FANTASTIC!! Sound like this guy has his business plan and principals. The 300 block of High definitely needs love and attention. They are finding out, even in places like Detroit, if you do it right - they will come. Keep the rents priced right, create attractive spaces and the GOOD renters will show up. 'Good on ya' Alan!!

Good luck Alan. Really nice units in the worst area of town. Does this sound like success or failure?

I hope he doesn't lose "heart" when the "cream of the crop" tenants destroy all his hard work & leave in the middle of the night. I can tell Golden Cockroach never had a business of his own, with that make believe mind-set. I hope he doesn't put in exspensive fictures in the property.

Fun, it sounds like you are speaking from personal experience? Education is an oft overlooked value in owning/managing rentals. Now is certainly not the time to make disparaging comments - smart, knowledgeable landlords wanted in Pottstown!!!

Best practices start with the investor doing work to their properties that they can be proud of and would live in themselves. Thorough background checks, speaking to references, a well-written lease that spells out the owners expectations then developing a relationship with his/her customers, (renters), is a time honored road to success in the rental property business. Make no assumptions, I have worked as a property manager and I owned and operated a small business for 15 years.

Clearly, as the article says, Mr. Kokotas has already completed a renovation in the 500 block. Good renters, who ask me to keep an eye out for clean rentals, reported that his units went fast and they are very nice.

You build them and manage them right, Mr. Kokotas and they will come...

Whoa. Katy you are saying you worked as a property manager and operated a small business? Maybe a small ebay business but nothing more. You have never been a property manager. If so, prove it. Tell me I read your comments incorrectly.

Mr Kocotas - Although you assume you are doing the correct thing, in the short term you will not be profitable assuming you financed the purchase and renovations. You will be renting to a tenant who doesn't mind living in a high traffic, high crime area. This tenant either has bad credit, little money, section 8 voucher or cannot rent in a better area because of their bad reputation. Most likely they will abuse your property and you will be in court with 25% of your renters each year. Every time in court is a loss of 2 months rent plus court costs. Good luck and don't allow the activists, who have no idea how to be a landlord, tell you that you are doing the right thing. The right thing is to be profitable. If you cater to the towns best interest you will loss your properties because the town doesn't care about you. It is the landlords vs. the Borough and the landlords will not lose. Come to our next meeting and we will provide you with proof on how the Borough leaders do not have your back. We will contact you.

G Cock, No personal exper. w/ this problem. The reason I have "fun" in Pottstown is that I don't live in town, only drive by. That is why one works hard, to get out! If you think that this is changing that pit, I'd love to tell you about a gold mine I have for sale.

"Avoid destructive thinking. Improper negative thoughts sink people. A ship can sail around the world many, many times, but just let enough water get into the ship and it will sink. Just so with the human mind. Let enough negative thoughts or improper thoughts get into the human mind and the person sinks just like a ship."
~Alfred A. Montapert

"If you wish hard enough, that for what you wish for will come true. That is in the mind of a loser in life & business. That soul goes from the Rockies to the slums."
~Keytee Jaxshon

Lazy, uneducated people who have no clear direction live in the ghetto. These people don't understand they are of no use to a productive society. They are the ones who destroy a town beyond repair. Planting a garden doesn't help, taking pictures doesn't help, only moving will help the town.
-Pottstown Protector

Great quotes p-town protector. Its folks like you that need to help pottstown. I'd help but I don't want to go into town. Your thought about nuts who just take photos is on point. They are the same folks who think ron paul has a chance.

Lazy uneducated people come to the internet to spread their negativity, their narrow-mindedness and their ignorance.
~AnnaC

Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power.
A focus on improvement, on problem solving and, a willingness to work together towards a common goal is what Pottstown needs...

Anna, Can't believe business owners, property owners, advanced college degrees are considered lazy and uneducated. Maybe people who don't work, owe The Borough of Pottstown money, live in the ghetto, uneducated should be the people you should be calling lazy and uneducated. Maybe the problem is your blinders are on too tight and you cannot see the truth.

I don't know about blinders, PP. But, I know about civility and good manners. Both of which seem to be lacking on many posts made to this site.
If you are so educated then you've taken psychology classes? Your behavior, and that of others, is classic!
You're funny.

Education has nothing to do with behavior. You can be a college professor and still have poor behavior. I do not profess to behave up to your standards. I profess to know what are the problems with pottstown. Many are the leadership and many are the rogue activists who think they run the town. I know that any educated indivudual would side with an educated business owner than an uneducated, lazy, person living in the ghetto because they were a failure their entire life. If you wish to support the lazy, uneducated, ghetto living activists you will be treated as they should be treated.

Deb Campbell has a predilection with me and my life, that's the understatement of the year. It's her way of detracting from her questionable business acumen.

Really, Deb, what is it you hope to accomplish? What do you see as a benefit you proffer (ed) the community? How do you think your decisions will impact Pottstown? Why are you neglecting your rental properties here, and how do you see that as a benefit to yourself and to Pottstown? You haven't any real stake here, and your comments hold no surprises or morsels of insight. Sans content they've become repetitive and dull, taking up space. Tell the people of Pottstown what they really want to know Deb.

.... and still angry as ever.

"Mr Kocotas - Although you assume you are doing the correct thing, in the short term you will not be profitable assuming you financed the purchase and renovations"

I read this as:

"Mr Kocotas - My poor business sense led me to an almost $2 mil default, so if I can't do it, you can't either."

