Robinson: Harford Needs New Landlord Legislation

From Jansen Robinson, Chairman of the Edgewood Community Council. This letter was sent to Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie, a copy was provided to The Dagger:

On behalf of the Edgewood Community Council, I am requesting that you pursue county legislation that would require landlords to register their residential rental property with the Harford County Government prior to renting to perspective tenants, or renewing the leases of current tenants.

Furthermore, I am requesting that as a condition of renting any residential property that land lords be required to conduct criminal background checks on perspective tenants.

That land lords be required to authorize Harford County Government to enact similiar provisions as applied to section 8 housing voucher recipients.

That these rental units be subjected to random quality of life inspections to include lease enforcement and that the results of these inspections be provided to Harford County Government. The cost of such inspections ...Continue Reading

Tags: edgewood, Guthrie, landlord, rent, tenant

Housing Market of Horrors: A 20-Something’s Guide to Buying a Home

Since the housing market began its dramatic landslide last year, I’ve been pushing my fiancé to buy a house under the impression that this may be the most affordable time for first-time buyers. There’s a lot of real estate out there for sale, most of which has been sitting stagnant for several months. The lenders and agents continue to harp that this is a buyer’s market. And they’re right—it’s the best time to be a buyer if you’re not trying to sell a house first and have 20 percent to put down.

Being 20-Something Today

I’ve learned a lot since I started looking at homes, and one of those lessons is that unless you can put 20 percent down on a house, you’re monthly mortgage is going to be painful. There isn’t a lot of incentive for young people just getting started to do anything other than ...Continue Reading

Tags: agent, dagger, dagger press, foreclosure, housing, mortgage, real estate, rent