Is this a Scam?
My elderly friend just go a letter - The envelope was hand addressed with a return address of 2530 Berryessa Road San Jose, CA 95132 - the letter said
Transferred Executive looking to buy a home in your neighborhood...
Dear Friend,
We have been transferred to this area and are looking to purchase a luxury home in your area We noticed your home and would like to know if you are interested in selling?
Please contact my assistant Jennifer, at (408) 772-0507 at your earliest convenience so she can take the necessary information we need to make an offer on your property.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
David Jan
P.S. If you are serious about selling, please don't hesitate to contact us as our window of opportunity is closing quickly. (408) 772-0507
....Now as I read this, my assumptions are:
1) This is someone who has seen this particular property and liked it enough to send out this letter
2) Is in need of a property for themselves to live in
3) And need something right away
When you call the number and ask the right questions you will find that this is an investor that regularly buys and sells homes, that they may or may not have seen the property and the reason they need something right away is so that they can turn a profit right away.
Or at least that is my take on this.
I am also concerned that this went to a 70 year old lady, with a house that is free and clear. We are asking around the neighborhood to see if anyone else got these types of letters.
My understanding is that this is a private party and does not have a real estate license (I checked). I would be curious if anyone else has gotten letters like this or have had a transaction with these people.
It just seems a bit misleading and underhanded or am I wrong?
Transferred Executive looking to buy a home in your neighborhood...
Dear Friend,
We have been transferred to this area and are looking to purchase a luxury home in your area We noticed your home and would like to know if you are interested in selling?
Please contact my assistant Jennifer, at (408) 772-0507 at your earliest convenience so she can take the necessary information we need to make an offer on your property.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
David Jan
P.S. If you are serious about selling, please don't hesitate to contact us as our window of opportunity is closing quickly. (408) 772-0507
....Now as I read this, my assumptions are:
1) This is someone who has seen this particular property and liked it enough to send out this letter
2) Is in need of a property for themselves to live in
3) And need something right away
When you call the number and ask the right questions you will find that this is an investor that regularly buys and sells homes, that they may or may not have seen the property and the reason they need something right away is so that they can turn a profit right away.
Or at least that is my take on this.
I am also concerned that this went to a 70 year old lady, with a house that is free and clear. We are asking around the neighborhood to see if anyone else got these types of letters.
My understanding is that this is a private party and does not have a real estate license (I checked). I would be curious if anyone else has gotten letters like this or have had a transaction with these people.
It just seems a bit misleading and underhanded or am I wrong?
I live in South Santa Clara County in a fairly new development and also received a handwritten(?) letter written in blue ink. In the letter, the person (David Jan) introduces himself and states that he and his wife Jennifer would like to buy our house and asks for us to call him. I googled the phone number and came across your posting.
Reply to this
Yes i recieved on too...ITs a property flipper sending out these letters
Reply to this
After further investigation into this, yes they are property flippers. There is nothing illegal in what they are doing but I personally feel they are misleading. They are people who send out letters saying that they personally want your home, the impression is that they want it for themselves to live in - but the real reason is that they want to purchase your house without the benefit of competition in the market place. When a property is offered through a Real Estate Agent on the Multiple Listing Service everyone out there will know about the house for sale - and if everyone knows about it - you have the best chance of getting the highest possible price for your home.
It is competition that drives price. These people don't want to compete for your home they only want to get it at a price that will make them money.
This is America and anyone can sell to anyone they want and if a buyer wants to try and get a property before everyone else knows it's for sale they can do that too. My gripe is with the Flipper who is in the Business of buying homes cheap and selling them high giving the impression that they are an individual that just happened to see that house and fell in love with it.
The best that I can figure out is that they fell in love with the profit.
So... if you are someone who wishes to sell their house - sell it for the highest possible price and use a great agent. If you need a referral - please do not hesitate to contact me - I can refer you to a great agent skilled in negotiation whose only focus is getting you the highest possible price. Personally I work Morgan Hill, San Martin & Gilroy - but can get you someone great no matter where the home is. Call me, Pamala Meador at 408 201 0106 - I work for the Great Intero Office in Morgan Hill.
Reply to this
I got the same letter from David Jan and google the phone number and I got to this point. I don't like the idea of trying to buy my house using this channel.
