarship application process. B”H I am was able to afford paying for mine and other children as well.
That said, having been onThe boards of Yeshivas, Day Schools and Camps; I detested the committee system.
It is demeaning and unhealthy for fellow parents and school staff to have access to and make judgmental decisions about the finances and lifestyles of families. Too much information was leaked/shared and discussed that was hurtful to the applicants.
Years ago in a local city the boards of 6 of these type of institutions turned the process over to the local Jewish Family Service. They set up a committee of professionals who handled the process for all 6 institutions. They received the cost to attend, but not the name of the institution. They received handled each applicant discreetly. The offices had separate entrances and applicants were never in A waiting area where they could see others coming for the interview.
The operational costs was provided by a grant by Federation.
It worked well for more than 20 years. The school administrations were relieved not to be in the position of negotiating and dealing with unhappy parents.Next: Parsonage
This is a misunderstood concept, it should not be applied to teachers.
In the old days the local church provided a place for the Parson to live. American synagogues followed suit owning a house used by the Rabbi. When clergy started buying and supplying their own homes, the IRS code allowed them to consider a small portion of their salary as parsonage. Often they met privately with congregants in their homes, hosted learning groups and the wife might teach a woman’s class.
Today Parsonage is a term often used by those in their homes religious education world to justify a system of tax avoidance. It is definitely a grey area@DaMoshe
DACA, not a fan and did not support President Obama’s decision.
At the time I did not feel it would be ruled unconstitutional.
With the current makeup of the Supreme Court it could be ruled such.With the current court all progressive programs might be ruled unconstitutional I believe the current court is composed of judicial lightweights who are pledged to party and appointing power, not the Constitution
@SquareRoot
Grasping for draws. Admit you are wrong.
Article 4 of the Constitution is not about the powers anc obligation of the President/Executive Branch.@AAQ
Although this is off topic to my reply to Square Root’s false claim about a President being constitutionally required to protect the borders; your comment about states being able to provide scholarships requires a reply.States can and do provide scholarships.
For example, CT made two years of community college free to every US citizen graduate of high schools in the state. They did this by requiring students to file the federal Fafsa (student aid application) and accept all applicable grants, no loans and then the state grants scholarship for the rest of the tuition and fees costs and book allowance. There is no room and board for commuter schools. By requiring the use of Fafsa which is only open to US citizens no state scholarship money is granted to Illegal Aliens.
This Liberal has no problem using that term.There are other state scholarships granted in the State university system, but not for a full ride
@AAQ
Foreign relations has always been the Roman of the Executive Branch of the Federal W as specified in the Constitution, never the States
The Constitution states that all powers not specifically assigned to the Federal Government are reserved to the states (States Rights), but the Feds use thing such as carrot and stick to get control: want Highway funds we can set speed limits, etc.
Private college takes federal dollars for research, scholarship, hello requirements for Title 9 compliance, same for day schools taking Federal money for school lunch programs@SquareRoot
And what dithers crimes have to do with your false claim that the Constitution requires the President to secure the borders???????Sidestepping the issue, time to be humble and admit you posted something that is false.
I am not defending any person or party but don’t tolerate false claims about what words are inthe US Constitution
@amom
In carpentry they teach to measure twice and cut once (avoids mistakes and waste). You read a post quickly and incorrectly and attacked me wrongly.
Square Root will not own up and admit the Constitution does not order the President to secure the borders as he posted. That is a falsehood.My post is not for or against any individual who occupies the Presidency, it is about honesty and accurately stating what is in the Constitution. I put my bona fides out there and Square Root cannot refute the truth.
@Squareroot
No, you do NOT remember correctly.
Article 2 of the US Constitution lays out the powers of the President and nowhere does it state one word about the president being required to secure the borders of the USA.
The word border does not appear at all.
The President’s power to make treaties and appoint ambassadors with the advice and consent of the Senate it what give the President control over foreign policy (why the State Department is part of the Executive Branch).I’ve taught Constitutional Law for decades and been a lawyer for half a century. Your level of understanding of Presidential powers would fail 11th grade US History in any mediocre public high school
@anom
Wrong, wrong, wrong!When hiring you are required to have the employee fll out a W-9 which requires providing you (the employer) with the listed forms of ID showing eligibility to work; such as birth certificate, passport, drivers license, social security card, etc.
You sign that you have examined these ids and person complies with the law and keep copies of there ids,
You also have to have them fill out a W-4 for tax withholding. You must withhold applicable taxes and Social Security and Medicare and file tax returns remitting the withholding and your employer’s obligations as well.Follow the law!
I made it a point not to discuss American politics in shul.
I know my view is not the same as most of the mispallim.
