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My Neighbor is Living the American Financial Dream


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2012 Oct 30, 8:01am   7,390 views  15 comments

by BayArea   ➕follow (1)   💰tip   ignore  

Thanks to web-sites like Redfin and Zillow's new foreclosure tracker, it's given curious neighbors like myself some tools to research that suspicious neighbor that doesn't upkeep his house, doing his part to make the neighborhood look like crap, not contributing anything to the mutual fences my family has put up, not watering his lawn, etc.

This neighbor purchased his house for $180,000 in 1997 here in the East Bay. His spouse was a long time real estate agent who knew the system inside and out.

Fast forward several years. The house went up in value to about $600,000. I remember houses selling in this neighborhood for $600k-700k in 2005-2007. As the market started to surge, we began noticing very expensive cars and other toys popping up in the driveway. Boy, those HELOC loans weren't hard to get, eh? Throw in a divorce and a police escort involving his wife removing her posessions from the house sometime in there too.

Fast forward to Q1-12, Zillow is showing record that the owner of this property was served a notice of default after being $95,000 past due. The house was auctioned off during Q3-12 and guess who bought it? The same neighbor as a partner in an LLC in the amount of $180K, presumably with the cash that he's been saving from not paying his mortgage for years. Not only is he continuing to not upkeep his house, but now he is doing so mortgage free and clear.

Ladies and gentlemen, and that's how it's done in this country! And meanwhile, I haven't missed a payment and don't have the paid off home or expensive cars/boats to show for.

This guy should write a chapter in Patrick's book or teach a real estate class at UCBerkeley.

I need to get a drink...

#housing

Comments 1 - 15 of 15        Search these comments

1   FortWayne   2012 Oct 30, 8:28am  

You can report him for that, that is actually a fraudulent transaction. Bank would be all over him for that.

He'll only get away with fraud if people like you keep quiet.

2   EBGuy   2012 Oct 30, 8:42am  

FW, What makes you say fraud was committed. The bank decided that $180k was the best offer at the auction, so they took it.

3   FortWayne   2012 Oct 30, 9:00am  

EBGuy says

FW, What makes you say fraud was committed. The bank decided that $180k was the best offer at the auction, so they took it.

It is fraud, because this is him defrauding the bank. If bank knew it was him, specifically him, buying it, they would not approve the sale. You can't just stop paying mortgage and simply buy it at a discount from the bank. So he scammed a bank by hiding through a complicated LLC chain, and consequently the taxpayers. When guys like that get caught, they get from what I remember 8 years prison term.

At the end it is all our tax dollars that go to bail out the failing system.

5   Eman   2012 Oct 30, 5:07pm  

FortWayne,

It's not a fraud. I'm not sure if the homeowner is smart or stupid. If he's the one that bought the property back at auction, all liens and encumbrances will re-attach to the house according to CA laws. So he would still be responsible for all the debt and liens. I know some wealthy folks bought their house back at auction under an LLC. I will have to check this with my mentor about the consequences of this.

Also, it's not a scam. The property will be sold to the highest bidder at auction. However, some homeowners don't understand the consequences of buying back their own house at auction. Kind of like novice investors buying HOA and junior liens at auction and thinking they hit a home run.

Auction is not for the faint of heart.

6   FortWayne   2012 Oct 31, 2:17am  

Hi E-man.

If he is hiding through an LLC, isn't he simply hiding from liens? Isn't that where the fraud is?

I bet he is severely stiffing the bank with this action and lender isn't any aware of who is in charge of the LLC here... until he gets caught.

7   Eman   2012 Nov 2, 1:47am  

ForteWayne,

1) two parties entered a contract. I loan you the money. You put the house up as collateral.
2) if you stiff me, I can sue your ass, and you will have to pay for damages.
3) the bank chose to foreclose and auctioned the house instead.
4) $180k from his LLC is the same as $180k from you. It makes no difference to the bank.
5) because this dude is intentionally stiffing the bank, all liens and encumbrances will reattach to the house. Hiding under an LLC is a loophole. Until he gets caught, that's the system we have to deal with now.

