Do predators want to buy your “pre-foreclosure” house?

Maybe it’s a sign the real estate market has hit bottom. Maybe I look like a “distressed” homeowner. Either way, this new come-on is worth noting.

A few days ago, I received the following “personal” letter in my mailbox.

Dear Christopher,

My wife, Lois, and I want to buy your house at [address.] Please call us at [number redacted].

Thanks.


Looks like a couple driving through the neighborhood, trying to find a home to buy, and they wanted to make an offer on mine without getting a real estate agent involved.

But a quick Internet search revealed a little more. It showed this “couple” ran a “home buying service” that describes itself as,

An investment company that purchases single-family homes, if the house meets our buying criteria. We buy houses from people in situations like yours in any area and price range. We also act as a third party mitigating company if your house is in a “pre-foreclosure” situation and you find that you must sell.

Hmm. The handwritten note addressed to me made no mention of my “pre-foreclosure” property.

If your home has a sufficient amount of equity, it may qualify for an ALL CASH offer! Don’t worry, even if you have little or no equity at all, many times, we can assume the existing debt so that you can get on with your life and never have to worry about your house again.

If you are ready to sell your house fast, click on the online sellers form below!

Now, for all I know, these people may provide a legitimate service to homeowners whose mortgages are underwater. Or maybe not.

My problem is that they weren’t up-front with me in their initial pitch. If they’re trying to conceal their identity, it begs the question: What else are they hiding?

(Photo: Craig Rodway/Flickr Creative Commons)

  • Ed

    It is illegal for anyone other than a postal worker to put *ANYTHING* in your mailbox and then it must have postage on it.

    So, if you’re feeling particularly ornery, report them to the Postal police…they are vicious…worse than any other police. They do *NOT* back down! My HOA reports hundreds of these every year. The junk in my mailbox has fallen considerably. Unfortunately, the junk on my front door has risen!

    Crimes and Criminal Procedure – 18 USC Section 1725
    Legal Research Home > US Lawyer > Crimes and Criminal Procedure > Crimes and Criminal Procedure –
    18 USC Section 1725

    01/19/04

    Sec. 1725. Postage unpaid on deposited mail matter

    Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits any mailable matter such as statements of accounts, circulars, sale bills, or other like matter, on which no postage has been paid, in any letter box established, approved, or accepted by the Postal Service for the receipt or delivery of mail matter on any mail route with intent to avoid payment of lawful postage thereon, shall for each such offense be fined under this title. AMENDMENTS 1994 – Pub. L. 103-322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $300″. 1970 – Pub. L. 91-375 substituted “Postal Service” for “Postmaster General”. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1970 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 91-375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91-375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.

    Last modified: April 12, 2006

    Reference:
    The Postal Explorer website can be found here: http://pe.usps.gov/

    With the PDF regarding recipient services here: http://pe.usps.gov/Archive/PDF/DMMArchive0106/508.pdf