You've seen headlines that say:

We can save your credit!
We'll pay cash for your house!
Let us buy your house and rent it back to you!
We help people just like you!
We'll save your house from the banks by selling it or even paying you for it!

When they really should say:
We buy people's houses! Sell your house below market value and we'll make a killing!!

These advertisers are absolute scavengers and real bottom-feeders. Their goal is to profit from the calamity of others. If they were truly compassionate, they would provide their services free of charge or at least something comparable to that. While capitalism and free enterprise are the cream of our economical crop, to prey on others' hardships is inexcusable. Let's take a gander at some of the examples listed above.

1) We can save your credit (for a small fee, of course).
This proclamation is heavily loaded. If your credit is in need of saving, it's probably pretty far gone. What they're actually promising to do is to take your money and your house. You pay them to buy your house and they assure you that you're sparing yourselves from the horrors of foreclosure and the hits to your credit. Possibly, yes. If you're not already tangled up in the process of foreclosure, you will be avoiding it; nevertheless, that's not necessarily the point here. They will only buy your house if you have equity because with equity, they cash out and you're left with nothing. At the end of the day, you paid them to take your house away from you.

2) We'll pay cash for your house (if you sign that sucker over to us).
This has the same outcome as number 1, except this time, they pay you. Keep in mind here that you're still losing out on your equity and they're not. For a few thousand dollars in cash, I've seen an elderly woman sell her house because she was frightened into thinking that she would end up a homeless old lady. With the equity she had in her house, she could have purchased a smaller, older one for cash.

3) Let us buy your house and rent it back to you.
Wow- sounds great, doesn't it? They buy your house for pennies on the dollar and all you have to do is sign a lease to make monthly payments on it. The real story here is that these guys purchase your home and finance it. Your monthly payments are then made on the financing of your own house. Typically, these guys will flip the house knowing they have a guaranteed renter-you, the former homeowner.

4) We help people just like you.
What they're really saying is that "We con people just like you everyday." They know what they're doing. The best advice in these situations is don't trust anyone who contacts you first. Build trust with those who approach. Be wary of e-mails, phone calls, mail and door-to-door solicitors. Remember, why would they seek you out? They are vultures and you're the prey.

5) We'll save your house from the banks by selling it or even paying for it.
This one is a real gem. As real estate agents, these scavengers are real pros. At their behest, you sign a contract which lists your house for a period of time. The agent then turns around and buys your house at a discounted price. The key here is that they never really attempt to sell the house and they use the intentional lack of interest in your property as proof that it can't go for the asking price. The only option is to sell your house to your agent at a discounted price. With a buyer already lined up, they flip the house. Remember to always use a local and trusted real estate agent, preferably someone whom you're referred to.

Look after yourselves and protect what is best for you, not someone interested in your house!

Give me a call I charge no up front fees, I am a licenced Real Estate Broker in the State of Georgia, and there for Goverened by the State of Georgia.  I am here to help if I can..

 Eric Reid, Managing Broker Renaissance Realty Group Inc. Home Loss Prevention Expert Short Sale Certified REO Certified Graduate Harris Real Estate University Office: 404-921-2067 x 102 Fax: 770-513-4443 Search All Georgia Homes for Sale at www.GeorgiaOnlineHomes.com