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My Two Cents

Susan Bady
Susan Bady
I’ve spent two decades reporting on the housing business from both the trade and consumer side. While writing editorials for Custom Builder provides an outlet for my personal views, I only get to do that once in awhile and I'm constrained by space limitations. Now that I can share my thoughts with you a lot more often, I hope you’ll share yours, too. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CustomBuilder.


Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Susan Bady

A new way to profit from foreclosures

Jul 2 2008 8:55AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (6) |
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By Susan Bady

Here's a twist on the housing downturn that gives new meaning to the phrase "hitting bottom."  While I was at PCBC, I learned there are now startup companies that buy appliances, cabinets, plumbing fixtures and carpeting from homeowners facing foreclosure. They warehouse the items, then track the foreclosure and sell the goods back to whoever buys the foreclosed home at an installed package price. My source overheard the owners of one such startup talking about how profitable it was for them.

I'm not sure if this practice originated and is confined to California, which accounts for roughly 20 percent of all foreclosure cases in the U.S., or if it's happening elsewhere. Comments are welcome, especially if you can corroborate the story.


Reader Comments


at 7/2/2008 5:47:40 PM, Pat said:
Wow! That is hitting bottom. They need to invest in a working alarm system or a really big dog in all vacant homes. That would be a surprise for the wood be burglers. That is what they are Burglers....

at 10/28/2008 1:19:32 AM, Ryan said:
Pat - As if taking out a loan and not paying it back wasn''t robbery? At least these guys are responsible. That''s more than can be said for some people. Some of these foreclosures come from millionares with multiple properties.

at 10/28/2008 12:59:59 PM, A voice in the Desert said:
Everything attached to the walls or ceiling or floor of a home becomes part of what is mortgaged. If a homeowner strips out the easily taken items and tries to resell them to reduce their losses, does the buyer receive stolen goods in the transaction, and further, if the buyer knows the items have come from a home going to foreclosure, they become part and parcel of the theft. Just an observation.

at 5/5/2009 9:35:59 AM, Holly said:
Pat, Unfortunately this has happened in Michigan to my brother-in-law :( He purchased a foreclosure - the home was 3 years old, once sold for $500+k and he purchased it for $350k. The house was stripped of everything including the handrails and iron spindles. A few weeks after moving in a moving truck pulled up, knocked on his door and introduced "herself" as the previous homeowner and if he wanted any of the items that she had stolen that she would sell them to him!! He told her to get off his porch before he called the police. She left but continued throughout the subdivision selling her bounty to the neighbors. I'm appalled at the tenacity of some people and the ignorance of the banks not to press charges - not even for the monetary value but for the principle in hopes of stopping the bleeding!!

at 11/17/2009 2:25:19 PM, John said:
I agree with the other comments. I also hope it was not your intention to seriously promote the idea as "a new way to profit from foreclosures"

People who are in the midst of foreclosure are disadvantaged and hurting, but to think one could profit from theft of improvements is no way to be blessed and overcome troubles.

at 11/18/2009 7:19:06 AM, Susan Bady said:
John,

"A new way to profit from foreclosures" was meant to be sarcastic. I was appalled when I learned of this practice and certainly do not endorse it.

Thanks for your comments!



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