The following was a message sent to me not long ago. Of course I have my own thoughts about it and considered replying to this e-mail with such but instead decided to let each and every one of you have at it.
"I am wondering if you can help. I am one of those people who is a middle class, hardworking nurse. I am trying to sell my home. I had it on the market myself, and am getting ready to list with a realtor now, which means a hefty share of the proceeds from my pocket into theirs. Anyway, I found a lot I am interested in, but to secure the loan (down payment, closing costs and payments)—would mean depleting our savings-- and our budget would be shot-until the house sells—however long that will take. This lot would be our dream retirement home lot. We plan to put aprox. 2000 sq. foot home on it in the future. The lot is $150,000. Is there anyone out there who might be interested in helping us? I know it is a long shot, but one never knows unless they ask. Thanx."
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
54 comments:
Please tell me this is a joke.
I offer advice as help. Sell your house before chasing dreams.
What kind of help are you talking about? If it's money , you are in the same boat as the rest of us!
Get a second job!
OK, you asked! Now get real!!!
OMG! Give me a break. There are a lot of us out here that also need money to make a dream come true, but we don't ask for it. YIKES, the nerve of people these days.
My advice, wait and see if your house sells. Not much is selling now any way. The lot might still be there.
I am also selling the rights to the entire 7th floor of PRMC. Nice to see the stories of Somali gunmen scammers evolve though....I guess they are moving past "I come to your house unannounced today to encourage you to buy this warm, grey meat substance in dripping package so that my wives and children may be able to afford new RPG to shoot at cruise ships in international waters."
are they asking for money?? or someone to buy their house?
150,000.00 for a lot to build a 2000 square foot house on is a bit high i think. the way the housing market is right now it will probably take you awhile to be even with your appraised home value. a home is always an investment, how-ever this market is crazy, i would slow down and triple think everything. i would maybe try to find a cheaper piece of property. i would consider the taxes involved with the property and the home. the economy is in tatters and this is a long/long term investment, thats a major consideration for such an investment.
so how big is the tent you are going to stay in until you find enough money to build this dream house
You don't know if you don't ask !!
Sorry, I gave at the office!
You Gotta Play to Win.
The Maryland Lottery.
I think 12:19 and 12:08 have it right. Not much is selling these days (except the multi-million dollar homes... thanks a lot Bush). The lot might still be there.
And besides, you think it's your dream plot now, but maybe in a few years something better will come along.
Anyway, if I was a millionaire maybe I'd help but I can barely pay my rent.
At the risk of actually being helpful...have you tried a P2P lending site? I heard about them on Clark Howard's radio show, I'm sure if you go to his website you can probably find something helpful.
Auction the house for what it will go for and send the realtard the results.
You're kidding me, right?
With all the homeless people out there today and people losing their homes by the hundreds of thousands, you want what?
I'd watch the basked being passed around the church real close with nut jobs like this one out there.
Sell first. You're foolish to consider doing otherwise at this point in this market.
That said, hiring a Realtor to get your house sold makes sense. They are professional house-sellers. If your appendix needed taking out, you wouldn't try to do that yourself, would you?
If only the people who are not so well off could afford to buy a computer and then afford to be on this website during the day. You already enjoy more luxuries then most of the people I know and you want help? This is just unbelievable.
You must be on crack.
Sell now, move back in with your parents or in-laws and save enough money to buy your dream house.
OK...now for real...if you are that desperate, you need to stay where you are...
You have GOT TO KNOW, that this is a 99.9999% chance of being a scam. The only way I would consider this, if I was someone like Joe who has real estate investment funds, it too start asking questions. Where is the old residence, what is the current debt on it, and are you willing to pay the costs associated with putting an additional lien on that property to get your down payment for the next home. Is there enough equity in that home to do the deal?
Once again, it's got to be a scam.
I expect the writer had time on her hands and wrote the letter just to elicit comments. The joke is on those who chose to vent on the writer. Lighten up.
FOR ANY OF YOU THAT WANTS TO HELP HER, PLEASE BE SWEET AND PUT SOME MONEY IN MY SAVINGS ACCT.I COULD SURE USE SOME SINCE I ONLY HAVE 15.00 IN IT. BEEN SAVING THAT FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS.
alberobutzo@wmconnect.com
If you are a head nurse you work weekends and get the funds in no time, at 50 cents a shot.
Stop the scam comments, it wasn't a scam. If it were they would have placed a Send To Address to their request. DUH!
This was an actual e-mail I received and only "I" hold their reply address and name.
welivingston,
Until you remove that photo from your comments, none of your comments will go up any longer.
As far as any scam goes, NO NAME was put up and or contact information, therefore it is not a scam.
Try a cup of coffee in the morning and perhaps the brain will get jump started.
where is the lot located? i may be interested in purchasing it...
Joe. i will respect you; that is not the finger you think; it is the forefinger but I will remove it (I operate a parody/satire blog)...fact is; do you really believe/support this? I really thought I knew how you would stand on this, but I am big enough to admit if I was wrong. I just ask your audience-do you have a $20 spot to offer this story author (consider your gas gauge...as with mine..is close to empty)? Wow!! (and BTW I am more of a Red Bull man)..
Hey everyone I am trying to sell the Wetipkin Bridge. Anyone interested for !50,000$ or OB?
Isn't there a classified section on this blog?
Hey Joe; Working to accomodate respectful public feedback regarding our image....although the face may change our "Song Remains The Same"..Good luck!
150K is a lot to build a 2000 sq ft house on!! i just bought a 2 acre lot to build my 2500 sq ft house on for only 65k!! get real and grow up!!
You are out of touch with reality as well as realty. No one puts a 2000 sq. ft. house on a $150,000 lot if they have any sense at all. I hope your nursing skills are better than your common sense.
