REAL ESTATE INVESTORS ARE PREDATORS!!!

Yep, that is what the masses want you to believe. They want you to believe that we real estate investors prey on the downtrodden. We seek to exploit those in some sort of distress. Not quite sure where they come up with that, but over the last few years in this business my company has not purchased a home that didn't help someone out of a bad situation. I want to share a feel good story with you that highlights what I believe is what most of the ethical investors get to experience every day when we focus on solving problems.

We recently bought a single family residence in Northern Connecticut. The owner was financially stable and employed, but was in emotional turmoil. He was nearing retirement age and just experienced a breakup with his long time partner. The house was half empty and every day it served to remind him of his past relationship. He kept a good sense of humor about it though as he called his place, "move-out ready."

Our first go around with offers did not go very well. We evaluated the house as a flip project and the gap between what he needed and what we needed was simply too big. The lines of honest communication remained open and as we looked at the situation differently we saw an opportunity to pursue the property as a rental and narrow the gap for the price he needed. Long story short the deal worked for both sides and the sale was made.

A day or two ahead of the closing I reached out to check up on the seller. I was floored when he told me that us purchasing the home and getting him out of that situation may have saved his life!!! I will always remember that and am proud of everyone at S&C Homebuyers for the great care they took in making that man feel safe and cared for in that difficult transition. The story doesn't end there though.

The house gets fixed up and placed on the market. I know I said we were going to make it a rental, but it was still the Spring market, so an ideal time to test a sale if there was any. Fast forward a few weeks to a Monday morning when my partner gets a call from one of the neighbors of that property. The house next to it burned down. Everyone was safe and our property had no damage, but it might be a tough sale with a burnt house next door. The neighbor that had called used to be an insurance claim adjuster and was helping the burnt house owner. He asked if we would be open to renting it to her?

That was an easy answer! The house was always intended as a rental and we get to help a person in need with housing. On the business side the house is rented and paid for by her insurance company and although we won't get a 1 year lease we will get the property back for next spring market. On the personal side it was a perfect situation for her as she maintains her commute, gets to be close to her house as it gets fixed, and more importantly gets to get out of hotel living and be back with her dogs.

Not to sound to melodramatic, but saving lives and providing housing to house fire victims doesn't sound very predatory to me. Just good people doing some good things. I bet you there are hundreds of these feel good stories out there. What is yours?

Bob Couture is a partner with S&C Homebuyers - the redevelopment company for Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut and co-founder of the Western Massachusetts Real Estate Investors. Bob welcomes questions or comments at or 413-314-3583.