The Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) Houston Chapter held a “Seminar and Networking Luncheon” at the Golden Mountain Restaurant in Chinatown on Wednesday, April 17th. The event featured Harris County District 5 Place 1 Justice of the Peace, Israel Garcia, as the keynote speaker on the topic of “Evictions, Tenants, and Landlord Disputes.” Over one hundred attendees, including founding honorary chairmen Lin Fugui and Li Xiong, President Victor Lee, former President Dan King, board members, and guests participated in the event.
Victor Lee, the chapter president, highlighted that AREAA has 45 chapters across North America with over 17,000 members. The Houston chapter will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year and organizes various educational and networking events throughout the year to promote sustainable homeownership opportunities. The chapter expressed gratitude to annual sponsors like Southwest Management District and Rights Property Company. Special recognition was given to founding chairman Lin Fugui for his long-standing dedication and guidance in steering the organization towards greater achievements.
Lin Fugui shared two exciting updates during the event. Firstly, Victor Lee’s company was awarded the landmark construction project, with an estimated cost of approximately $123 million. Additionally, honorary chairman Li Xiong received an appointment from Mayor John Whitmire to serve as a commissioner for the Houston Housing Authority last month. The event also provided a platform for industry representatives, including mortgage lenders, property companies, suppliers, contractors, apartment owners, shopping center investors, home inspectors, appraisers, and real estate agents, to network and forge new connections.
The highlight of the event was Justice of the Peace Israel Garcia’s presentation. As a second-generation Mexican immigrant who became a U.S. citizen at the age of 10, Garcia graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and obtained a Juris Doctor degree from Thurgood Marshall Law School. With over 28 years of legal practice as a solo practitioner, he has been actively involved in various community organizations and civic clubs, including serving as legal counsel for LULAC Council 402. Elected as the Justice of the Peace for District 5 Place 1 in 2020, Garcia shared insights on legal matters related to eviction cases, traffic violations, and criminal proceedings, particularly those involving property disputes.
Justice Garcia emphasized the significance of adhering to Texas laws governing tenant evictions, such as providing a written notice allowing at least 3 days for tenants to vacate the premises. He outlined the subsequent steps, which include submitting an eviction application to the court with the proof of notice, stressing the importance of collecting all lease agreements, rent arrears, communication records, witnesses, or evidence. Should the tenant refuse to vacate as per the law, landlords have the right to request law enforcement assistance for enforcement. Regarding appeals, Garcia advised seeking legal representation and cautioned against appearing in county court without legal counsel.
During the luncheon, attendees actively posed questions to Justice Garcia, who patiently and meticulously addressed them, providing his contact information for further inquiries. The event concluded on a high note in a jubilant atmosphere, fostering meaningful interactions and knowledge-sharing among participants.
Editor: Wang Zi