Acquiring Property from an Owner w/ a Hoarding Disorder

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Hey all! I live in a condominium complex above a unit that's owner occupied. The current owner is believed to have a hoarding disorder, which is likely given what I've noticed about the unit and his car since moving in. (I'll spare you those details.) The owner is an elder, single man who has lived in that unit for approximately 30 years. I've been told that he's very stubborn about letting anyone into the unit, and mostly keeps to himself. (I've only seen him a few times, and he does not really respond when I said hello.) I've also been told offhand by my HOA management that this owner is delinquent in HOA fees; so, the investor in me thinks that acquiring this unit (off market) may be a great opportunity for he and I both.

My partner and I discussing how to approach/reach out to this owner, and wanted to see if anyone else has had any success convincing someone with a hoarding disorder to sell you their home. Any tips or details we should be privy to? I understand that hoarding is a disability, so we would like to approach the owner in a delicate manner.

I look forward to any feedback!

Sheila

[Joseph Cacciapaglia]

Depending on how bad he is, you could run into real problems getting him to move out prior to closing. I've run into sellers that were relatively motivated to sell, but couldn't get their stuff packed up to move. The volume of stuff is too great to pack in any reasonable period of time. If he has a real disorder, he probably isn't just going to throw everything out. People that get an attachment to things are also likely to overvalue their personal residence. It's their largest possession after all. So, I'm not sure you're more likely to get a good deal from him than anyone else. However, once he has moved on, if it remains full of stuff, then there might be some real possibilities.

Also, if he really has a disorder, he may not have the ability to negotiate with you. You would need to be sure that there isn't someone else that handles his finances. I was involved in a deal where the supposed seller didn't actually have the capacity to sell, because they had been deemed incompetent. That was a mess. Now if I even suspect there is some real impairment, I look into that issue first.

Other than being behind on his HOA, what makes you think he'll be motivated to provide a good deal? Is he to a point where he's in danger of getting foreclosed on by the HOA?