FAQ

Our Lease/Option to Homeownership Program has a simple three step process for you to make one of the homes yours!

Step 1: Visit the home in person.

If you want to own your own home and are considering making one of our houses a home for you and your family, don’t you think it would be a good idea to visit the house in person? After looking at the photos and watching the video walkthrough on our website, go stop by the property and walk around the outside, look through the windows, walk or drive the neighborhood and talk to neighbors! If you are going to be living in your new home for years to come, you want to make sure it is the right fit and feels like home!

Step 2: Complete the application

Go to the “Apply Now” tab on the website (https://avidpgh.com/application.html) and submit your application, ensuring to READ & FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS.

If you would prefer to complete a paper application, you can find them in the info box at any of the houses, or at our office, 1 Forestwood Dr. Ste 101 Pittsburgh, PA 15237 between 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM or by appointment (for appointments you can submit a request through our contact page, here: https://avidpgh.com/contact.html)

Step 3: Meet us at the home!

After we have reached out to you and notified you of your approval, you will schedule a convenient time to meet us at the home or homes you are interested in. At this meeting, you will take as much or as little time as you need to decide if this is the home for you. Once you decide on your new home, we will complete the paperwork, you will switch utilities, and you will get the lockbox code to move into your new home!

Check out this page to get an estimate on how much you will need to have in hand to be able to move in to the home of your choice.

Once you submit your application ALONG WITH ALL PROOF OF INCOME and VALID for current and previous landlord(s), it takes a few business days to process your application. If you don’t hear from us a week after you have submitted your application IN FULL (including sending all income verification and supporting documents), email us at properties@avidpgh.com to inquire about your application.email us at properties@avidpgh.com to inquire about your application.

Yes! We understand that bad credit or no credit does NOT necessarily mean you shouldn’t qualify to own your own home. We look at a variety of factors, and encourage you to complete one of our applications to get approved – It’s free!

Typically, an approved application is good for 90 days from the time you are approved. If this time-frame passes, you simply need to email paperwork@avidpgh.com and request that we review your file to make it ‘active’ again.

If your application was canceled without being approved, and it has been more than 90 days, you will need to reapply.

A

Yes, you only need to submit one application, even if you are interested in multiple homes! It will also be accepted for homes that are not even available yet, and you will be placed on the VIP waiting list and notified of upcoming homes before they even become available!

Any potential residents who are interested in a home must fully complete an application as there are often multiple applicants interested in a home and we offer all our homes on a first come, first serve basis to approved applicants.

After we have reached out to you and notified you of your approval, you will schedule a time to meet us at the home or homes you are interested in. At this meeting, you will take as much or as little time as you need to decide if this is the home for you. Once you decide on your new home, we will complete the paperwork, you will switch utilities, and you will get the lockbox code to move into your new home!

1. A valid form of photo I.D. for each applicant 18 or older.
2. The FULL amount needed to move in
   1. Please refer to the confirmation text message that you should have received for the exact amount.
   2. Acceptable forms of payment are Cash, certified check, or money order. No other forms of payment can be accepted.
   3. Money orders and certified checks can be made out to “AVID Management Group”

Unfortunately, since all our homes are “minor fixers” our homes do not qualify for the section 8 program.

Yes, the final phase of our processing does require a credit check. This is a soft check and will not negatively impact your credit score. We are interested in seeing the credit history more than the actual credit score.

All potential residents must meet or exceed the minimum acceptable criteria.  We look at a variety of different factors including income and credit history, but we understand that a number on a piece of paper does not necessarily mean someone is or is not qualified to own their own home. For this reason, we believe that the “story” is far more important than a credit score on a piece of paper.

We do require that your gross monthly income (before taxes) be at least three times the payment amount.

• Our mission at AVID Management is to help you achieve the American Dream of home ownership! Unlike other lease agreements or traditional rent-to-own’s, our innovative Lease/Option to Homeownership Program grants you specific responsibilities in return for the potential future opportunity of home ownership.
  
• Each home requires a minimum option fee of $3,900 and a monthly payment amount that varies based on the particular home you select. This $3,900 fee (or more) that you pay gives you the exclusive option (not obligation) to go to the financial institution of your choosing at any time within the next 5 years and obtain permanent financing on your new home. Until this point, you have a year-to-year auto-renewing lease that is very similar to a standard rental lease, with the exception that all responsibilities of the home are yours during this time.
  
• Our residents tell us they love that they can treat the home as their own and make upgrades to their home at any time within the 5 years, and are happy to take on take on full responsibility for the home for this.
  
• We want to set people up for success, and we have found the best way to do so is to make the process as similar to traditional home ownership as possible from day 1!

All our homes are on a “first-come, first-serve” basis for the first approved applicant(s) that have the full move-in amount and decide they want the home. We are unable to hold any of our homes until you are approved, have the full move in amount, and complete the paperwork.s. Our Homes are filled on a first come, first serve basis. We require the FULL move in amount upfront.

