Things are getting a little more interesting here in my little corner of Ohio. The real estate market is officially dead and prices are falling. Opportunities to purchase properties dirt cheap abound, BUT violent crime is EXPLODING (or at least those are the words of one city council member}. Unfortunately, although properties can be purchased dirt cheap, this is offset by the fact that even low income renters (including section eight) are hesitant to rent anything in these areas.
I’ve had a connection to 3 incidents that occurred in the last 2 weeks. In the first incident, one of my tenants was robbed in his apartment at knife point. No one was seriously hurt, although the tenant’s friend was struck in the face with a tire iron. A couple of days later, I was working on the roof of one of our buildings, when I saw four teenagers in the alley. One of the teenagers was twirling a handgun. This may be a self-correcting problem. If he keeps twirling handguns, he’ll probably shoot himself. Finally, Sunday, a couple of the scumbags that I evicted a few months ago got into a gunfight over a $20 crack deal. Fortunately, they were arrested.
The point is that things are getting more dangerous out there! Nationally, violent crime is increasing. Landlords deal with all these low-lifes. You never know when you’ll be in danger. Be prepared and act accordingly.
This is the real world of landlording (especially low income landording). I don’t remember hearing about this from the gurus!
You are absolutely right and to boot . . . try to get a police officer to back you up even after having all the incident reports . . . useless! They’re too busy teaching (and charging for) the Crime-Free seminars (translation: putting the burden of their jobs off on the property owner).
I have similar problems at properties I manage in Tacoma . . . I am applying for a weapons permit so I can do the job myself if necessary. I learned this business on the streets in Los Angeles . . . some of the worst properties I owned but also some of the most profitable on sale.
Traditionally, as national and global economies deteriorate, crime events increase and escalate in seriousness. There are many newer landlords who have never seen a down cycle and will get a real eye opener as they begin to have experiences at their own properties. I agree and hope to see more of the reality of the ‘self correcting problems’.
Thanks for your post Mike. It’s important for others to know that it’s not all, in fact rarely, like the ‘gurus’ profess.
If anyone else is considering getting a handgun for personal protection it’s essential you get proper training. This doesn’t mean standing square aiming and shooting at a static target once a week. Close quarters battle(CQB) and tactical shooting is a perishable skill that needs constant training. Learn how to clear rooms/ buildings, shoot on the run ACCURATELY and reactive shooting. Police officers with the exception of most SWAT members, are awful shooters because they practice on a static range standing still.
Hopefully you never have to use your weapon but if you do, you cannot miss. Last thing you want is to shoot an innocent person and spend a few years in prison for manslaughter.
As Danny said, be sure to get the tactical training. Here in Ohio, it is part of the course required to get the concealed carry permit. The hard part comes after you get the permit…carrying the gun at all times (at least while you’re working). It is a pain in the rear working with a gun and you don’t know when or where you will need it.
Rich,
Try a shotgun. The only drawback is that it is a little harder to conceal.
Thanks for your recommendations and I whole heartedly agree. I grew up with weapons and a father who didn’t take too much crap. He also didn’t risk his or his family’s lives by not having protection.
The training is important, as well as the intelligence and restraint necessary to survive. The second to the last thing I would want is to have to shoot (and kill) someone. That last thing is to get killed because I didn’t have a weapon. So, since I have chosen, and excell at, managing these types of properties, I don’t have much choice. It’s business.