I wonder if you actually think that disclaimer is going to protect you from the pending lawsuits. If you do you are sadly mistaken. I can't wait until you waste what little money you have on an attorney. I am smiling ear to ear. Once you lose the first case I will make sure everyone you have defamed files against you. I have copied your blog weekly for the last year. Game on and on and on...

Gold. Cock. every time speaks, she backs it w/ facts and answers questions. You on the other hand deflect evry question and never answer. You seem like a phony. Our group is in town this week, we are you going to be w/ your camera? I saw on your fence it advises to call 911 if we see problems.Too bad you didn't write your 484#, , don't want to call cause it's not listed
See you soon katie. Come join our group, you'd have fun. BTW you should pick up the cans outside your home this Thurs/Friday. There not there yet, but look Thurs/Friday.. Thanks Kate, I can get you a deal on camera batteries.
TAKE CARE!!!

Kudos to the Pottstown Patch, off all the Patches, this is the best. Far and away!!!
Great Job.

Katie why do you use a bunch of fake names? That makes you look nuts. Be who you are. WE know its you.

Qualified attorney costs money. Qualified attorney doesn't mean you will win. The beauty of the legal system is you can keep a case in the system for years and everytime more information is needed from the opposing party your attorney will charge you a fee. It is not about winning, it is about giving you a taste of your own medicine.

Read the Golden Cockroach disclaimer again. What a hoot! First, it won't protect you and second it is a little too late. Do you realize I am not the one suing you. I am just providing the evidence. Pottstown protector is just the voice for the landlords and property managers in Pottstown. Over 80 landlords at the April meeting and most with deep pockets. For fair balance not all 80 own properties in Pottstown but over 65 landlords own in Pottstown. We run Pottstown and don't you forget that.

P-town pro- Great points & also funny. I'd love to be a roach on katies wall when she gets all of her lawyers fees. I bet she starts whining about lawyers after she loses her shirt.(try not to picture that)

The comments from the following aliases are all originating from the same IP addres: Jane & John Doe1, Pottstown Protector, Jane & John Doe, fun in p0ttst0wn, HelterSkelter, and Fun in Pottstown.

Didn't one of those aliases accuse Golden Cockroach of using multiple names and telling her that it made her "look nuts"?
Hellooooooo...

No they aren't Katie I don't know p-town protector etc... You are a liar and fake! I flagged your comment as such! BYe bye katie

The administrators comments are not true. So Annac, don't believe everything you read.

So then, I shouldn't believe all of the vitriol being spewed here against one person?

Just facts. Annac jackson

It is a fact that there are ramifications for negligent property owners and thankfully, the renters in Pottstown are becoming knowledgeable and pro-active. Information and education are powerful tools.

http://www.move.com/rentals/know-your-rights/landlord-liability-for-criminal-acts-and-activities-faq.aspx

Gold Cock, I have one thing to say to you: hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahhahhahahhahahhahahhahahha. Pick up your cans this Thurs/Friday!

Seems obvious that all of these screen names belong to the one and only Deb Lacava Campbell, previously known as (have to contain my laughter here) "goodmom" then "maryjames" until she was banned from the Mercury's site. She'll probably keep it up here until all of her comments are again deleted by Patch, because nothing she has to say is really worth any of

Jane & John Doe1
heather
Pottstown Protector
fun in p0ttst0wn
Fun ln pottstown
HelterSkelter

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=307987995900786&set=a.204243076275279.52825.100000687647124&type=3&theater

You can hear the crazy train coming from a mile a way.

Think what you want, that makes this so much funnier. Show up to Debs court date.
BTW Nice to hear from you scooter

The Clarks are doing the same kind of thing. Its great to have these kind of folks in Pottstown! Thanks Jeff & Lisa.

Bad news!! Lets help our friends the Clarks. They have an open home on Chesnut St. The renter finally "left" I know the Clarks will have to get the stench out of the home, but they always go the x-tra mile. It'll smell like "Roses" (haha) Give them a call. Support locals.

The old tenants ruined the roof, but Jeff is fixing it up to codes. This is a great home. Kudos to the Clarks for putting up with some "thorns" in their sides.

Gustave & the Clarks belong in Pottstowns "Rose" Garden. Great landlords who are picking Pottstown Up!!!!!!

"It is appauling when someone uses the death of someone they barely knew to advance their crazy motives"
~Kaytee Jaxschon

Thats funny, I noticed that as well. She sticks her nose into everything, I bet she never knew that ol' bat.

BREAKING POTTSTOWN NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!! This morning Gold Cock. & Deb Campbell were spotted have breakfast TOGETHER laughing at all of us!

SIDE NOTE--------- Deb paid bill & left good tip!

Comments that violate our user policy were deleted.

Thank you Teresa.

LETS DO SOME POTTSTOWN MATH.--------
KATIE SAYS 12995 IS ALOT OF CLICKS.
DEB SAYS 12995=5 FOLKS MESSING W/ KATIE ON THE WEB!!!!!

I knew fat kate in 4th grade. She had 0 friends.
THAT WAS THEN----THIS IS NOW!!!!!!
FAT KATE IS A LOSER!!!!!!!!!

Rosie was a loud mouth. Glad her yap is closed!!!!!!!

Deb is a friend of Pottstown.