Los Angeles Housing Rental Scams: Don’t Become a Victim

The search for housing can be tedious and frustrating. In addition to the hundreds of available properties, one has to also be aware of fraudulent “landlords” whose sole purpose is to scam and steal. These “sellers” claim that they are unavailable to show the house and that they will mail the keys once they have received a deposit. However, once they receive the payment, they disappear and leave the prospective tenant empty handed.

There are many possibilities for various scams. For example, an owner with a foreclosed house may put up their property for rent and pretend that the house is in good standing. As soon as the tenant is all moved in, they will disappear with the money. Weeks or months later, the new houseguests are without a home and money when they find out that their new residency is foreclosed. Other frauds may break into a house and show it to potential renters as their own. Once the money exchange is complete, the fraud disappears without a trace.

A young woman, Sheila, recently reported to the Los Angeles Times that she was looking at a couple of homes in Atwater Village after seeing ads in Craigslist. The “owner” told her the rear door was open, that he couldn’t meet with her and that she should inspect the home. She liked what she saw and agreed to pay six months in advance for a lower rent plus a security deposit. She left a money order and her application at the house only to find later that the so-called “owner” didn’t own the home.

The “owner” set up a “rent to own” contract with Chet whereby he could live in the home with his family, make high rental payments and end up owning the home. Nine months in, the “owner” had disappeared and the bank had foreclosed on the property, forcing Chet and his family out.

There are many proactive steps to be taken in order to stop these fraudulent acts. One of the most efficient tools to utilize is a website titled “CheckYourLandlord.com”. This website is inexpensive and full of detailed information regarding landlords, their history, and available properties. However, there are many “free” precautions that can be taken in order to avoid fraud.

The easiest way to avoid scams is to ask for identification. If someone refuses to flash their driver’s license or identification, their credibility is minimal. Some people worry about offending their seller, but this is a routine procedure in high-end business transactions.

Once the seller’s identification is cleared, it is necessary to ensure that they are the correct owner and that the property is not in foreclosure. This information can be found online on the county’s website. The assessor’s office or recorder of deeds will have the correct information on the owner and any “lis pendens” against the property.

The next step is to ensure that the owner is not stuck in any financial trouble. There are many facets to check. There may be unpaid dues filed by the homeowners association or a government jurisdiction from unpaid property taxes. If previous tenants filed any civil cases or criminal actions against the owner, this is evidence that the owner is not in reliable financial standing.

Finally, check to see if there is a lien against another property with the same owner. This could indicate that the owner is struggling financially and may be trying to con money. If this information is not found online, any county courthouse will have records of property listings and owners.

The RV Resort Camping Experience

If you are looking for the perfect place RV resort camping, visit Hidden Bluffs Resort. It is southeast of the Twin Cities with easy access to Root River Fishing & Bicycle Path, Niagara & Mystery Caves, Amish Communities, Kayaking, Tubing, Hunting and Four-wheeling! Near Forestville, Lansboro, Harmony & Spring Grove, Minnesota, this RV Resort camp is tucked into a valley made up of beautiful hardwood forest and limestone bluffs and offers the best in what we call “natural amenities”. There is nearly one mile of picturesque trout stream, and over four miles of groomed hiking trails!

Hidden Bluffs RV Resort Camping offers full hookup (30 amp& 50 amp).It is large, shady and grassy with picnic tables and fire rings at every site! Pull through Sites are available! Heated swimming pool and hot tubs are available for relaxing and enjoying the outdoor weather with your family. Hidden Bluffs boasts large tent sites for the camping family. Firepits, driveways, and wooded areas make Hidden Bluffs the perfect getaway for your family.

Your kids and grandkids will love our on-site playground & the whole family can join in on a round of Mini Golf on our outdoor mini golf course. Grab some friends and get a game started! Spend time playing volleyball or basketball on our campground courts.4 Miles of Groomed Walking and Hiking Trails surround the resort. You’ll enjoy walking, trail running, or exploring the beauty of southern Minnesota.