Reply to this
Surpricingly enough, my husband got a letter just like that to purchase our home. It seems as if it is a "business" where they are actively looking for homes to purchase. I find it hard to believe that they are not engaging in buying and selling real estate without the benefit of a license - but I am not a lawyer or a watchdog for the California Real Estate Board.
What I find very interesting is that in this climate of doom and gloom over what is happening in Real Estate - here is someone with cash ready to purchase as many homes as they can. They think it is a great buyers market and are putting their stamps where their mouths are.
Maybe the market is not as bad as the newspapers tell us it is.
Reply to this
check out this site for more information on where "transferred executive" letters come from...
http://www.askmarcok.com/marco_faq.html
Reply to this
I just got this letter and figured it was a scam. I thought about calling back and telling him an outrageous price.
Reply to this
You've been googled!
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/fun-letter/
Reply to this
Since no one is hurt or made to call the listed phone number, I see nothing wrong with this tactic. It may be just a little misleading.
It's no worse than the multiple unsolicited loan and credit card applications that I receive in the mail daily.
Reply to this
There is no requirement of a license to buy and sell real estate. Anyone can do it. A license is required to represent others.
What's so bad about profit? Isn't that what the people who are saying you shouldn't take an offer like that want to maximize for the seller?
Reply to this
Strange letter indeed. It is also talked about here by a guy who works at Google:
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/fun-letter/
Reply to this
"our window of opportunity is closing quickly"
Basically, it's a well-known form of telling that if you do not sell it right away, there will be no more occasion like this in the future (which is of course not true or hardly possible to happen).
I have never received such letter, but even though I assume it is sort of a scam, because why would a random person ask you about these sort of things via letter and not face-to-face?
Reply to this
I called the number and talked to the answering service. All they would tell me is that they buy and sell all typs of homes. They would only have David or Jennifer call me back not patch me in. Obviously they've not been transferred as they say since they "buy and sell all types of homes". Nothing wrong except the shady ruse for hte reason for the interest.
Reply to this
Just read about same thing on another blog, but there the same assistant 'Jennifer' was replaced with 'wife'. Strange BTW, and most likely a scam.
Reply to this
>I see nothing wrong with this tactic.
I agree. Since when is lying "wrong"?
Reply to this
Sounds like a scame to me...I don't trust people who approach me with things.
Reply to this
Did he at least make a good offer?
Reply to this
It doesn't seem like a scam to me. If they offer you a price you like, then take it. If they don't offer enough, then walk away. It is not like they are forcing you to sell or anything.
Reply to this
Its called a "yellow letter". Its not a scam. Its a marketing method. If it was normal mail most people throw it out. Its just a neat marketing technique to read the letter. They're not trying to take advantage of anyone.
To those who say they're not licensed realtors. What job does a realtor do? They on average just hold your hand and cost people an extra $50-100/month for the life of there loan. Sure, there are dozen's of horror story in any industry involving money. Next time you buy a house and want to save an extra 50-100 a month. Find a house for sale by the owner and hire a lawyer for a couple hundred dollars to make sure everything is legit and you're protected. 6-7% or $200-500. Your choice.
Reply to this
I also got one. I google'd to see what I could find, and this page pops up.
Reply to this
Strage business tactic :/
Reply to this
I am a real estate investor, and I mail out 100-200 per day looking to buy homes.
I do not need to go see the properties because all i have to do is Zillow and i get all the info I need. Most of the people i help are sellers that their Realtor could not sell their house after
12-18 months
Reply to this
Strange, I've read about this letter on other sites as well.
Reply to this
Damn that looks like a scam, like phishing is moved to old marketing 1.0 style again
Reply to this
Is the letter really individually handwritten, or it is colour-photocopied / colour-printed? (I'm into printing and things, so it'd be the first thing I check!)
Reply to this
Almost certainly something scammy about that. You don't get a weird letter like that unless the people who sent it want to take advantage of a situation. I'd be VERY wary of something like that.
Reply to this
Was there any follow-up on this? Did you ever find out if it was legit or not? Such a weird approach to marketing.
