Long distance land lording Published March 6, 2009 By Airman Elena Stofle 14th Flying Training Wing Judge Advocate COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- After a permanent change of station, many military members are taking on the additional duty of landlord due to the current state of the economy. Leasing a home can be a very stressful process, especially if you are a long distance landlord. If you are in this predicament, the legal office is here to help. Although the legal office cannot provide legal assistance for issues involving personal commercial enterprises, an exception is made when a homeowner is unable to sell their home and decides to rent it instead. According to a recent Realty Trac report, foreclosure filings increased 81 percent in 2008 compared to 2007 and more than 225 percent since 2006. As a result, falling home prices, in addition to the flood of bank-owned homes to the market, will continue to make selling a home difficult. Those leasing a home should consider hiring an accountant, property manager or real estate expert for assistance. These experts provide an array of services and, most importantly, peace of mind. If a professional is not used, be sure to keep excellent records - accurate and detailed recordkeeping can prevent future legal and tax troubles. The legal office is another option and can assist in reviewing leases and other documents to make the job of being a landlord a bit easier. Those in the market to buy a home should already be putting together a game plan to prepare for their next move, usually within two to four years for active duty members. Those in the market to rent can contact a military attorney to review lease agreements to protect service members' interests. Military members and their dependents can bring a copy of their lease to the legal office and have it checked for legal sufficiency. Service members will not normally be penalized should they receive PCS orders or go on a deployment or TDY lasting 90 days or more and need to end the contract, but service members should always ensure that there is a clause for these situations in their lease agreement. The Department of Defense sponsors the Automated Housing Referral Network, a resource used to find professional assistance, advertise homes for rent or sale and locate homes to buy or rent. The AHRN specializes in helping service members. Visit http://www.ahrn.com/ for more information. Contact your base legal office for more information.