However, my party won my state, the other mispallim take solace in winning country wide.None of this is appropriate discussion in the Beis Medrash
@Neville
I did not write public schools are above any and all corruption. Please don’t put words in my mouth.
I addressed the fact that the typical adjunct teaching community college is likely to be working full time in his/her field and less of an ideologue than the full time university academics.
Out of state tuition to state universities is much cheaper than private universities.
In New England to save taxpayers money the 6 state university systems try to avoid duplicative programs with limited enrollment and high cost and admit students from the other 5 states at in state tuition cost.
This has been around for decades.
As for student loans, the borrower voluntarily signed a promissory note, received the services and should pay for it.
I am willing to make some accommodations for students who were defrauded by for profit schools who closed down, and student stuck with no transferable credits.
Also loan payment credits for working in areas of great need for wages below the going rate in more popular areas (teachers, doctors, nurses in remote underserved locales).Many in the CR are aware that I may be a social liberal, but am a fiscal conservative.
In my grandparents’ time (1910s) an 8th grade education was sufficient to earn a living and perform most common work tasks), in my parents time (1930s) a high school education sufficed, today a college or technical education is needed. I believe society as a whole benefits from a dictated workforce and am willing to pay for it through my taxes.BTW, for those who will raise the issue of ‘illegal aliens’ receiving free college education: the Connecticut plan for free community college for high school graduates requires the student fill out the Fafsa form and all grants are paid directly to the school. The Fafsa is only open to US Citizens
@Keith
I did not propose community college as a total college education, but a way to 1/2 a BA of BS at zero cost to student for tuition (as it is in CT).
My grandsons are taking all there required math, science and English courses, so when they transfer to University as as juniors they will be taking only courses in their majors. Knowing they are going into law they will be taking economics, accounting, finance, history and polisci. They will avoid most of the humanitities where students are subjected to revisionist thinking.
Since their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles are all college educated professionals the boys can be steered to appropriate classes@Neville
The Pale of Settlement was a great swath of the Russian Empire where Jews were permitted to live. It in clouded parts of present day Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus and the Ukraine ( among others).
The market town of Suwslki was 50% Jewish, a provincial capital in both Poland and Lithuania and even under Prussian control at times.Borders were very fluid which was the reaso. For my description
@Neville
I am not a cancel student loans advocate.I paid for my own Ivy League education, MBA, Law School
My kids were offered the cost of a state university education paid for by me, if they chose private, they were responsible for the difference in cost. They paid off their student loans.
I have two grandsons learning during the day and getting the free Community College education at night. After completing the free Associates they will switch to paid college for the rest of BA degree and then law school, then enter family firm.
@Keith
City College, Hunter, Community Colleges are commuter schools. No dorms, Spartan or otherwise.
No meal plans in the free tuitionI have taught in Community colleges as an adjunct (probably half the staff is) ; tend to be professionals working in the field, not the ideologues who work full time in academia
I am very tired of Jewish one issue voters who keep harping on which candidate is best for Israel.
This is an election for President of the United States being chosen by US citizens.
If Israelis were elected a head of State they should choose who is best for Israel. Americans must choose who is best for the United States. It is possible to be the same person
@Baal-habooze
Lay off the booze because it is making you post lies
Trump would love what happened in 2016 to happen again in 2016: he won
The last time was 2020 and he lost.No one stoke the election from him. He lost the popular vote both times.
Every major case about voter fraud went through the courts and found against Trump’s false claims of fraud. Many ruled on by Federal judges he appointed.I have been an election official for decades and from experience there is almost no voter fraud.
Last year I did have to have one potential voter arrested for fraud; a Republican. Who was a convicted felon and ineligible to vote and attempted to vote his father’s name. Both had the same name and address (not a Junior). I had a printout of the felons list from Secretary of State for voting district which included date of birth which matched his drivers license). The attempt to fraudulently vote caused his parole to be revoked and he is back behind bars finishing his original sentence.
So this was a slimy Republican caughtUJM….
OOT it is often a struggle to get a minyan each day for Schacharis and Mincha/Maariv.
There are usually not enough frum people around during the day for multiple minyanim in a shul.There are 9 Frum synagogues in my town, plus independent minyanim.
The shul I attend for Mincha/Maariv weekdays was the only shul saying Tachanun this week. It is Nusach Ashkenaz according to the Lita (Litvak) ritual.
It attracted a 25% bump in attendance from Sunday through today (Wednesday) of Ashkenazim who normally attend other shuls but wanted to daven in a minyan where Tachanun was being said.BTW>>>> during Chol HaMoed Sukkos I attended this shul for Schacharis so I would not feel totally out of place davening with Tephillin on.