Reply to this
This is a scam or phishing expedition. In our area I called after recieving the letter and the female assitant failed to properly pronounce the local city. I called back and got a male who claimed to be the same androgenous name. Neither can put through to the person mailing the letter. In fact a follow-up reveals a UPS store mailbox for the return address. Smells like a scammer to me
Reply to this
I came across this entry when trying to get info about an odd postcard that came recently. It announces an auction "Sunday night" (no date, no time). This seems like the other end of the flip. There is a footnote for the buyer that referenced the "David Jan/Jennifer" phone number, which is how I found this page.
There is another phone number for auction details: 408 373 4310
The return address on the postcard is to a shopping center that includes a private mailbox vendor (PMB/suite # missing), so it's unlikely one could effectively find the sender.
Reply to this
I got the exact same letter, only his name is now "Travis C. Howery" and his phone number is 702-448-3993
It's a scammer....
Reply to this
The problem is that these guys don't want to pay market price and are looking for people in a bad economy that need to ditch the house so they can get it for just what the people owe or maybe if you have a little equity then some (but very little) cash.
I think some of the posts here defending these people are part of this... How can anyone think that this misleading isn't a scumbag thing to do!
If anyone knows David or Jen know that they are trash trying to feed off of the misfortune of those that are struggling through this hard time!
Reply to this
My brother worked in real estate for a while. These folks are really looked down upon there.
Reply to this
I just got this I am with Gil!!!
For 1 million we will talk!!!
Reply to this
I received a similar letter only the sender is Donna Prince and the assistant is Pat. I found it odd that there was no letterhead or company name given. I Google'd the phone and got no hits. However, I went to metrobot.com and looked up the address...amazingly, there is a Mailboxes, etc. store there! Address is 110 W. 9th St. Ste 578, Wilmington, DE 19801. Phone number is 302-295-6312...not that I plan on calling them...thanks for this blog. You've probably just save me lots of aggravation!
Reply to this
Similar letter received in Birmingham, AL purporting to be from "R.H. Parker" signed in blue ink, 'Ray'. Envelope was airmail thin with security interior; hand addressed and stamped with a tinkerbell stamp and what appears to be a personal return address sticker (it has a picture of a tiger on it) with a return address of 3162 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, Ga 30062. Phone number to call on our version of this scam is 678-538-6362. It is misleading and false as the sender is not moving to our area. Phone number doesn't match up with address. I suggest you forward this to the FBI or attorney general's office if, as in our case, the letter originates out of state. Once they go out of state, if the information is fals and intended to mislead or trick someone into a financial transaction it may constitute behavior that is actionable mail and/or wire fraud (as they use both mail and phone). It's always a good idea to look these things up on google; just search the primary terms/words on the letter. BEWARE! If it sounds too good to be true. It always is.
Phil
Reply to this
My husband and I got this exact same letter from a man whose return address was in Santa Clara, California(we live in Dallas, Texas). We were wondering what to make of it, and then only a few days later, we received the exact same letter (with even the same assistant name, Pat) from a person with a return address and phone number in Ft. Worth, Texas. I was suspicious after the first letter, but after the second, I was sure it was some sort of scam. The fact that the letter was not written on company letterhead, mentioned no company name, and was headed with bold writing stating "Transferred Executive looking to buy a home..." was also a dead give away. Glad I found this blog to confirm my suspicions. If these folks want to get away with their "house-flipping enterprise", they need to make sure they all don't send out the EXACT same letter to the same person under different names.
Reply to this
Just got the same letter only the assistant is listed as Pat. Think it might be a scam so I googled and got this site. I am afraid it could be someone just wanting personal information.
Reply to this
Seems to be a trick. Don't fall for it!
Reply to this
I received a letter today, what should I do?
Reply to this
Nothing if you don't wish to sell. But if you are interested in selling your home you should work with a real estate professional who can expose your property to everyone out there - not just this one buyer. If they really are interested in your property specfically they can buy it - but if they are only looking to buy any property under market why bother.
If you need help in selection a Real Estate Professional - ask me, I can help you no matter where you are located.
Pamala
Reply to this
Just got a similar letter from Jim Reid @
Reply to this
Everybody wants to get into the act! They think that they can prey on people in distress and then turn the property for a quick buck. Real Estate is a tricky business with so many scams out there. Everyone Beware and trust someone that comes highly recommended not some letter in the mail.
Reply to this