Realtors and Sec 8

Working with Realtors offers a lot of opportunities and a new set of challenges. I have dealt with a lot of Realtors and most of them handle a sale of a property way more professional than they do a rental situation. I get calls all the time from Realtors that don’t know a thing about their client that they bring to a landlord. They ask a simple question “does your client take section 8?” I usually respond with a simple “it depends.” A good Realtor will have a very thorough conversation with me at this point as to their clients situation.

Many Realtors are surprised when I want to know about their clients credit score and want to know why it is the way it is. They expect to get p[aid because they answered the phone at the office and can ask the same question their client could ask for themselves. This is not worth a commission. They should know their client better than I do and this is rarely the case. I usually get a little rude with this type of Realtor and ask them questions they should know and inform them of what I know of their client’s situation. I usually have to explain how the voucher works and that in many cases the person receiving the voucher has to use the amount not only on rent but on their utilities as well. I will ask if they have talked to their clients counselor at sec 8 and if their client is legally allowed to supplement the cost of their housing. I ask if their client is still bound to another lease and if so for how long? I usually ask them why my client would take a risk with their client and most of the time I get an “I don’t know”.  What am I supposed to do with an offer like this? At this point some very shrewd Realtors will start commong up with what they think they might be dealing with and make up a story for me right there on the spot. I tell them that I can make up fake examples to and tell them to do their job or don’t call back.