So, you want to buy my house?! But it is NOT for sale!

 

Have you been bombarded with mail, phone calls, and text with people wanting to buy your house? Also, you do NOT have a “For Sale” in front of your house?   My main issue is the constant mail, text, email and phone calls. Why don't these people think that I need to live somewhere too!

The calls are the worst. I was waiting for a callback for something else and not sure what number would be calling me so I answered the phone. It was a bit creepy because they did their research and addressed me by name. Further, they even knew where I lived then they try to tell you that they will give you cash for your house as-is. However, beware as they want to offer below market price… well below market price. This person insisted that everyone has a price so I gave them mine: $10M. Then there were the questions like “how big is the property?” etc. That’s not my point! My point is that if you insist on a price, I will give you one. I don’t care if it not based in reality! If you insist on me moving, then you need to pay me to move, pay the movers, pay for the new place (which needs to have adequate space) and pay for a vacation because moving is an ordeal and unpacking is a beast!  Further, I am not interested in selling.  I've heard that by registering my phone number with the "do not call" list should reduce the calls and I can report spam text messages to the FTC.

Mailers, I usually just toss but I received one where they included a picture of my house.

This feels like some next level stalking - notice how they stated that the image was obtained from a public online website!  I understand that the housing market is hot as a co-worker put his house up for sale on Friday and received multiple offers the very next day, Saturday. At least, the co-worker already had purchased another house before putting up the current house for sale. I have heard stories of people selling and not able to buy another house or can’t afford to buy another house. 

It’s a seller’s market according to multiple articles. In an article in the Sun-Sentinel, home buyers “are swarming open houses and sparking bidding wars that drive prices out of sight.” Therefore, houses are hard to come by at a reasonable price. Why would I sell? Especially to these people who are offering below market value. I know they are trying to get a house cheap so they can flip it at a higher price but not my home! When I am ready to sell my home, I plan to use a realtor so I can get the top dollar!

Also, why would I sell to move back to a rental. I left a rental to buy a house. I used to share walls, ceiling and floor. I could hear whenever my neighbor and her boyfriend would argue. I stayed in the same neighborhood but moved to a standalone house. I currently don’t share walls with anyone so that nightmare is gone. If I were to rent again, I would have to move from my neighborhood and I am pretty certain that rental would cost more than my mortgage (including escrow amount for property tax and property insurance), light bill, water bill, cable bill and lawn maintenance combined.  

A perusal of rent.com in a desirable neighborhood shows rent price to be $2100-$2400. It doesn’t say if water and cable are included but still very pricey. My mortgage (including escrow amount for property tax and property insurance), light bill, water bill, cable bill and lawn maintenance combined is less than $2000 plus I have 3 bedrooms and not sharing walls!  Therefore, that's a NO to going back to rentals!

There are several articles that state to stop unsolicited offers is to ignore them. I am tired off ignoring and I feel insulted when they tack on the "as-is" as if my house is not in decent condition. I am on the defense with these unsolicited offers to buy my house because it is not just a house, it is my home!

Florida Public Service Commission states:

The Federal Trade Commission  (FTC) assures us that telemarketing to cell phone numbers has always been illegal and will continue to be so.*  The FTC does, however, maintain a National Do Not Call Registry which will prevent most telemarketers from calling any number  on the list.  Customers can add their telephone numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry at https://www.donotcall.gov/.

The State of Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services also maintains a statewide Do Not Call list.  Information about the state's program and Florida Statutes concerning telemarketing can be found at http://www.800helpfla.com/nosales.html or by calling 1-800-HELP FLA (1-800-435-7352).

What are your tips for dealing with these unsolicited offers?

References

Lyons, D. (07 Mar 2021). If you’ve hit a wall in the search for a home, consider these ideas. Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved from https://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-bz-homebuyer-questions-ss-prem-20210307-vdbat5mjxzfdrn2wbmtprbsvbi-story.html

 

Lyons, D. (28 Dec 2020). Renters face rising prices in most South Florida cities. But not everywhere. Retrieved from https://www.sun-sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-rents-escalate-ss-prem-20201228-5ff2b5q6bjaunlzs6hcjkwimsa-story.html

Florida Public Service Commission. (2006) Consumer Tip. Retrieved from http://www.psc.state.fl.us/ConsumerAssistance/TipoftheWeek?TipDate=July%2009,%202006#:~:text=The%20State%20of%20Florida's%20Department,800%2D435%2D7352).

Recognizing Email Scam

My email normally filters out spam but sometimes those scam emails get through.  When the scam emails appear to come from vendors that I use, it can be hard to recognize. I recently received an email and here's how I figured it was a scam:

Although the sender looked like CVSPharmacyNEWS, the email address was from onliinecvseses@althmedication.info

A lot of cybersecurity expert would also inform of spelling errors and there were a few that I picked up on immediately: "onliine" for "online" and "recieve" for "receive"

Finally, I hovered over the button "Check it out now" and the address that appeared also was not from cvs.

What strange emails have landed in your inbox and how did you determine it was a scam?