Buy a short sale - Get a Tiger in the deal!

[Steve Driscoll]

Hi Everyone... Thought I'd post this. Belongs in the "twisted dealings in Real Estate"...

A true story as crazy as it sounds.

About three years ago, I was on the search for some additional rental properties in SW Florida. One broker I was using suggested I visit a particular home that had been on the market for over 18 months without an offer. I looked at the info available and it was worth a trip there.

It was a Sunday afternoon. I pulled up to the home and the owner was in the driveway washing his pick up truck. (Note, this home was in a very residential area) I told him who I was and he said go on in and check the house out. The front door is unlocked. As I approached the front door, the owner got in his truck and left. I assumed there was someone else at home. Well, I was alone as it turns out, and the owner left.

I opened the front door and I gazed at what I thought was a stuffed animal just past a big screen TV. It was about 25 feet from me. No sooner did I take my hand off the door knob, the "stuffed animal" - a black and white striped tiger (or lion - whatever) swung his head around and stood up. I S-H-I-..!

I was about a foot from the door and I reached for the door knob - and quickly opened the door.. which opens outwards. As soon as my hand touched the knob, the tiger took off towards the door.

I managed to get the door closed before the tiger hit the door. Turns out the door was fiberglass and was all frayed outside from the animal hitting the door. I did not even notice or think about that when entering the house.

Well, I ran across the street to my car and a neighbor next door saw me and asked if I had been in the house and seen the tiger. I said yes.. turns out the county animal control will only take a statement from someone that was threatened Inside the house. No one had ever gone inside besides the owner.

I looked back at the pictures of the property. The camera pic was taken outside - against the front window glass. There was the tiger in front of the TV set.

Since then, the Lion was taken away to a zoo I imagine, and the owner was stuck with court dates and stiff fines.

Anyway, I never had luck with short sales.

[Scott Weaner]

I think that the house was never actually for sale. 

The owner was just looking for free Tiger food!