At a Time When There are a Record Number of Foreclosures The National Association of Independent Landlords Finds a Solution for Homeowners at Risk

At a time when a record number of Americans are facing foreclosure, the National Association of Independent Landlords encourages at-risk homeowners to consider renting out their homes rather than staying in them until the bank begins legal proceedings.

Homeowners who find their monthly expenses outstripping what they can afford may consider downsizing. By moving to a less expensive home or apartment and renting out their own home, owners will have someone else paying their mortgage. Countless Association members have taken this route, realizing that even after a small or moderate monthly short fall, they will be better able to keep their home until prices rebound.

A troubled homeowner's first step should be to ask their bank about better terms. Lenders want to keep homes out of foreclosure as much as does the borrower.

Though renting is an excellent option for many homeowners, it can be a risky proposition if it's not done right, thanks to changes in federal and state laws as well as inherent dangers of allowing someone permanent access to a property. The National Association offers members a clearinghouse for information, forms, laws and advice that affect landlords. It can help landlords:

-- Find qualified tenants by running credit checks. The three major credit
bureaus, in an effort to protect clients from identity theft, now
require stringent compliance measures such as on-site visits. This is
impractical for many landlords, so the National Association will run a
credit check on potential renters, giving them a pass or fail grade so
a landlord can determine whether they would be a suitable tenant.
-- Report tenants' payment history to credit bureaus as well as report
damages renters may have caused.
-- Collect rent electronically.

With more than 100,000 members in all 50 states, the National Association of Independent Landlords is the largest provider of landlord services in the country. President Tracey Benson has been quoted by publications including Money magazine, The Washington Post, New York's Daily News and the Star-Telegram in Fort-Worth, Texas. The National Association has offices in Los Angeles and Houston.

For further information, please visit http://www.landlordassociation.com/

Source: National Association of Independent Landlords

CONTACT: Tracey Benson, President of National Association of Independent
Landlords, 1-800-352-3395, Cell, +1-310-435-9139, landlord@nail-usa.com

Web site: http://www.landlordassociation.com/