He is now putting money into a legal battle while maintaining a burnt up home so the health department and code compliance won't press charges against him for not maintaining the home.

And Do That, scan the check, call the press, show them the checks.Rinse and repeat.

@Lana Lee I really love that idea, but unfortunately, I am pressed for time and money currently.

I was able to recover most of the item, but much of the damage (stolen electrical fixtures, mirrors, gate, etc. was removed (some of witch broken) and thus had to be re-installed or replaced).I could have pressed charges in this instance, but was happy to just get the keys and the occupants out of my hair, plus, in the heat of the moment, it slipped my mind to have them arrested.As for other cases, so far to date, I have been able to arrange cash for keys and avoid such problems.In your scenario outlined, it would be tough to prove the case.

I'd be hard pressed to answer that question for Illinois real estate, but I have a sense for what plays out in the Bay Area and SoCal.It'll be variations of stuff like that, but local to where you are buying real estate.  

Insulting and wrong.The irony is that mortgage lenders have had more than their fair share of bad press for doing disservices to their clients.

I will forward your info on to him as I am always pressing him to invest but I feel like he is waiting too long and will be late to the party.

If the numbers worked out based on that scenario, I wouldn't do anything else.Now, if the numbers didn't work out based on that scenario, or if the house were older than 20 years, I would either take Curt's advice and turn the utilities on myself or I would press the listing agent to get them turned on.Btw, in each of my last 4 rehabs, I've had multiple burst pipes that I didn't know about until the house was mine (including one under the slab).

I think all US paper currency will be outlawed in the next 3 years (some story about the Chinese selling $ quality printing presses to N Korea that make better currency than we do).

I'd love to hear peoples arguments for cities because I haven't seen much in the press of late.Original article - https://www.redfin.com/blog/wf...