Atlanta Housing Source

When it was announced that the Rolling Stones were to play Atlanta in the Fox Theatre in the 70′s I spent the night in line to buy tickets with about a hundred folks.   Now, when they announce that there is housing available that someone else pays the rent for you 30,000 show up. Some spent days. Read the article below where riot police and water bottles were dispatched.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thirty thousand people showed up to receive Section 8 housing applications in East Point Wednesday, suffering through hours in the hot sun, angry flare-ups in the crowd and lots of frustration and confusion for a chance to receive a government-subsidized apartment.

The massive event sometimes descended into a chaotic mob scene filled with anger and impatience. Some 62 people needed medical attention and 20 of them were transported to a hospital, authorities said. A baby went into a seizure in the heat and was stabilized at a hospital. People were removed on stretchers and when a throng of people who had been waiting hours in a line were told to move to another line, people started pushing, shoving and cursing, witnesses said.

Still, officials of East Point declared the day a success. Nobody was arrested and nobody was seriously injured, they said. It was an assessment roundly challenged by many of the people who had to go through it.

Kim Lemish, executive director of the East Point Housing Authority, said the event marked the first time the city has offered Section 8 housing applications since 2002. The waiting list that lasted eight years had depleted, she said, and the agency was beginning a new one. So people braved all the physical difficulties just to get on a waiting list that could keep them waiting for years.

Lemish said the agency had expected about 10,000 people but three times as many showed up. Many were just accompanying those looking for an application. Some 13,000 applications were handed out.

Concern is rising that a similar scene could occur Thursday when the housing authority of this small city begins accepting the completed applications. Wednesday’s event was only to hand out the paperwork. The housing authority will begin accepting applications at 9 a.m.

Some of the crowd waited for two days at the Tri-Cities Plaza shopping center. As the temperature rose Wednesday, people fell ill.

Sgt. Cliff Chandler, spokesman for the East Point Police Department, said a toddler was treated earlier in the morning for “some type of seizure,” Chandler said.

“A lot of it was heat and some was health-related issues” such people not taking their medications, Chandler said.

By the time everyone had left around 2 p.m., the temperature had climbed into the low 90s.

East Point police, some wearing riot helmets, were patrolling the area. Firefighters and EMTs were attending to people who were overheating in the sun. Police from College Park, Hapeville, Fulton County and MARTA assisted in crowd control.

Chandler said there were no arrests.

Felecia McGhee told the AJC she arrived around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. She said the major problem began when people started breaking into the line and then officials handing out applications started moving those areas and those line breakers. She said she saw at least two small children trampled when the crowd rushed the building where the applications were to be handed out.

“It’s a real mess out here,” she said.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Mike Petchenik said fights were breaking out and police had to stop people who were storming the door.

Channel 2 reporter Tom Jones said, “There are thousands, I mean, thousands of people here. I’ve seen people fall out from the heat.”

By late morning the crowd had thinned considerably and people were walking up and getting their applications without delay. But just before the 1 p.m. deadline, a line of about 200 people had formed. Shortly after 1 p.m., several people ran across the parking lot to get in line but were told by police that the line was closed.

Emergency personnel brought in a pickup truck full of bottled water and were handing it out to the crowd.

A sign on the door of the office explained that only applications were being handed out.

“The housing authority will be issuing applications Wednesday, August 11, starting at 9 a.m. Everyone in line by 1 p.m. on the 11th will receive an application. … No Section 8 vouchers are available at this time. There are no public housing units available at this time. You’re applying for the waiting list only.”

The Housing Choice Voucher Program, called Section 8, subsidized the rents of low-income families living in apartments and houses that are privately owned. The federal program makes up the difference in rent that the poor can afford and the fair market value for each area.

The federal government has specific standards for its subsidized properties but at the same time landlords are assured an income.

Only families with incomes no more than half the median income for the area qualify. The median income for the East Point area is less than $32,000, according to Census data. It is up to the renter to find a place that meets HUD standards, which includes being 90 percent to 110 percent of the “local fair market rent.”

– Reporters Mike Morris and Rhonda Cook contributed to this story.

If you are looking at Atlanta for Rental options, here is a video that shares with you some things you should consider before making your selection. Anne Lackey, Broker of Solid Source Property Management, provides helpful hints for people relocating from outside the Atlanta area.

