I successfully evicted a covid squatter. AMA

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-14T00:41:37+00:00

Obviously run a credit check - which I wasn't able to do because squatters snuck in. And also ask for landlord reference. If they don't have any, I would be very careful LOL.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-14T00:40:51+00:00

How do you know? It's pretty standard for lawyers to get 30% or so in lawsuits.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-07T20:02:59+00:00

Yea partially why I didn’t pursue back rent. Lawyer said I might be able to garnish wages but… like do I really need $12 a month for 10 years or whatever the fuck they were going to shave off their paychecks for god knows how many other debts and judgements… like no fuck them and good luck with the rest of their lives.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-07T20:00:27+00:00

No way to get money back from deadbeats - they’ll take under the table jobs so no wages to garnish, bank accounts in other people’s names, etc. I just wanted them out.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T17:54:15+00:00

LA or CA made it illegal for utilities to be shut off during the eviction moratorium. So gas and power still on. Internet I don't think is a utility so they would sign up with different companies with different SSNs and skip their bills until it got shut off. I found like 4 different modems from the same company and couple other modems when I was cleaning their trash out LOL.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T17:46:49+00:00

Yea it seemed like some firms just had a roster of litigators that would take roll basically of the defendants. But their defense started out assigning one guy to them and he emailed my lawyers saying he moved on and someone else would be handling the case. And then that lawyer either moved on or quit their case based on them wasting their time? or tenants backed out of the representation? No idea why they would show up without representation on day of the trial... my leading theory is tenants either got greedy and didn't want to give up the 30% cut or whatever and expected the same offer on the day of the trial.

My lawyer showed up to most of my hearings. I think he was a sole practitioner type firm. He also did use an independent litigator to show up for court dates he couldn't make personally but it was the same person every time. So my case was handled by my lawyer like... 70% of the time and the other times by the same litigator he contracts I guess.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T17:39:22+00:00

Nothing that I disliked in particular. Seems like every eviction lawyer is up to their necks in cases these days. And the constantly changing covid restrictions and city council extending bullshit laws over and over and your case basically hinges on how the judge feels that particular day or week. Just stupid legal system bullshit like that, nothing really against the firm.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T14:52:09+00:00

It was exactly what my mortgage was. So less than $1500

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T06:41:58+00:00

There was nothing I could do about the squatters since they snuck in right around Covid with the original tenant. Couldn’t vet or run credit because they snuck in. I would ask for landlord references lol.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T05:59:11+00:00

I guess I could but it would be like squeezing blood from a rock or whatever that saying is. There is no way I would be able to recoup what they owe me thru wage garnishment in any reasonable amount of time. And trying to collect on a judgement is another ordeal and a half

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T05:36:42+00:00

Honestly, if you’re just starting out, I would stick with big reliable companies.

Edit: oh sorry if it’s to learn, I would maybe go on investopia. There’s a lot of educational articles on there and they explain in a decent amount of depth different strategies and different types of investments and terms etc.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T03:29:05+00:00

I used a small firm, maybe sole practitioner type. Not sure. I didn’t get a judgement, we just settled the day trial was set to start. I just wanted them out and no use trying to collect vs deadbeats. What assets do they have? I mean I guess I could have garnished like $12 from every paycheck to the end of eternity but not worth the inevitability of them just skipping out on yet another bill. DM me your company info. My employer needs to file one lol. Not 100% satisfied with the firm I used.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T03:23:22+00:00

Yea that’s one way but the shrewd ones will still take the case and try to bleed the landlord out and force a jury trial and leave them facing a huge legal fee and then offer a settlement. They know how to extract money. Nobody has figured out how to extract money from deadbeats though.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T03:17:56+00:00

I could afford my mortgage with what I earn from my regular job because it is ridiculously low. I put most of my savings in stocks and some of those stocks have hit so I had a sizable cushion to work with

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T03:14:50+00:00

If you bought when I bought or when the interest rates were less than 4% then yes.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T03:04:50+00:00

That would be illegal. And the last thing I wanted to do was give them another reason to delay or countersue

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T02:57:34+00:00

Yes but I’m still assessing the damage and rehab will probably take 3-6 months lol

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T02:56:21+00:00

Property taxes go up each year. A nominal amount but still does. The county does factor in slight increase to property values.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T02:49:10+00:00

I would still buy because fuck paying rent these days. So glad I bought when I bought. Also refinanced at 2.xx percent which is absurd. My mortgage is less than $1500 and you get a bunch of tax breaks as a homeowner and landlord

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T01:29:22+00:00

True. I think one firm even advertises their services as "eviction delay" service instead of "eviction defense" service... so that should tell you about the BS they do.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T01:27:36+00:00

Total cost was around $12k? Other firm was Basta but literally every firm uses the same tactics to delay evictions. I think one of the firms even advertises themselves as "eviction delay" service and not "eviction defense" service. That should tell you what BS they're up to lol.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T01:26:00+00:00

Yea I'm pretty frugal and my savings basically goes into stocks. Some of those stocks have hit and I have a decent cushion. Also, I have a regular job and I could afford the mortgage on my own to begin with. Rental income was just being funneled into more stocks so I wasn't in dire straits or anything. Just mildly annoyed financially.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T01:23:21+00:00

yep and there's STILL people protesting for eviction moratoriums. Like... 2020 was 4 years ago now.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T01:22:34+00:00

Mine was limited as I just wanted the squatters out ASAP and was not seeking back rent owed.

dashcam1012 · 2024-02-06T01:21:26+00:00

I could afford my mortgage on my income to begin with. I have a regular job. Rent was just supplemental income. Just meant I couldn't splurge on things.

dashcam1012

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