01
A HOME OF 47 YEARS
Helping an elderly couple remain in the home they loved.
An older Southern Ohio couple had lived in the same house for 47 years. It had been a wedding gift from the husband to his wife, and they had spent decades caring for it and making it their own.
Then life hit them from several directions. Their savings were stolen through an online scam, illness interrupted their income, and Social Security could no longer cover their rising expenses. They fell behind on the mortgage and were approaching foreclosure. A reverse mortgage was not an answer because it required roughly $11,000 in repairs they could not afford.
The solution
We purchased the house at a price that worked for both sides, paid off the bank, and structured the remaining purchase-price payments over time. We then gave the couple a long-term lease at well below market rent.
The monthly payment they received from us nearly offset their rent. They could remain in their home, avoid foreclosure, and no longer carry the property taxes, insurance, or major ownership expenses.
For them, the win was security and dignity. For us, it was a good home that could remain in our portfolio for years.
02
AN INHERITED HOUSE AND UNWANTED OCCUPANTS
A way out that was better than walking away.
A local man inherited an older house that still carried a mortgage payment. He brought in friends to help cover the bills, but the living situation became unsafe and unmanageable. He moved out and decided his only option was to stop paying and let the bank foreclose.
He found our number on a roadside sign and called. After researching the property and understanding the problem, we found a deal that put him in a better position.
The solution
We paid him $10,000, covered the closing costs, took responsibility for the mortgage and property, and handled the difficult occupant situation after closing. He avoided simply abandoning the house and gained cash to move forward.
We then began repairing the property for resale. The work created income for local contractors, a return for the private lender, future commissions for real estate professionals, and a significant improvement for the neighborhood.
A good real estate deal does not need one winner and one loser. The best deals improve several positions at once.
03
OPTIONS BEFORE FORECLOSURE
Sometimes the first win is learning that there may be another path.
While checking on a renovation, we introduced ourselves to the neighbors. They noticed “We Buy Houses” on the business card and cautiously shared that a past bankruptcy had been followed by another financial setback. Foreclosure was getting close, and they believed they had no way out.
A conversation and a closer look at the numbers showed that there might be a path to avoid foreclosure—and possibly preserve some cash. The original story was shared before the final outcome was known, so we will not pretend otherwise. But it illustrates something important: homeowners often have more choices than they realize, especially when they ask for help early.
04
AN UNEXPECTED $40,000 BALLOON PAYMENT
Keeping an elderly couple from being forced to move.
An Ohio woman in her 80s believed she was buying the home she had carefully maintained for years through a lease-option agreement. She had made every payment on time. Then a notice arrived saying the seven-year agreement had ended and approximately $40,000 was due within weeks.
Without the balloon payment, she and her husband—also in his 80s and in poor health—were being told they would need to leave the home they loved.
The solution
We contacted the seller and worked through a difficult negotiation. We arranged to purchase the property and continue renting it to the couple, allowing them to remain in their home instead of facing an abrupt move.
It was not a perfect solution, and we would never pretend that it was. But it traded an immediate crisis for stability and gave an elderly couple the ability to stay where they were comfortable.
Sometimes the best available solution is not perfect. It is simply far better than the alternative.