Do you get postcards from people offering to buy your house?

[Anonymous]

I just got a postcard from some company asking if I want to sell my property in DC, that they would make a full-price, as-is cash offer within 48 hr, no fees or commissions.

House is tenant occupied and in a crappy area of Brightwood, 20012.

I have never experienced this before so I don't know what to make of it.

Are these scams? Is this a sign that my property is becoming more desirable and that I should hold on? I am not desperate to sell, just curious as to what this might mean.

Thanks so much!!

[Anonymous]

How is it a full-price offer? If it isn't on the market, what is that price?

I get those postcards all the time. (I live in an up-and-coming DC neighborhood, too.) I'm certain most are scams. I mean, they would probably buy your house, but for waaay less than it's actually worth. They are preying on the elderly and desperate.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

I also get frequent phone calls from developers wanting to buy my house to tear it down. I assume this is because they see the price I paid for it in 2011 and assume it's a tear-down. It is not. But there's a shortgage of buildable land in the good parts of North Arlington, so developers will do whatever it takes to find it.

[Anonymous]

Just got a call about this from a real estate agent. I'm in Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

Almost daily. I own a condo downtown and I get postcards 3x a week and letters from "highly interested buyers" (whatever that is) 2x a month.

Every few months a real estate agent will leave their card at my front desk asking to me to call them.

[Anonymous]

I just got one this week. I live in AU park.

[Anonymous]

The postcard you got is from an investor most likely. As a previous poster stated, what is "full price"? Generally, there offers are very low as they want to flip or hold depending upon scenario.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Almost daily. I own a condo downtown and I get postcards 3x a week and letters from "highly interested buyers" (whatever that is) 2x a month.

Every few months a real estate agent will leave their card at my front desk asking to me to call them.

We are one of those "Highly Interested Buyers" and that my agent suggested this approach recently because we really wanted to purchase a condo unit in one particular building. (as a Primary Residence)
We would be ready to offer a market value and etc... (We are not an investor looking for the investing unit, nor the developer)

So, this tactic doesn't fly with the current owner at all?
I'd like to know, too from a buyer's prospective how this "direct targeted mailing" affect the current owners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost daily. I own a condo downtown and I get postcards 3x a week and letters from "highly interested buyers" (whatever that is) 2x a month.

Every few months a real estate agent will leave their card at my front desk asking to me to call them.

We are one of those "Highly Interested Buyers" and that my agent suggested this approach recently because we really wanted to purchase a condo unit in one particular building. (as a Primary Residence)
We would be ready to offer a market value and etc... (We are not an investor looking for the investing unit, nor the developer)

So, this tactic doesn't fly with the current owner at all?
I'd like to know, too from a buyer's prospective how this "direct targeted mailing" affect the current owners.

Interesting to know, I just understood that this was a scam to get the real estate agent to call you. I didn't really think there was ever a "Highly Interested Buyer" on the other end. I'm the poster who gets these regularly. I live in a 2B w/Den in a very popular building and none of the 2B w/Den have gone up for resale yet. So, we all get tons of these. It was understanding from the agent who lives in our building that it's a way to get us to call.

I love our building. Love it. However, we do have a number in our head that we'd move for (and I know there are others as well). I think I'd be more prone to respond to a letter that wasn't a form letter (most of these are form letters with a hand signautre).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just got one this week. I live in AU park.

So did we, in AU Park as well. From a realtor who has "several interested clients".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We are one of those "Highly Interested Buyers" and that my agent suggested this approach recently because we really wanted to purchase a condo unit in one particular building. (as a Primary Residence)
We would be ready to offer a market value and etc... (We are not an investor looking for the investing unit, nor the developer)

So, this tactic doesn't fly with the current owner at all?
I'd like to know, too from a seller's prospective how this "direct targeted mailing" affect the current owners.

Interesting to know, I just understood that this was a scam to get the real estate agent to call you. I didn't really think there was ever a "Highly Interested Buyer" on the other end. I'm the poster who gets these regularly. I live in a 2B w/Den in a very popular building and none of the 2B w/Den have gone up for resale yet. So, we all get tons of these. It was understanding from the agent who lives in our building that it's a way to get us to call.

I love our building. Love it. However, we do have a number in our head that we'd move for (and I know there are others as well). I think I'd be more prone to respond to a letter that wasn't a form letter (most of these are form letters with a hand signautre).


Hi, I'm the "Highly Motivated Buyer" poster above.
Thanks for sharing your thoughs on this "targeted letter." Of course, when we prepare a letter like this, we will pour our heart in it to convey our message that "we are seriously interested, We are not the investor, and additional stories why we really like your unit/builiding."

We know it is not a gurantee that just because we prepare a letter like this will not lead to a promising transaction, but at least we could have a shot at it if it is a sincere letter, then.
Again, thank you!

[Anonymous]

Yes, our realtor has offered to make up flyers like that for us for a neighborhood we are interested in. It is supposed to be more personal than the stuff investors send out.

We are doing it because we love the neighborhood, and if you were thinking of selling in the spring we would love to know now, and know that something will go on then.

It's not to force you to move out if you love the neighborhood too!

[Anonymous]

All the time. We live in a rowhouse in Truxton Circle near NoMA. According to our realtor friend, our house that we bought 4 yrs ago has doubled in value, as is.

[Anonymous]

OP, please define crappy area of Brightwood? I live in BW 20011 but on the border of 20012 abd def dont think its crappy... Updated houses are going for 6-700k and are off the market quickly (often over ask). If you're a slumlord your not going to get the same price. I'm sure your card is a scam (we got the same one) but this area is going to blow up in about 5 years with the Walter reed development. Wop prices? No, but still will be a highly desirable area. Perhaps you should sell though since you hate owning in such a terrible place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost daily. I own a condo downtown and I get postcards 3x a week and letters from "highly interested buyers" (whatever that is) 2x a month.

Every few months a real estate agent will leave their card at my front desk asking to me to call them.

We are one of those "Highly Interested Buyers" and that my agent suggested this approach recently because we really wanted to purchase a condo unit in one particular building. (as a Primary Residence)
We would be ready to offer a market value and etc... (We are not an investor looking for the investing unit, nor the developer)

So, this tactic doesn't fly with the current owner at all?
I'd like to know, too from a buyer's prospective how this "direct targeted mailing" affect the current owners.

Interesting to know, I just understood that this was a scam to get the real estate agent to call you. I didn't really think there was ever a "Highly Interested Buyer" on the other end. I'm the poster who gets these regularly. I live in a 2B w/Den in a very popular building and none of the 2B w/Den have gone up for resale yet. So, we all get tons of these. It was understanding from the agent who lives in our building that it's a way to get us to call.

I love our building. Love it. However, we do have a number in our head that we'd move for (and I know there are others as well). I think I'd be more prone to respond to a letter that wasn't a form letter (most of these are form letters with a hand signautre).

I'm one of the AU Park posters from above. Actually, our card was handwritten, not a form letter. But we have no interest in selling any time soon. I'm not sure what I would do with such an inquiry if I actually was planning to sell.