All Forum Posts by: Patrick G.

Okay Thanks for clearing up that confusion. So yeah that deal is dead in the water.

Patrick L. Please correct me if I am wrong here. But doesn't Florida first have an online auction of all the "TAX CERTIFICATES"? This is where bidder bid on the amount they will pay in order to collect the interest on the back taxes.

The High Bidder of the Tax Certificate then has to wait 2 years before he can force a "TAX DEED SALE". And the Tax Deed Sale is an actual auction for the actual deed to the house. Highest bidder gets the house. Is that not correct?

I am under the impression that Jason Varney is looking at a deal where the owner hasn't paid his taxes and the municipality just had thier online auction for the Tax Certificates. My parents just moved to Florida and I scoped out thier online tax certificate auctions, but never went in depth.

If my understanding is correct I would be all over that deal like white on rice.

I guess Josh is like Tom from myspace and gets to be everyones friend?

I saw one time where someone did a Joshua Dorkin and his name magically got fixed. Or maybe it was @Brandon Turner??? that didn't work. I dunno, I'm new here.

Scott, does your last name end with one T or two?

Well, I am certainly unqualified to give you any legal advice. I am only really commenting on the previous post I read, and how your situation seems similar.

SHOULD the squatter win a court case, NO.

Is it possible that some hippie judge would favor your squatter and side with him. I guess so, this is the land where you get a million dollars for spilling coffee on your lap.

Will the squatter tie you up in court for a long time, MOST LIKELY.

In reality, I believe the squatter has cause to a civil lawsuit against the seller. Which he probably won't win either.

The seller can't really prove the squatter has paid anything. Did the squatter mow the lawn? Paint the fence? hang up some curtains? God only knows what the seller and the squatter agreed to. The seller isn't any better than the squatter. She is playing games and she knows it.

If your seller was legit, she would move back into the house and have the sheriff come kick him out. Problem Solved. But she can't do that, because she made some stupid agreement with him, and now he thinks he is entitled to the property.
I wouldn't want to do business with either one of them.

No they just own the tax deed, in some states a tax certificate, they have no rights to the property. (until of course some states allow foreclosure after a period of time)

The process varies widely by state.

Brian,
Here is a link to Baltimore City's Zoning Code:
http://www.baltimorecity.gov/Government/CityCharterCodes.aspx

To the best of my limited knowledge, if your property is zoned for residential then there is nothing in zoning code that will effect your ability to sublet.

Bandit signs have literally killed people.

Signs have restrictions for a reason, safety reasons. Companies have to get permits for signs and where they put them is regulated, especially if the signs has a changing LCD display that may distract drivers.

Roads are design at specific travel speeds with specific sight distances. There are a lot of Bandit Signs getting stuck smack in the middle of those sight distances creating blind spots.

When a vehicle is trying to turn onto a road, Research has proven that the longer a vehicle is waiting for a gap in traffic the shorter a gap they will attempt to squeeze into. These signs are aggrevating that effect causing blind spots, frustrating drivers into trying to blast their flipping minivan into a 20' long gap in traffic moving at 50mph.

Bandit signs have literally killed people, so if you are going to be a criminal and put them up at least have some consideration for vehicle visibility and put them out of the way.

Having been a FSBO and walked in those shoes, I can share my brief experience. I put my house on the market and tried to be as realtor friendly as possible, advertising a full 3% buyer's agent commission, having a lock box on the door, and doing my best to be prompt and courteous. The first offer I received seemed like a long drawn out ordeal. It had something to do with the buyer not having the 3% down and wanting to use some charity, that I would pay the 3% and they would then gift it to her. It was odd, but I told the guy I would work with them as long as the bottom line added up. The asking price was $155,000 I spent several times on the phone with the realtor with him promising me a good offer that I would like and thanking me for working with the 3% thing. yada yada yada. Offer comes in via email, it was somewhere are $120,000 plus the 3% off. I just called him back, I tried to be polite and ask him what happen to the offer. He told me the bank lowered the amount the buyer was approved for, so I didn't even bother with a counter. I just told him if things change, let me know.

The second offer was much smoother. A realtor goes out and shows the house. I get a call in a few days she says she will be submitting an offer, I say thank you. Offer comes in via email again. $150k +3% towards closing. I sign it and send it back. About 45 days later we sign papers and shake hands.

To bluntly answer your question. I didn't care how the offer actually got to me. I only cared about the numbers. Selling FSBO is an emotional thing, there is a lot of sweat, blood and tears involved. But there is also a reality check. The reputation that FSBO's have is they have no clue about the market and they are asking too much money and are inflexible. That may be true for a few, but I think for the most part, FSBO's have a realistic expectation of the market and want/need to save the 3%.

In my case, I was absolutely broke, and struggling to get out of debt. The $4,500 I save by going FSBO really helped me. If you are just honest and upfront, tell them you are an investor and while your offer might not be full retail value, it will be a quick transaction.