Q: I’ve been given a lease to sign that says the landlord can increase the security deposit during the term of the lease. I thought the whole point of a lease is to prevent this sort of thing. Is this legal?

A: It’s understandable that you’d be confused after encountering a clause like the one you describe. When we think of leases, we expect that the key terms, such as the rent and the length of the lease, will be set and unalterable . That’s the main advantage of a lease over a month-to-month rental agreement the tenant knows he can stay for the lease term and that he won’t get a rent increase.

But just as a landlord and tenant may decide later to end the lease early, so too can they provide for an early ending right in the lease itself.

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“Detroit Knows Cars” automobile fine art show is making its premiere in Detroit! The exhibit will open January 7 at 6 p.m. in the Chase Tower Building lobby (611 Woodward Avenue).  This free fine art show features members of the Automotive Fine Art Society and artists who have exhibited at Concours d’Elegance, the finest classic and collector car events in the country.

Focusing on the aesthetics, beauty, and significance of automobiles, these collective works illustrate many different art styles and techniques including painting, photography, and sculpture. The exhibit will be open from January 7 until January 28 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:0

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The following is the live audio from a FavoriteAgent.com Success Team training call held on November 29, 2011.  We begin with the first installment of .  Learn this approach and you will be listing every home for 8% or more while selling your clients homes in half the time and netting them more money in the process.

Listen in and learn how to become the top listing agent in your market. A

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A while back, I wrote about whether it was a good time to buy real estate.

While I argued that it certainly wasn’t a bad time, thanks to the reduced home prices and rock-bottom mortgage rates, I didn’t really touch on why one would buy now.

Back during the housing boom, the trend was clear. Buy

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You can’t polish a turd.  That’s what my Dad said to me.  On prom night.  Gee, thanks Dad.

One thing I’ve learned from being in the fix and flip business is that you may not be able to polish a turd but you can put lipstick on a pig.  And in certain cases some extremely expensive mascara and cover-up.

Currently, I have six houses on the books, three of which are in escrow.  The other three are active on the multiple listing service.  The acquisition price for each of these properties ranges from $140,000 to $486,000.  My rehab costs vary too, from $14,000 to $48,000.

The three houses I have in escrow cost me the least to buy, and remodel:

• 37^th – Purchase price $140,000, $23,000 in repairs
• Melinda – Purchase price $184,000, $15,000 in repairs
• Gemini – Purchase price $278,000, $15,000 in repairs

And two of the three active listings I have cost me the most to buy, and fix up:

• Frye – Purchase price $340,000, $37,000 in repairs
• Cosmos – Purchase price $486,000, $48,000 in repairs.

So by now you’re probably thinking that I’ll make more money on the higher end flips right?  I mean that’s what I thought.  Well, three price drops and 44 days later I’m looking at a loss on both of these deals.

And the three lower-priced deals that I have in escrow?  Together they will net me the h

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