I can't change it. Just stating the fact. If Bay Area thinks it's so cool, why is he not doing it? :)

8   Mobi   2012 Nov 2, 2:58am  

If he has his name under the LLC in management, my guess is that it is a problem. But how are you so sure about that? My understanding is that renting to yourself under a LLC could be a problem itself.

9   BayArea   2012 Nov 2, 3:04am  

E-man says

If Bay Area thinks it's so cool, why is he not doing it? :)

I guess sarcasm doesn't carry over effectively in online-forums ;-)

10   Schizlor   2012 Nov 2, 3:20am  

You're neighbor is living the "Mortgage Fraud" dream

11   BayArea   2012 Nov 2, 3:22am  

Schizlor says

You're neighbor is living the "Mortgage Fraud" dream

What's the difference?

12   Schizlor   2012 Nov 2, 4:07am  

BayArea says

Schizlor says



You're neighbor is living the "Mortgage Fraud" dream


What's the difference?

Touche

13   Eman   2012 Nov 2, 10:23am  

BayArea says

E-man says

If Bay Area thinks it's so cool, why is he not doing it? :)

I guess sarcasm doesn't carry over effectively in online-forums ;-)

I told Patrick that we need a sarcasm button. I'm glad your sarcasm detection is working properly.

14   Eman   2012 Nov 2, 10:26am  

SFace says

An LLC is an entity. Unless the LLC is comingled with the members where the separately legal entity status is not recognized, the finance of E-man is separate from E-Man LLC. I'm sure the bank, as a standard practice asked who were the members of the LLC anyway.

Even if it is a single member LLC, they are still separated. The consequence are the extra cost of the tax returns and the annual minimum $800 -12K LLC fee/tax hit depending on gross receipts.

Some people are better than others about hiding behind an LLC. The keyword is comingling. :)

15   CDon   2012 Nov 9, 5:06am  

FortWayne says

It is fraud, because this is him defrauding the bank. If bank knew it was him, specifically him, buying it, they would not approve the sale. You can't just stop paying mortgage and simply buy it at a discount from the bank.

OK - lets separate out the LLC aspect of the transaction for a second, because honestly, I think its simpler than that.

For starters, lets say I am the bank, and I am out 700K, and all I have is this crappy house worth say 150K. If I try to sell it, and no one is willing to give me more than 150K, EXCEPT for one guy willing to pay 180K cash, why would I not take his cash?

Also someone correct me if I am wrong (I dont practice in CA), but since he had a non-purchase money loan (i.e. HELOC) doesnt the bank have a recourse loan and presumably a judgment against this guy for the deficiency?

If so, instead of trying to pursue a judgment (i.e. wage garnishments & the like) where they fight you every step of the way, causing you to incur all sorts of legal fees, you take cash whenever you can get it. Further - given the bank now knows this dirtbag has cash, he may have more which (if the bank can find it) would be easier to sieze.

In fact, depending upon what CA law says (in terms of consumer protection laws & the like). This may be only the next step of a multi step plan by the bank to really hose this guy. Consider:

1. Guy takes out 700K loan and defaults.
2. Bank forecloses and sells the house at auction for 180K.
3. Bank then gets a deficiency judgment against this guy for the 520K balance.
4. Bank then siezes the guy's 1/2 interest in the LLC, becoming 50% owner of the house.
5. Bank as 1/2 owner of the house, petitions for judicial sale, sells the house AGAIN, and then collects 1/2 proceeds of said sale (say 90K)
6. After getting 270K from selling this house twice, Bank is still owed 430K from this dirtbag. Thus, bank then garnishes this guy's wages for the remaining deficiency (430K), collecting that over time.

Note, steps 4-5 above may or may not be possible, depending specifically on what CA law says, and what the LLC's operating agreement says about outsider's ability to sieze ownership interests to satisfy judgments. Still, dont assume this dirtbag is going to take the house and walk away scott free. No matter what, the bank still has a judgment against this guy for the deficency. Further, If he didnt set up his transaction to repurchase the house via the LLC correctly, he may end up losing the home again.

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