Due to the large amounts of inquiries we receive on all the various homes, any questions submitted where the answers can be found on our website will NOT receive a response. 

Yes, all our homes are conveyed in clean, livable, as-is condition. Some people may choose to make minor cosmetic updates or changes to the homes, but it all depends on your preferences!

Any potential residents who are interested in a home must fully complete an application as there are often multiple applicants interested in a home and we offer all our homes on a first come, first serve basis to approved applicants.

After we have reached out to you and notified you of your approval, you will schedule a time to meet us at the home or homes you are interested in. At this meeting, you will take as much or as little time as you need to decide if this is the home for you. Once you decide on your new home, we will complete the paperwork, you will switch utilities, and you will get the lockbox code to move into your new home!

Absolutely! Our payment portal, AppFolio, allows you to control how and when you make your payments. Our residents report loving it, as it’s very similar to an online banking or credit card portal and you can schedule payments at any time.

All you need to do is ensure you balance is paid in full by the 1^st of the month to qualify for the on-time payment discount.

Yes, many people choose to put more than the minimum $3,900 towards their new home, and you can put down as much as you would like! A significantly larger option fee can reduce the monthly payment, typically starting at around $10,000 down.

Our mission at AVID Management Group is to help you achieve the American dream of home ownership! Unlike traditional lease agreements, our innovative lease to own program grants you specific responsibilities in return for the potential future opportunity of home ownership. Each home is delivered in as-is condition allowing you to complete repairs and updates according to your very own liking.

Yes, all homes are priced comparable to other home sales in the area. If you are pre-approved for financing and would like to discuss a direct sale rather than a lease option please contact us directly.

We believe in using the “carrot” instead of the “stick” so we do not have any late payment penalties. What we have instead is an “on-time-payment discount” where your monthly payment is reduced by $100 if you are paid up in full by the 1^st of each month.

Occasionally we have a promotion where we will match anything you put down on your home over the minimum $3,900 down (up to $10,000). If you don’t see this on the advertisement for the home you are interested in, ask us about it!

All our homes are conveyed in clean, livable, as-is condition. Some people may choose to make minor cosmetic updates or changes to the homes, but it all depends on your preferences!

Some homes may have appliances, small furniture, window treatments, or other items. Anything there when you move in is considered part of the home, unless stated otherwise. If you were ever to decide to move out of the home, they would be expected to stay with the home, however.

Any utility bills are ultimately your responsibility. Lienable bills like water or sewage may be kept in our name to ensure their prompt payment, and in those instances the bills will be uploaded to your account for you to reimburse us.

We do not have any properties to rent, we only have homes for people who want to own their own home. If you are just looking to rent a property for a year or two, we most likely are not going to be the best fit for you and your family.

All our homes are on a “first-come, first-serve” basis for the first approved applicant(s) that have the full move-in amount and decide they want the home. We are unable to hold any of our homes until you are approved, have the full move in amount, and complete the paperwork.

Yes, awards letters such as social security income (SSI), disability, and others are considered viable sources of income if documentation can be provided.

The most common forms of documentation people provide for income verification are:

• The 4 most recent pay stubs
• The 3 most recent bank statements
• A tax return from within the last 2 years

Additionally, under rare but certain circumstances we can accept letters of employment, investment or cryptocurrency account statements, and other documents showing proof of income or assets.

If you are employed as a W2 wage earner (you work for someone and get a paycheck), you will need to supply your last four pay stubs. If you are self-employed, or work as a 1099 contractor, we prefer your last tax return (page 1 only). We will also accept your last THREE bank statements (page 1 that shows total deposits, withdraws, etc.) for the account used for your business or 1099 income.

Because of the way our program is structured, we do not allow a co-signer to guarantee rent unless they plan to live there and plan to purchase the home with you. The goal is home ownership, if you do not have the income required to pay the rent, you won’t be able to get a mortgage to purchase the property.

Your account can be easily managed at https://avidmgmt.appfolio.com/connect/users/sign_in.  Pay your monthly home payment, bills, see your documents, and more.  Need help using the system?  Click here.

We do allow pets.  Depending on type and breed, you may be required to carry additional liability insurance.

There is no fee for having a pet, but we do require that you notify us at the signing of your lease, or of any newly acquired pet.

If we do not receive notice of acquiring a new animal or are not notified at the signing of the lease, you will incur a $50 monthly fee.

No, there are no refunds for any reason whatsoever.

AVID Management Group, LP uses a the AppFolio platform to collect monthly home payments and bill payments for your home.  With AppFolio you can easily pay online with your bank account or credit card and build your credit history.

When you submitted your application, you would have created your account with AppFolio.  Once you are converted to a resident, you will need to:

• Set up your payments
• Add your bank account details to pay free via ACH. (Credit card and debit cards are accepted, but have fees associated with using them)
• Verify bank account (can take 2-3 business days)

That’s it! It’s important that you set AppFolio as it is the only way you can receive your “on-time-payment discount”.

