Erica Lehmkuhl

I am a member of many landlord pages where people rent their personal homes. And some of the violations I see are appalling to me. Owners and landlords think they can keep a security deposit for basically anything they want. The tenant looked at me crosseyed, I’m keeping the security deposit. The bathtub drain is a little dirty, I’m keeping the security deposit. There’s a hole in the yard by the fence, I’m keeping the security deposit. Just know that Hawaii law states that if a landlord wrongfully withholds a security deposit the tenant can be awarded three times the amount in court. For example, if the security deposit was $1000 and the landlord wrongfully withheld it, the tenant could be awarded $3000 in court. This is just one example why having a property manager who understands landlord tenant code can save you a lot of money.

This is what the market feels like right now across the country. Cash is typically king but there are things you can do to make your non-cash offer stand out from the rest. Appraisal clause are always helpful, and having an agent represent you that other agents respect and like to work with is also important. Sometimes agents and sellers will except an offer that’s not as strong as a cash offer because the buyer’s agent is a more pleasant person to work with, the buyer has a good lender, and they are known for closing deals and not playing games.

If you haven’t seen this it’s hilarious. https://youtu.be/yEfsaXDX0UQ

This is how realtors view financing.