If you are looking to relocate, you can find additional information about the Atlanta area on our website – www.AtlantaHousingSource.com – your Source for Atlanta Real Estate.

If you are buying properties for renovation and resale, or a homeowner who is getting a home ready to put your home on the market, you will likely have to deal with contractors during your home’s renovation. While hiring contractors can save you quite a bit of time and help you get your home on the market more quickly, there are a few steps you should take to make sure your contract work goes smoothly.

First, develop a written work plan with your contractor. The work plan should state, in detail, the work that is to be done, the timeframe for completion, and the price that is to be paid for the work. This helps ensure that you and your contractor know exactly what you expect. It’s also a valuable document to have in case the contractor does not complete the work correctly.

Second, pay only for progress. Some contractors will ask for some or all of the fees up front. It’s important get clarity of what you are paying for if you agree to an up-front fee, because it will be difficult to get this money back if the contractor does not complete the work to your satisfaction. Often, you can negotiate a series of smaller payments as portions of the work are completed – this benefits both you and the contractor, because you are more likely to see progress, and the contractor can recoup expenses as the work is being done. We will pay for the materials directly and then do progress payments for the labor.

Finally, make sure that any changes are made in writing. If your contractor needs to extend a deadline, substitute building materials or fixtures, or make any other changes, it’s not enough to rely on a verbal agreement. Your contractor must be willing to commit to all changes in writing.

Other items to consider is making sure that the contractor has the proper credentials as well as insurance – liability and worker compensation. When working with contractors that don’t have the proper credentials and insurance, you put yourself and your home and assets at risk.

As a real estate investor, you likely have visions of a life filled with easy income and plenty of free time for travel and leisure. Although real estate investing can certainly bring you wealth and a lifestyle most people only dream of, you need to be aware of common mistakes made by new investors. Being aware of these errors can help you avoid them, and build a profitable investing business that will support the lifestyle you desire.

The single biggest mistake made by new real estate investors is lack of planning. Many new investors fail to develop a long term strategy, instead choosing to plan as they go along. Without a clearly defined set of goals and a detailed plan for achieving them, you will likely make investment decisions that are not optimal for long term profitability. The properties you choose for purchase should fit your investment strategy, not the other way around.

The second mistake make by many investors is failing to properly account for cash flow. While you are the owner of an investment property, you are responsible for not only the mortgage payment, but also the property taxes, insurance, maintenance, association dues, and other expenses that come with owning that home or apartment building. If you find that your rental income is not covering your expenses, you may find it difficult to raise your rent without losing tenants. If you are renovating a home for resale, the property may sit on the market for several months before you locate a qualified buyer. Make sure that you have adequate cash flow to cover expenses during this period.

A third common mistake new real estate investors make is planning for only one exit strategy. If you buy a property with the intention of renovating and selling it, you will need to develop another exit plan if the house doesn’t sell. You could rent the house out until market conditions improve, or offer a buyer a lease-purchase option. Your back up strategies might be less than ideal, but they can keep you from losing money on your investments.

The fourth common mistake is thinking that real estate investing is a ticket to fast wealth. Unless you realize from the beginning that investing takes hard work, patience, and a long term plan, you are likely to become discouraged and give up before you start seeing the kinds of profits that will allow you to live a life of freedom.

Finally, the fifth mistake made by many new investors is deciding you can handle all of the aspects of investing yourself. It’s impossible to be an expert at every facet of real estate investing, so a smart investor will develop a “team” of professionals, such as an attorney, an accountant, property manager, a real estate agent, and several remodeling and maintenance professionals. This will ensure that all aspects of your business are handled correctly, and free up your time so you can continue to develop your real estate empire and long term wealth.

If you are interested in getting started in real estate investing and are interested in Georgia properties, we would appreciate the opportunity to serve you. Find out more about us at http://www.AtlantaHousingSource.com.

Here is a video of an investor’s rehab before. We will be posting the after in the next couple of days. This 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom house with a full basement is currently available for rent in the Peachtree Corner’s area of Norcross for $1,295.00. You can see more details about the house at http://www.solidsourcepm.com/homes/detail/123/.