Looking to relocate to NV or CO, but spouse has a felony conviction (Las Vegas: 2013, apartments)
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Hi there. Me and my husband would love to move out of Texas within the next 2 years, and we have narrowed down our choices to Nevada or Colorado. I have two adult children living in Nevada (oldest decided to put down roots near Reno after being stationed in Fallon) and my husband has an adult child living in Colorado (Denver area). We will be empty-nester's soon when my youngest child graduates high school and moves on to college. That said, we are really looking forward to the next phase of our lives and that means finding new things to do, see, and explore. For us, it just makes sense to move somewhere where we already have a connection.
Here is our dilemma - my husband was in a previous relationship with someone who was not an honest person and he ended up taking the fall for a crime she committed. According to official documents the offense took place in May 2011 - nearly 7 years ago - and he was sentenced in January 2012 to 10 years probation for a Class 2 Felony. However, due to some unfortunate events which I don't feel comfortable disclosing on this forum, my husband had a violation of probation. This probation violation resulted in a revoked probation and subsequent sentence to 2 years in the TDCJ last June. He was approved for parole on his first try and was released on parole by October 2017. Within 2 weeks of release he secured gainful, full time employment. He has also gone on to have his driver's license reinstated, is paying all fines/fees/court costs/restitution as required, and is meeting all requirements of his parole without any issues. His parole officer has indicated he may be released early because he is doing so well. But even if he is not released early, he will be done with that part of his journey by March 2019. But that doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. All anyone sees (landlords/employers) is that he pled guilty to this crime and was sentenced to the DOC.
My question is, would we have a better chance of finding a home to rent in NV or CO with his record? My record is squeaky clean - not even so much as a traffic infraction. However, I understand that doesn't matter and has absolutely no weight in determining whether my husband is a threat to neighbors or would cause any future landlords a problem. All I can really say is that my husband does not associate with the same people he did when the supposed crime was committed and does not live or make the same choices he did back then that led to this horrible situation. If it helps at all, we have been living in the same rental home since November 2013 and can provide a positive reference from our current landlord.
I know the odds are stacked incredibly high against us, but I am extremely hopeful that someone out there will give us a chance to prove we are worth giving a chance. We plan to have at least $12k saved by the time we move and our goal is by October 1, 2019. With that $12k we expect to pay 3-4 months rent in advance in addition to the deposit and application fee. One final note, we have a family cat that has been a part of MY life since he was 6 weeks old and he is now 9 years old. I can not fathom leaving him behind or putting him in a shelter just to have a place to live.
I'm sorry for writing so much. Thank you for taking the time to read all of it. We appreciate any helpful feedback.
Last edited by OptimisicTexan; 03-04-2018 at 12:07 PM..
Sure...we are concerned about his ability to find work. However, he was able to find a job fairly easily here working in a warehouse. We figure those types of jobs come a dime a dozen. It helps that he is willing to work just about whatever type of job he can find that is willing to hire him. In the past 5 years he has worked at 2 different car wash/detail places and now a warehouse job. At the first car wash place he was promoted to assistant manager within a few months, and within a year he was the manager. At the second car wash place he was promoted to shift lead within a month. Unfortunately, those types of places aren't good for people who need a steady income because the weather heavily impacts their ability to be open. And when you are paid hourly, you can't pay your bills if your employer has to be closed 4 out of 6 days of the week due to rain or below freezing temps. So he moved on. At this warehouse job, he started in one department where he pushed a button all day. Within 3 weeks he was promoted to the maintenance department which came with a really nice pay increase. We know his record will be an issue, but we hope that him having several positive references will be in his favor.
Regarding the savings...the plan is to pay the security deposit, pet deposit, 1st month's rent and possibly an additional 3 or 4 month's rent in advance depending on how much the rent ends up being. Plus, we plan to have enough to cover at least 1 month's worth of our other monthly expenses (e.g. utilities, car payment/insurance, cell phones, etc.). We aren't looking to pay more than $1500 per month rent, but realistically I think $1300 per month is more in our comfort zone. That is based on estimates of my husband being able to make close to what he makes at his current job which may or may not be possible. If we have to find a place solely based on my income we won't be able to clear the required **income must be 3x monthly rent** unless it is $800 per month or less. That puts us looking for a one bedroom apartment and apartments are less likely to rent to someone with a record.
Anyhow...thank you for replying. I appreciate the feedback.
In Vegas, nearly every place including Walmart does background checks that go back 10 years. You said the violation was 7 years ago but had a parole violation a couple years ago. They will see the parole violation and not hire him. Think 10 years after the parole violation he will be clean. On a lease you have to mention who’s living in the house. If you are the only one listed and he’s living there you are subject to eviction
In Vegas, nearly every place including Walmart does background checks that go back 10 years. You said the violation was 7 years ago but had a parole violation a couple years ago. They will see the parole violation and not hire him. Think 10 years after the parole violation he will be clean. On a lease you have to mention who’s living in the house. If you are the only one listed and he’s living there you are subject to eviction
Even here in Texas nearly every place does background checks on prospective employees. That's one reason my husband took jobs at car washes the first few years we were together. He was fortunate enough to find a warehouse job here last year that does not run background checks and they have been rewarded with a hard-working, dependable employee in return. But...I do understand not every where out there is like that.
Regarding a lease - we very much intend to have his name included. I know that by choosing to include him on the application we run a much higher chance of being denied housing even before our background is ran, but it seems like if we don't include him that will only reinforce the stereotype that is associated with anyone who has a record (regardless of what crime was) AND will make me look shady too. If we can't find a place the honest way, it just doesn't seem worth the possible consequence of being homeless when the landlord finds out about him living there and evicts us.
