Abandoned houses, one mans approach
 

Appeared in our newspaper this AM...the guy was inventive to say the least!

Ex Realtor renting out abandoned homes he didn't own! Anyone else seeing this crime in your neighborhood?

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1052753.html

With creativity like that you'd think he'd be able to make some money honestly...

Well, then again, this IS California - honesty is punished here so I guess that's what you get.

Not my neighborhood, but I heard on the radio a story about a homeless advocacy group putting up homeless in empty, foreclosed homes.

Absent the banks permission, this is illegal. However, the people were taking good care of the homes and are being allowed to stay for the time being.

The banks don't want more bad publicicty by kicking them out. Besides, if they weren't there, vandals would probably destroy the homes.

Creative, but wow.......

We have one rental now, had a total of three until about a year ago... We have a property management company that we use.

At no point EVER, did they require proof from me that I own the property. It's pretty easy to check on-line to confirm who the property owner is, so let's assume that is what they did.

However, they have no PROOF that I am that person. Further, my bank account is under my maiden name and the ownership of the properties is under my married name. So they deposit the checks into an account of a person whose name is not on the county record.

No questions asked. Ever. Talk about be able to set up a scam...

angela

Funny, my parents go on vacation to Santa Barbara every year and rent a nice home.

Their rental agent (very upstanding), contacted them many years and asked if they would ever be interested in coming for a weekend or 4 day trip. If this were the case, he could offer them to stay at a nice home for $50 a night but there would be no house keeping and they would have to clean before they leave. Of course, my parents would do that anyway (very anal family).

This is legitimate but sounds similar to the article. I think it's pretty industrial on the property managers part, and my parents (who are retired) get to go on short trips several times a year.