My paternal side came to the US from the Lithuanian section of the Pale of Settlement in 1872, we still hold to those traditions and Nusach
@Faux
#2
Free CollegeThis what built the Jewish American middl class in the NY area.
My parents attended City College (father) and Hunter College (mother) in the 1930s for the cost of subway fare. Books, notebooks, writing utensils were provided at no cost,My home state of Connecticut provides free Community College (Associates Degree) to any recent graduate of high school in the state.
I have no problem with my tax dollars funding higher public education.
I feel the same about this as K-12, free public education for all; if you want a private education fund it yourselfWhy aren’t we voting in this poll, because your post is illiterate….
No one is gunnu do anything.There are two elections coming, the plebiscite of the people Nov 5th, the the vote of the Electoral College in December.
Trump has lost the plebiscite twice in a row and I expect him to lose again November 5.
He is 1:2 in the Electoral College.
I expect VP Harris to win the Plebiscite November 5 and hope she also wins the Electoral College election.
@jdf007
you didn’t know anyone with intermarried parents until you reached college in another state………………………….I have no idea how old you are. I might guess your home state is NY
I have an 81 year old sister in law whose Jewish mother married an Italian Catholic in NYC in 1932 with the agreement that the children would be raised as observant Jews and Kashrus and Shabbos observed in home.
I had a number of classmates in elementary school (1950s) with only one Jewish parent.
Not all of us came from families who were living in a Shtetl back in 1824, my maternal side was living in a city in Germany. My paternal side lived in a provincial capital in Congress Poland (formerly Lithuania) within the Russian Pale. The Town had 4000 inhabitants in the 1820s, half Jewish.
@Akuperma
Wrong again! The USSR invaded Poland in September 1939 joining on the side of the Nazis in trying to conquer and divide territory.
That was their entry into the war.
It was not until Germany invaded the USSR in 1941 that the USSR formally joined the Allies in the war against the Axis powers.Eastern Europe was a war zone from September 1939 with highly disrupted transportation, food supply, utilities etc.
The USSR borders were not truly open to nonessential visitors after September 1939. Internal travel was highly restricted as well, Jews were not free to travel from Moscow or Leningrad to The Ukraine, nor were most ordinary USSR citizens. The Kremlin restricted travel to avoid stirring up nationalism and having insurrections in the individual republics.
I got As in geography and European. World and US history.
Nice try.@akuperma
Good thing you are not in the High School History classes I teach in retirement.
“…..during the last war they had in the area (1941-1945).”WWII started September 1, 1939, the day Germany invaded Poland!
The US was not involved until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor December 7, 1942.
Poland was a war zone 26 months by then, Ukraine part of the USSR was at war very soon after Poland.
No change.
I was brought up a Zionist and still support a Jewish homeland governed by Jews.Don’t approve of labeling or segmenting Jews, I am a frum Jew of Northern European ancestry.
@ujm
I have already posted that I do not trust the honesty and ability of private operators spending public education tax dollars
I cited examples of fraud@AAQ
Thieve misunderstandings are a collateral damage of reading the CR in my phone which makes it hard to go back and forth to posts. Also leads to many typos on my part@Menachem Shmei
Why would you even think that an out of office politician (Obama) pressures Israel to do anything?
He has no governmental power?Your question may be valid to ask of Biden, and Schumer who wield some power.
VPs gave zero power. Harris’ power will arrive on January 20, 2025 when she is sworn in as President.@DovidBT
Actually vouchers allow you to claim other taxpayers’ dollars and spend them in ways that align with your values.I have had running disagreements with local taxpayers who live in lower end homes in my CT community.
They clam an entitlement in the schools because of property tax. They pay a. Average of $7000 per year, but the town spends $25000 per year in each public school student.
I pay $28000 per year on the main CTL compound house and have never had a child in public schools.The proposal for vouchers would give those taxpayers paying $7000 in local property taxes $25,000 a year in local tax dollars to spend outside the public education system. I object to this.
It takes a minimum of 18 less students in our local schools to eliminate a common teacher. Have to shed 100+ students to eliminate an art or music teacher and 120 to get rid of a gym teacher. 600 have to go to get rid of a librarian
@AAQ
I never posted about anti-Semitic activities.I spent most of my two days at the convention in meetings (both National committees such as rules and state delegation), I wasn’t attending any events hosted by non delegates such as Agudah.
I spent almost no time in the convention floor, those days are long gone for me@coffeeaddict
I would never confuse assault with harass.
#1 posted and I questioned about an assault by Democrats on Agudah
You posted a link to an article that I read. There is no mention that the protesters were Democrats.
So far all we have is a false claim posted by #1 and your inability to provide verificationBTW> assault is the instilling fear of imminent physical harm or danger.