Did we get an offer or a legal scam?

[BigDog]

We are doing FSBO. Nobody has responded, except they all want to rent/lease our home.

Previous thread - FSBO house.

Now, we had a lady call us up (Mary) saying she wants to "buy" our home.

Here is the letter we got after a phone call from her.

Dear Charles:

I work for MJ Projects Inc., a Real Estate Investment Firm. I spoke with you on 8/11 and after viewing your property for sale, we are willing to submit a formal offer to purchase the above-referenced property under a lease option or lease purchase for $144,900. Also, in our lease option deal, we pay all closing costs and we do have an option for guaranteed purchase. This offer will expire if terms are not requested on or before 5:00 PM, August 20th, 2010. All terms, including monthly payment, down payment and length of term can be reviewed before accepting this offer. If you have anymore questions or if you want to move on to the next step and review terms please e-mail us anytime or call during our business hours..
For more information: Terms and Frequently Asked Questions (includes details regarding offer and company info) are available by e-mail request. This offer is not binding, it is simply an offer for you to consider. If you are not interested, then I thank you for your time and wish you well in the sale of your home.

If you have any further questions or if you want to move onto the next step please feel free to call or email.
Thank You,
Mary Jones
MJ Projects Inc.
321-939-2778
New Office Hours Mon., Tues., and Thurs. 10 AM - 6 pm EST and Saturday 12 pm-4pm EST.
My office is closed Wed., Fri., & Sunday. You can leave a voice mail or an e-mail on those days and it will be answered the following business day.

This just SCREAMS scam to me. But, from the limited research I've done today. It looks ligit. Usually scams come from other countries AND they never call.

What is your thought? I personally think it would be INSANE for us to do it. So we are not going to.

Here is her website - MJ Projects INC.

[kschick96]

Go with your gut! If it seems fishy, than it probably is.

[CSchunk]

Sounds like a scam

[jen276here]

Well, it looks legit, but it isn't a direct sale. Seems like MJ is basically a middle man who will market your house and 'sell' it in the form of rent-to-own, problem is - you still own your home until the renter decides to buy. MJ in the meantime w/ get a commission when it is rented/bought.

I personally say no, don't do it.

[mom2lucas]

A friend of mine is selling her home and had the same sort of deal come up. A guy wanted to "rent" the home until December, at which time he would pay full asking price and buy the home. Her lawyer said it was legit, and they under contract now. It wasn't a company trying to buy my friend's home; it was the guy's attorney that contacted her. He apparently had crap credit, but a bank would loan him the money pending he made 6 months of rent payments on time.

[BigDog]

A friend of mine is selling her home and had the same sort of deal come up. A guy wanted to "rent" the home until December, at which time he would pay full asking price and buy the home. Her lawyer said it was legit, and they under contract now. It wasn't a company trying to buy my friend's home; it was the guy's attorney that contacted her. He apparently had crap credit, but a bank would loan him the money pending he made 6 months of rent payments on time.

Well, we replied to her e-mail. We just asked more questions.

Not sure what to think.

On one hand, we would be stress that broom Hilda and a bunch of slobs that put their boogers in the lights would try and live here. On the other hand.....we have a leak in the house coming off the back porch that is as the home inspector put it, a "chronic problem", that would most people away I'm sure. We put on our thing our last Open House is next week. All we get are people wanting to rent/lease our house. I just want out I feel like we are waiting to move forward to building memories in our future house, but, can't till somebody else moves in.

[rachellepeters]

I'm a Realtor..and I would say steer clear :) I've had companies from CA call me regarding my listings saying they had a buyer interested, etc. They fax over something similiar and in the end...IF they find someone, which they won't....they want a cut. But they try and put me on a deadline of accepting their "offer" which doesn't exist.

Respond with...put your money where your mouth is and either buy or don't. And my advice as a landlord, flipper and Realtor.... my personal opinion.. don't do lease purchase with any unless you are 100% sure you know what you're doing and understand the legalities..the moment someone puts any form of "downpayment" on your home.... and they stop paying, it's more of a foreclosure process since they have equity in the home. NOt something for the unexperienced to deal with...unless A-you can survive without the income from the house..and B-you're cool with someone possibly trashing it, walking out and you having to do the repairs :) Send me a PM if you have any questions regarding RE I would be more than happy to help you out.

[crussell1231]

Hello, I have to say that I have fallen for this. My wife and I have been in this since ordeal since March. The first few months was ok. Payment each month was on time and contact was good with Mary. Now that we have been in it a few months now we have to call EVERY month to find out where the payment is and there is suppose to be $25 extra for every day the payment is late but the only send $25 if the payment is 10 days late. We have talked to her and we tell her what is going on and she tells us that we are the ones being unprofessional!! I think that she has that backward. Word of advice DONT DO IT!!

[bigtrucks49]

I also entered into a contract with MJ Projects/Mary Jones. The first payment she sent me was on time, after that they have all been several weeks late, she never provided the down payment and refuses to respond to my emails or calls now. She is extremelly rude and unprofessional!

DO NOT ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH HER!

[believeme]

I also entered into contract with MJ Projects/Mary Jones. Do not do this. I also signed up in March 20096 and payments are never on time. You can not get them by phone and they hardly ever reply to email if they do it is not ever with a direct answer usually has nothing to do with the email I sent!!!!! At first all is good after 2nd month not so good. They now owe me for December and January:( I frequently have payments lost in mail and they send it Priority mail with tracking # and they won't provide the # to you LOL
I Agree DO NOT ENTER CONTRACT!!!!!!!
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