A casino most likely wouldn't hire him but who cares. Warehousing for alcohol, probably not.
You guys are going through this with a lot of thought and maturity. Plan and saving, more than most.
He'll have a good reference for a job. Your married, stability there. That's how us older folks see it anyway.
Let's face it, most of us living here are a little more open minded than other parts of the country. I posted before about hiring an ex con, about a year out of the fed pen. Best salesman we ever had in my time working for hubs. His crime was phone scam, the group was on 60 minutes in the 90's. Never had an issue with him. Can't say that about the saleman who weren't ex cons.
If I had rental property, with all the positive turn around stuff you've guys have managed to do, the cat would bother me more than your hubs. But I'm off the charts allergic to cats.
I'll tell you what we need, more guys who have there own business that do on site car detailing. The best in town just got a couple casino businesses and he said he can charge 3 times what he was making doing cars around town. Some of these guys don't show, don't do a good job, etc. For future reference.
I'll tell you what we need, more guys who have there own business that do on site car detailing. The best in town just got a couple casino businesses and he said he can charge 3 times what he was making doing cars around town. Some of these guys don't show, don't do a good job, etc. For future reference.
Thank you so much for all the kind words. I specifically want to comment on the above. We actually talked a year or so ago about him starting his own car detailing business - one where he would come to you and do the job. At the time, we just could not see a way to make it work because we would most likely need to buy a truck and trailer to haul equipment or a van of sorts. The other concern I have is his age. It is hard labor and takes it out of you. But that may be something we really need to think about.
Any chance he can get his conviction expunged? Worth every penny!
My next door neighbor was a felon. He had lifelong employment problems and it colored the rest of his life. The only decent job he ever had in his whole life here was working for Ocean Spray in Henderson. He worked there for 7 years and when they found out about his conviction, they fired him because he lied on his application. He worked mostly construction jobs but over the years, it wrecked his body. He moved to Wyoming a couple years ago and I hope he is doing better there.
If you work anywhere there is a lot of money they do extensive background and drug screening.
Looks to me like if you come here, you will be the one meeting the bills. Assuming you are bondable, here is another idea for you I have been thinking about for a long time. Las Vegas is full of seniors and part time residents. Many of them have more money than time or physical ability. I think a business based on meeting those needs has a chance of being successful here. Things like delivering groceries, overseeing a plumber, letting authorized people in and out of the premises, shopping for groups using their condo for the weekend, closing up the condo when they leave, picking up prescriptions for people. Lots of possibilities but it would take time to build it up to the point where it would support you.
Any chance he can get his conviction expunged? Worth every penny!
My next door neighbor was a felon. He had lifelong employment problems and it colored the rest of his life. The only decent job he ever had in his whole life here was working for Ocean Spray in Henderson. He worked there for 7 years and when they found out about his conviction, they fired him because he lied on his application. He worked mostly construction jobs but over the years, it wrecked his body. He moved to Wyoming a couple years ago and I hope he is doing better there.
If you work anywhere there is a lot of money they do extensive background and drug screening.
Looks to me like if you come here, you will be the one meeting the bills. Assuming you are bondable, here is another idea for you I have been thinking about for a long time. Las Vegas is full of seniors and part time residents. Many of them have more money than time or physical ability. I think a business based on meeting those needs has a chance of being successful here. Things like delivering groceries, overseeing a plumber, letting authorized people in and out of the premises, shopping for groups using their condo for the weekend, closing up the condo when they leave, picking up prescriptions for people. Lots of possibilities but it would take time to build it up to the point where it would support you.
He looked at having his record expunged a month or so ago, but it's too soon. But, as soon as he can, he will. There's no reason either of us should have to be treated like criminals the rest of our lives for his one mistake.
As for your idea...it sounds like a really good one. I worked some last year cleaning for an older woman who was disabled. I also ran errands for her - mostly picking up her prescriptions and doing her grocery shopping. We also have a friend who does similar work in downtown Dallas. He and his wife make a decent living, but the down-side is that the seldom have any free time. I'm not sure what it means to be bondable. Can you explain what that is?
He looked at having his record expunged a month or so ago, but it's too soon. But, as soon as he can, he will. There's no reason either of us should have to be treated like criminals the rest of our lives for his one mistake.
As for your idea...it sounds like a really good one. I worked some last year cleaning for an older woman who was disabled. I also ran errands for her - mostly picking up her prescriptions and doing her grocery shopping. We also have a friend who does similar work in downtown Dallas. He and his wife make a decent living, but the down-side is that the seldom have any free time. I'm not sure what it means to be bondable. Can you explain what that is?
Sure. It's sort of like an insurance policy that covers you from claims. For example, you let the plumber into one of your client's homes and the owner then comes back on you saying the plumber stole all her jewelry. Or you stole all her jewelry. Read this. https://www.wikihow.com/Become-Bonded
People who are considered bondable generally have no criminal record or problems with law enforcement.
Sure. It's sort of like an insurance policy that covers you from claims. For example, you let the plumber into one of your client's homes and the owner then comes back on you saying the plumber stole all her jewelry. Or you stole all her jewelry. Read this. https://www.wikihow.com/Become-Bonded
People who are considered bondable generally have no criminal record or problems with law enforcement.
Ooooh, okay. I see. I will check out the link you provided and give this some thought. Thank you!
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