GO BACK TO SCHOOL , GET YOUR DEGREE AS A DOCTOR , THEN YOU CAN BE A MILLIONAIRE AND ROB ANYONE YOU WANT INCLUDING MEDICARE!
Maybe she can get a part time job with Mrs Larson...
No, this was not a scam. I am the author of the e-mail I sent Joe. I am not asking for someone to give me the money. I am just asking if someone had the means (and wanted to assist someone that works hard helping people and have done so for 30 years)offer me a loan all drawn up and legal so I could secure the property--until my house sells. I am not some deadbeat. I am not asking for a hand out. I have always been responsible, paid my bills, worked hard and helped others. I just wanted to see if someone was interested in maybe helping me. Maybe someone would want to make a fee for lending me the money for a few months. Yes, I know it was a long shot--and you all can take your shots at me-that's ok. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Yes, I will hope that the lot is still available after my home sells. My credit is good. It is just that going the conventional mainstream way, I would have to deplete my savings, as well as my money out would be right up there with my money in. I do not want to do that. For those out there who gave constructive comments-thank you.
What is sad is that this is probably a real story.DESPERATE TIMES MEAN DESPERATE PEOPLE.There are so many homeowners in the same boat.Some are so desperate that they are even burying a catholic Saint statue (ST JOSEPH?)upside down in their yards for good luck.Forclosure is everywhere....and it's hitting the middle class working folks the worst.Mmmmmm let me think do I; Buy gas or buy food????? Stay home with the kids or give my paycheck to the sitter? The list goes on & on.
I felt better when I thought this was satire....Joe, this diminishes your blog if this wasn't really a parody. Seriously, I know you think I am jerking your chain, but this presentation is actually the cutting edge of an actual, evolving scam. I am poor too; but do not expect your readers to front me for a double-wide estate on the bay. I have at least ten times more respect for the Canton and McDougle's type girls. At least they work hard to "earn" their goals.
And if you don't believe me: ask for your reader feedback regarding all the people(s) who have been eventually screwed by someone on a co-signed loan...you are actually on to something here (apparently) by accident!!
Does the lot appraise for more than the $150K you are asking for? Someone would need equity in the investment. Where is the lot? Give me an address or area. What kind of return are you giving for a $150,000 investment? The lack of details provided in your comment makes me skeptical.
sell your house, move into the thrift travel inn for a while and then buy the lot and build your house.....wha kind of fool do you actually take us for....go stand on the street cornor.
I feel your pain, but serioulsy who isnt struggling now. I lived in a house that belonged to my grandparents. The house was in my name and my moms name. My father filed bankruptcy and that brought my mom into the bankruptcy. In turn kicking me out of my house. Also, all my money was vested into my dads company and I worked there too. My house, my job, and all my money are gone due to none of my fault! My job barely pays my bills and I dont have a place of my own. You are trying to build your dream house and complaining about money, give me a break! You have a house!
No offense however right now is a very bad time for anyone including yourself to try to live beyond your means. If times get worse which I personally think is going to happen you will be very glad you held onto your savings.
Good luck to you.
I don't have enough to buy a house, and float while I buy a second "dream" property, but here are two ideas for you:
1. Home equity loan. Dave at American General will help you out and you won't need to go to a bank. He can work out all kinds of special arrangements for people with good credit - they don't stop by too often.
2. Get a bridge/construction loan, and get the bank to lend you money.
2. Rent your house out to 3-5 college students at $450 per head and a 6 month lease. Put your house on the market. Live in a very modest, hardly occupied hotel for a few months while conserving your cash in any way possible. Maybe you can take up a second job if the area has certain needs that are not met.
3. Stay where you are, but accelerate your savings while your house is on the market. Ditch cable, cell phones, name brands, dining out, vacations, etc. Cut coupons. Carpool. Shop your various insurance policies. Pick up one more shift a week and take advantage of a sweet differential and overtime. With the real estate market so soft right now, you'll have to be careful about making a move. And a Realtor doesn't really "cost" you - your house is only worth what you can put in the bank after it sells. If you can't sell it on your own without a Realtor, it's worthless.
Also consider, it takes 1 - 1.5 years from the time that you sign your name to the property and you can move into your brand new house. During that time, you either have to float two properties and a lot of debt or downgrade to a rental.
I've been coming back to this article all day and if you truly want advice here it is.
STOP!
You CAN NOT AFFORD THIS. DON'T BUY THE LOT. If you could truly afford to do this now, you would not have to deplete your savings. What happens to the dream if/when someone in the family gets sick? Or you have a "minor" car accident that costs you the $500 deductible that you now can't afford because of your dream. This is NOT the right way to do this. You SHOULD NOT MORTGAGE YOUR FUTURE!!!!
Just walk away. If it's truly meant to be, it will be. But you're risking way to much for a maybe.
i've been readin this one all day...at first wondering what the question of help was for...now that that has been clarified...
Follow the advice of many - but especially 11:30!!! If you are too stubborn to let this so called opportunity pass you by...seek professional assistance from someone reliable and local like Traco Mortgage, or your own local tie in...American Home Mortgage....some one who has the ethics and common sense to lead you correctly. Don't put all your eggs in one basket...if you've worked hard for this long...and you venture wrong now...what was it all for? I was always taught to value what I have and be thankful for it...dream big and maybe...if it is meant to be...it will be. If you want it so badly you will find a way to make it happen...but i urge you to do it rationally and with financial savvy or your dream may end up broken
the american dream, "to be or not to be".
Must be nice to have a retirement savings account. My husband and I both have excellent jobs and can barely afford to make ends meet with the rising cost of everything. If someone out there is loaning money, send some my way too.
It is a buyers market, get the seller to finance the lot for you.
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