Anonymous
Post 03/05/2016 21:40     Subject: Buying an unlisted/unsolicited house/lot
It will also make sense to interview/contact some builders. Sometimes they get info re: places which never come on the market.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2016 15:54     Subject: Buying an unlisted/unsolicited house/lot
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oh yes, please evict an elderly person and force them into a nursing home so you can have a bigger lot and house that you cannot afford at market price.


Evict!? Where the hell did you get that? And what if not market rate do you think I'd pay? If they're going to sell, I'd like them to sell to me. If they're not they can live there forever and let their kids or the state handle it when they die. What bug crawled up you a$$? Are you always this bitter or do you save it for your lonely weekend web surfing? You and 12:21 are something else.


You sound very charming. No one wants your solicitations.
Steve
Post 03/05/2016 15:11     Subject: Buying an unlisted/unsolicited house/lot
Anonymous wrote:Has anyone ever approached a home owner about buying their lot/house even though there was no indication it was going to be sold? I love my neighborhood but really want a larger lot and home. The problem is most lots are very small and I dislike the new homes that can be built on them (i.e., narrow, minimal side lot btw houses, limited green space). There are a few very old and generally rundown properties on exceptionally large lots that have not changed hands in 40+ years. Its clear that elderly couples live in the homes and cannot maintain them (haven't for decades) and likely are struggling to keep up with escalating property taxes (it's a decently high RE value area).

I'd like to reach out to the owners and offer to buy now or whenever they're ready to sell. I would plan to tear down the house and build new, so don't want to offend them. But I also don't want to wait for the builders to beat me to it - severs homes nearby have sold without ever listing so I know builders are circling.

Anyone had experience in a similar situation or have tips on how to proceed? Should an agent be involved at this stage or only if/when I've made contact?


It could work. We sent out 160 letters and got 9 responses. Though the owners may not be so receptive to the idea of a teardown.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2016 14:46     Subject: Buying an unlisted/unsolicited house/lot
Anonymous wrote:Oh yes, please evict an elderly person and force them into a nursing home so you can have a bigger lot and house that you cannot afford at market price.


Evict!? Where the hell did you get that? And what if not market rate do you think I'd pay? If they're going to sell, I'd like them to sell to me. If they're not they can live there forever and let their kids or the state handle it when they die. What bug crawled up you a$$? Are you always this bitter or do you save it for your lonely weekend web surfing? You and 12:21 are something else.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2016 12:53     Subject: Buying an unlisted/unsolicited house/lot
Oh yes, please evict an elderly person and force them into a nursing home so you can have a bigger lot and house that you cannot afford at market price.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2016 12:49     Subject: Buying an unlisted/unsolicited house/lot
Sure, write a letter. My parents lived in such a house (same owners for 50+ years). They kept all of the letters that they got. When they were thinking of selling, they started contacting the people who had expressed interest in their homes. One of the families ended up buying it. No realtors involved.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2016 12:46     Subject: Re:Buying an unlisted/unsolicited house/lot
Anonymous wrote:
There are a few very old and generally rundown properties on exceptionally large lots that have not changed hands in 40+ years. Its clear that elderly couples live in the homes and cannot maintain them (haven't for decades) and likely are struggling to keep up with escalating property taxes (it's a decently high RE value area).


Just tell them this - they will see the error of their ways immediately and sell to you at a rock-bottom price.


If the sh*tshcak owners don't try to collude first.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2016 12:21     Subject: Re:Buying an unlisted/unsolicited house/lot
There are a few very old and generally rundown properties on exceptionally large lots that have not changed hands in 40+ years. Its clear that elderly couples live in the homes and cannot maintain them (haven't for decades) and likely are struggling to keep up with escalating property taxes (it's a decently high RE value area).


Just tell them this - they will see the error of their ways immediately and sell to you at a rock-bottom price.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2016 12:15     Subject: Buying an unlisted/unsolicited house/lot
Has anyone ever approached a home owner about buying their lot/house even though there was no indication it was going to be sold? I love my neighborhood but really want a larger lot and home. The problem is most lots are very small and I dislike the new homes that can be built on them (i.e., narrow, minimal side lot btw houses, limited green space). There are a few very old and generally rundown properties on exceptionally large lots that have not changed hands in 40+ years. Its clear that elderly couples live in the homes and cannot maintain them (haven't for decades) and likely are struggling to keep up with escalating property taxes (it's a decently high RE value area).

I'd like to reach out to the owners and offer to buy now or whenever they're ready to sell. I would plan to tear down the house and build new, so don't want to offend them. But I also don't want to wait for the builders to beat me to it - severs homes nearby have sold without ever listing so I know builders are circling.

Anyone had experience in a similar situation or have tips on how to proceed? Should an agent be involved at this stage or only if/when I've made contact?