There’s nothing quite fun like roasting marshmallows over a campfire. Or, during the day, enjoy a game of horseshoes in their resort horseshoe pits. Free WIFI means that even though you’re on vacation, you can stay connected. Check out the Rushmore Shadows Convenience Store – so you won’t have to leave the resort to pick up the items you may need. On property laundry facilities are provided for Rushmore Shadows guests.

Whether you’re roughing it in a tent, or taking it easy in a cabin, RV Resort camping is much fun. Vacation home rentals are also available. They might be cabins, full-sized vacation homes, townhomes or condominiums. Most come with fully furnished kitchens and other comforts of home. Rental arrangements might be made directly with the homeowner, or with a business that represents the homeowner. Unlike hotels and resorts, there typically is not an on-site manager. All vacation home rentals listed must have attested that they meet all state and local regulations.

Whether you are looking for a wilderness camping experience or an activity-filled family getaway at a lake resort, you will find it at Hidden Bluffs. If you want peace and quiet with plenty of grass, trees, walking paths, friendly people, and stuff to do within 20 miles, this is the place to stay.

If your idea of camping more closely resembles taking your entire house and duplicating it within the confines of an RV, then visit the resort. Membership to Midwest Outdoor Resorts has its privileges- you can take affordable vacations without sacrificing quality.

Pet insurance: Pros, cons, and whether it’s right for you and your Pets

Owing a pet is a privilege but being responsible owner insurance is one of the many ways of caring for their pets, like feeding, grooming and exercise. Animals too are susceptible to illness and injuries as humans. The fact that 90% of the claims paid out in 2013 were for illness as opposed to accidents is a testament to genuine need for per insurance.

People say the only time you benefit from having a pet insurance is if you make a claim. It’s wasted money. You’ll find that insurance policies have waiting periods and exclusions like cover up to certain age, selected diseases covered and policies may require you to pay the veterinary bill up front, and then claim a refund from them. This means that you still be able to access money to pay for your dog’s veterinary care, before you see any money back from your insurer.

It’s an unsolved dilemma whether pet insurance is a good idea?

It depends largely on whether you could afford a massive veterinary bill, or whether you’d prefer to pay smaller monthly premiums and let the insurer pay out if and when your pet needs treatment. Pet insurance is like you won’t need to be worried about money when you’re already worrying about your pet health. Pet insurance not only provides cover for veterinary fees if your pet become ill or injured but also grants several other benefits as well like

Third party liability cover in case your dog inures someone or damage someone’s else property.
Paying you the price you paid for your pet if it is lost, stolen, or dies because of an injury or an illness before a certain age
he cost of advertising a reward your lost or stolen per, and the cost of reward itself, if your pet is found or recovered, up to a certain amount
Paying the costs of looking after your pet if you have to go into hospital for emergency medical treatment
If you have taken Pet Travel Plan, it will bear the cost of emergency veterinary treatment for your pet even if you take it to abroad also.

Every insurance plan will have some exclusion as well inclusions. So cover provided by different products can vary considerably, ranging from accident-only policies to lifetime-cover policies. Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance – serving Aussie pets & their family since 1995. On its online portal you can easily compare the features of each plan. Bow Wow Meow’s insurance plans provide genuine life-long cover for chronic conditions and a range of additional benefits.

There are many other unforeseen risks involved in owing a cat, dog or rabbit. Several people don’t care about the needs of their pets and least bothered about buying pet accessories. These days’ people treat their pets as a part of their family, so they are always in look for the latest updates regarding health of their pets. Pet accessories are of paramount importance to ensure healthy and safe living including pet clothes, warm and cold clothes, hats, best food, feeding and grooming products including flea and tick control medicines. It is tiresome to shop from one location to another location so these days’ online pet accessories stores offer best in class solution for this. If you have the specific list that you want to buy, with just a couple of clicks of the mouse, you can purchase your shopping orders and instantly move to other important things, which can save time & energy as well.