With proper notice, you can leave at any time as long as you are not in violation of the terms leaseWith proper notice, you can leave at any time so long as you are not in violation of the terms of your lease agreement.

Yes, you are required to carry a renters insurance policy.  You should know that the insurance we carry on the home only covers the structure, and does not cover any of your items, belongings or your personal liability.

Renters insurance is not that expensive, policies start at around $165 a year – $14 a month or so.

When you move in, it’s very likely the water is turned off at the meter. We do this to prevent any leaks while the home is vacant. The video below will show you how to turn the water on.

Once you have completed all the move-in steps, you will be given the lockbox code to retrieve the keys. The video below shows you how to open and remove the lockbox.

If your account is delinquent and we have filed with the magistrate, you will be switched to “Certified Funds Only”. You will need to mail or bring in a money order or cashier’s check, or you may also bring in cash (please don’t mail cash!). Once your account is caught up, you will be able to make online payments again.

Yes, with AppFolio you may pay your balances online using a credit card, debit card, or your bank account. The fees vary. As of publishing this, bank account payments are $2.99, debit card payments are $9.99, and credit card payments are a percentage of the sale. We recommend avoiding paying via credit card if possible to avoid the high fees.

How to Access the Tenant Portal

1. Click the link provided in the Tenant Portal Activation letter you receive from your property management company
   • Note: Be sure to save the link as a bookmark in your browser for fast easy access in the future
2. On the Tenant Portal login page, enter your email address and password and click the Log In button.
   • Note: Be sure to use the same email address you have on file with your property management company, the first time you access the system you will be prompted to create a password and activate your account
3. You are logged into the Tenant Portal

How to Make a One-time Online E-Check Payment

Note: Online payment ability may not be available, please contact the property management company if you have questions about making online payments.

1. On the Tenant Portal login page, enter your email address and password and click the Log In button.
   • Note: Be sure to use the same email address you have on file with your property management company, the first time you access the system you will be prompted to create a password and activate your account
2. You are logged into the Tenant Portal
3. Click the Make a Payment button
4. On the pop-up box, select E-Check and click the Continue button
5. The Make a Payment page loads, on the page:
   1. Enter the amount to pay, and click the Payment Detials button
   2. Enter the Bank Account information and click the Verify Payment button
   3. Confirm the bank account and payment details and click the Submit button
6. Your payment is made and you receive payment confirmation

How to Make a One-time Online Credit Card Payment

Note: Online payment ability may not be available, please contact the property management company if you have questions about making online payments.

1. On the Tenant Portal login page, enter your email address and password and click the Log Inbutton.
   • Note: Be sure to use the same email address you have on file with your property management company, the first time you access the system you will be prompted to create a password and activate your account
2. You are logged into the Tenant Portal
3. Click the Make a Payment button
4. On the pop-up box, select Credit/Debit card and click the Continue button
5. The Make a Payment page loads, on the page:
   1. Enter the amount to pay, and click the Payment Details button
   2. Enter the Credit Card Account information and click the Verify Payment button
   3. Confirm the Credit Card account and payment details and click the Submit button
6. Your payment is made and you receive payment confirmation

How to Setup Auto Pay / Recurring Online Payments (E-Check or Credit Card)

Note: Online payment ability may not be available, please contact the property management company if you have questions about making online payments

1. On the Tenant Portal login page, enter your email address and password and click the Log In button.
   • Note: Be sure to use the same email address you have on file with your property management company, the first time you access the system you will be prompted to create a password and activate your account
2. You are logged into the Tenant Portal
3. Click the Set Up Auto Pay button
4. On the pop-up box, select the desired payment method, either E-Check or Credit/Debit card and click the Continue button
5. The Set Up Auto Pay page loads, on the page:
   1. Enter a name for the payment
   2. Select the Payment Amount, either a flat amount or the Outstanding Balance in Full
   3. Enter the amount to pay
      if selecting a flat amount
   4. Enter the date for first payment
   5. Enter your bank account or credit card details
   6. Click the Create Auto Pay button
6. Your auto payment is activated and will make automatic payments based upon your settings

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is required to setup and use online payments?
   Online payments are either electronic checks or credit card transactions. For E-Check you need an active checking or saving accounts Routing and Account numbers to setup the service. For Credit Card you need an active credit card with an available balance to cover the charge.
2. I submitted a payment and want to cancel, what do I do?
   Please contact your bank or credit card company immediately to stop any payment.
3. Once I schedule an auto payment, can I change the date the payment will submit?
   No, once an auto payment is scheduled on a certain date each month, the only way to change that date is to edit the auto pay and delete it (scroll down the page), then re-create the auto pay for the correct date.
4. Can I see my complete payment history once I am in the portal?
   Yes, you can see a full history of all payments, both made in person and online.