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Woman Inherits A House, Shares How She Immediately Started Getting Bullied With Insulting Offers As Part Of Gentrification
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Woman Inherits A House, Shares How She Immediately Started Getting Bullied With Insulting Offers As Part Of Gentrification

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Unfortunately, gentrification is nothing new to many cities around the world. We’ve seen it manifest in trendy coffee shops and expensive boutiques appearing where mom and pop shops used to be for decades, or rent prices rising to the point where locals are pushed out of the neighborhoods they’ve called home for generations. But as one Seattle homeowner recently pointed out, gentrification can appear in many sinister ways.

Keisha Credit, or KreateWithKeisha on TikTok, shared a video explaining how she received an absurd amount of pressure from predatory investors immediately after inheriting her grandfather’s multi-million dollar home. Below, you can read Keisha’s full explanation of how harmful gentrification can be, as well as an interview we were lucky enough to receive from her and some of the replies viewers have left on her video.

Let us know in the comments if you have ever experienced pressure like this to sell in your neighborhood, and then if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article touching on how challenging it can be to become a homeowner in the first place, look no further than right here.  

After inheriting a multi-million dollar home in Seattle, Keisha Credit shared a video calling out the people who have been pressuring her to sell

Image credits: keishacredit

Image credits: Bartłomiej Balicki (not the actual photo)

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Image credits: kreatewithkeisha

She explained that gentrification affects residents in a number of ways, particularly Black homeowners

Image credits: kreatewithkeisha

Image credits: kreatewithkeisha

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Image credits: kreatewithkeisha

Image credits: kreatewithkeisha

Keisha also explained Seattle’s history of redlining

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Image credits: kreatewithkeisha

Image credits: kreatewithkeisha

Image credits: kreatewithkeisha

Image credits: kreatewithkeisha

You can see the full video right here

@kreatewithkeisha Reply to @athompz I’ll just say this… 🤌🏾💟 #Seattle #Gentrification 🏡#HomeOwnership #Land #Property #Stories #blackgirlinseattle #SeattleNative #SeattleStories #centraldistrict #History ♬ original sound – Keisha Credit

We reached out to Keisha via email to hear what inspired her to share this video with her followers in the first place and if this is a topic she commonly discusses on her platform. “I just decided to talk about it that day!” she told Bored Panda. “One of my core values is ‘Black Wealth Matters’, and I’ve educated my audience- predominately Black, about business, finance, and wealth. I am a full time Entrepreneur, have been for 10 years, and a Business Coach. I teach based off my experiences, and with TikTok. I wasn’t on the platform to ‘teach’, but just to have conversation and build community,” Keisha explained. “I’ve been sharing my renovation journey, and the storytelling and transformations were a better fit on TikTok instead of Instagram. But on Instagram, I had been sharing about the transition of wealth with black families on my stories, for a while. I often will share things I know and learn, that can help benefit others in their own experiences.”

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We also asked Keisha if she thinks Seattle is a particularly gentrified city or if this issue is prevalent all throughout the US. “Seattle has a clear history of redlining and gentrification. The demographics of my community- the CD, have changed since I’ve been alive. And by the stories from my aunts & uncles, its DRASTICALLY different from when they were growing up,” Keisha explained.

“The CD feels very different now, not saying that I prefer one or the other, but these are the facts. It bothers me that from my words, people are believing that ‘I don’t like white people in my neighborhood’, and that is NOT what I am saying,” she noted. “I have lovely neighbors, that are white, and some that are black. And I have some terrible neighbors, some that are white, and some that are black. The facts are, that this neighborhood was ONCE predominately people of color. Now, it is not- and their stories are still present. They have been sharing their stories in the comments, and with me via email. Seattle is not the only place. All over the country, people have been telling me their own stories. These are real stories- to see so many people in my TikTok comments saying, ‘this has nothing to do with race’, is interesting. Our stories say differently.”

I also mentioned that the letters Keisha had been receiving sounded illegal and asked her if anything could be done to stop them. “I didn’t know that at the time!” she shared. “Now, I would certainly involve my attorney. At the time, I’d research credibility of letters, and then throw them out. I didn’t think of it as a crime- but my TikTok audience has educated ME on that!”

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I also asked if the letters had finally stopped. “My neighbor only sent one letter- which turned in to the beginning of a two year legal battle over an unrelated issue,” Keisha told Bored Panda. “The ‘chain letters’, I haven’t received one in a couple of months. If I had received another since I posted the video, I would have shared it. The handwritten letter I mentioned, they found other ways to be a bully and encroach on my comfortability to be in the neighborhood.” She even shared a photo with me of one insensitive letter she received shortly after the passing of her grandfather of someone expressing interest in purchasing her home.

