BiggerPockets

Very interesting! I wonder how they stole water and power without the neighbors seeing a hose or extension cord?

You are right! Weird that you are so close to a strange situation. Good thing that when you left you sold instead of planning on coming back when you got tired of the road!
Bill

Wow, what is sad is that police knew about it but couldn't do anything. How weird.

Rich, was it really worth $1.2mm? How much do you think it's worth today?

Jon- At one time it probably was worth 1.2 at the apex. I think it was 700+ when I left 8 years ago to go rving fulltime. It had 2 levels, 4 garages (including motorhome garage), 2 full kitchens, 3 fireplaces, 5000 sq ft, waterfall out front and one in entrance. It was very nice. I built it for around 300K including the lot... I built 8-10 in that "prestigious Boulders" development and lived in 4 of them. Made over 150K "tax free" each time and have that review in a thread or post somewhere on BP.

Steve- amazing stuff that people can do!
Rich

Originally posted by Rich Weese

It was my home! I left it in 2002 to go rv'ing.

Rich,

This is just another story for your collection. The squatters were druggies so you can say you used to live in a crack house!

:cool:

Its amazing how these people have no shame in doing this. This exact situation happened to a property i have under contract at the moment. Family moved away and could not sell, Squatters came in and trashed the place. Even though it got me the property for a great price i still felt bad for the owners.The world we live in can be unbelievable at times.

Just yesterday I was talking to an agent who has a listing were squatters were living in thehouse almost 2 years! Also, I knew a woman who used to sneak into the neighbor's yard to plub in a extension cord and use the electricity at night. She did this for weeks before they noticed. (She was losing her house and couldn't pay utilities.)

Originally posted by Rich Weese

I understand how they did the water. The electric had to be more of a trick. Rich.

I think the video inferred that they simply called the electric company and had it turned on...

Meeting the neighbors by my foreclosure has revealed that there were some squatters in mine as well (while bank owned). We think it was being used as some sort of brothel. The kitchen had a serious stash of cheap black nasty looking condoms. I haven't found any used ones yet, here is to hoping!

Originally posted by Mark Claire Updegraff

Originally posted by Rich Weese

I understand how they did the water. The electric had to be more of a trick. Rich.

I think the video inferred that they simply called the electric company and had it turned on...

Meeting the neighbors by my foreclosure has revealed that there were some squatters in mine as well (while bank owned). We think it was being used as some sort of brothel. The kitchen had a serious stash of cheap black nasty looking condoms. I haven't found any used ones yet, here is to hoping!

Sell 'em on E-Bay! Anything helps ROI!!
Bill

Don- I've seen this a lot on construction sites in Cancun. The difference is that it is an accepted practice there.

This seems to be more common than I ever imagined. I've had several e-mails detailing other comparable situations. I just never thought someone would get away with this for SO long in a very upscale neighborhood. And, I never thought it would be in one of MY previous homes. Rich