Finally, Keisha wanted to address all of the comments claiming that this experience happens to everyone. “I did not say that my experience was exclusive. Me, sharing what happened to ME, does not change why it may happen to them. I am a Masters Level educated Business Woman, who has ran a million dollar company. I am no fool,” she explained. “To believe that my race has nothing to do with my experience would be minimizing my own reality, and I will not. Even down to the chain letters- racial bias is so deep, it’s ignorant to believe it doesn’t exist even within computer systems.”

“My Grandpa’s death was not even recorded when the letters began walking over. Personal attempts have nothing to do with computers… I don’t wish for this to happen to ANYONE,” Keisha shared. “Grieving, while dealing with people hounding you for what your family has worked for, is not pleasant. And families fall victim to being presented with low offers, and falling for it. Families are harassed. People will be bold enough to drop letters in your mailbox. Its hurtful, and its frustrating. My story has educated millions of people on this experience. It is not a pleasant one- I don’t want anyone else, regardless of color, to feel preyed on. Inheritance is an emotional transition of property. Families are weak- people know that. I will be talking more about this in the future, on my social media channels- because the lack of understanding, on both sides, can be grown. My story began this dialogue, and it’s important to continue.”

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Many viewers commented in support of Keisha, with some even sharing their own similar experiences

Others claimed that race has nothing to do with this issue

Seattle may be a progressive city, but it’s certainly not immune to gentrification. Keisha mentions in her video, the Central District of Seattle where she lives has a history of redlining. Redlining is a discriminatory practice used by banks, insurance companies and other institutions to help keep neighborhoods segregated. It designated citizens living in certain areas as “poor” or “financial risks”, meaning that they would be refused any help from the government or banks, like loans and mortgages. This was an extremely common practice in Seattle, and the effects of this discrimination take decades to correct.

According to historian James Gregory at the University of Washington, “For most of its history, Seattle was a tightly segregated city, fully committed to white supremacy and the separation or exclusion of those considered not white.” As Keisha explains in her follow-up video, it’s not impossible for white people to receive this sort of treatment from investors and buyers, but due to living in a nation, and a city, with a racist history, people of color are still disproportionately targeted. 

Seattle only passed anti-redlining legislation within the last 50 years. This was after a 1975 study found that, between eight of the major banking institutions in the area, no more than 2 loans were given out in the Central Area of the city. In the 1960’s, due to redlining, Seattle’s Central District was 90% Black. Today, however, due to gentrification pushing out residents that had been there for decades, the tables have turned completely. The Central District population is now less than 10% Black. 

One woman, Ruby Holland, who moved back to her childhood home in Seattle after living in Atlanta for several decades was shocked to see this change. “I was like, ‘Where are the Black people?’ Nobody knew. I was surprised,” Ruby told Crosscut. “When my mom bought her house this was the only place she could buy it.”

Thankfully, Keisha is able to live in her beautiful Seattle home today, but she should not have had to experience outside pressure to sell, especially while mourning the loss of her grandfather. We would love to hear your thoughts on this topic down below. Have you experienced the effects of gentrification in your city? I certainly hope that if you’ve inherited a family home you can live there in peace, without worrying about people hounding you to sell it below market value. But if you’d like more advice on this topic or just want to keep up with Keisha’s journey, be sure to visit her TikTok, KreateWithKeisha, right here.     

So Keisha shared a follow-up video elaborating on why race is an important factor to consider

Image credits: kreatewithkeisha

You can watch her response video right here

@kreatewithkeisha Reply to @britbratpatywak Systems have bias built in. 🤲🏾 These are things seen, not heard… 🫶🏽🏡🔑 #VideoReply @kreatewithkeisha 🎥💟#HotTopic 😅 #LetsTalk #Gentrification #HomeOwnership #RealEstate #Discussion #Seattle #fyp ♬ original sound – Keisha Credit

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strayeivor avatar
Damon
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m pretty sure real estate agents would do this irregardless of the owner’s race. I don’t know what this had to do with gentrification

konradabramczuk avatar
Konrad Abramczuk
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep it's standard practice to get in touch with anyone in the region especially if houses were selling well in the area. All that religion and race bullock is just a person looking for clout online, thinking everything is literally an attack on her person just because of her ethnicity. Estate agents couldn't care less even if she was blue as long as they can get commission for selling a property.

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saint-kristopher avatar
Mr.Kris
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The assumption that these letters & offers are only attributed towards black homeowners is annoying.

tuliplovef76 avatar
nonawolf avatar
Nona Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it is a common practice for investors to send lowball offers to the heirs of an estate. Why? Because very frequently, the heir doesn't want the house - he or she would rather have a nice quick easy sale and walk away with some cash. This is particularly true when there is more than one heir... you're not going to live in a house with your 10 cousins. Most people just want the money without the hassle of listing and showing a house. Please stop making everything about race.

thinkofthelily avatar
Dr Meatbeefs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do the marketing departments for these companies offering to buy her home have a box checked somewhere indicating race...or how did they know she was black? Im honestly curious to know how the files are different

boredpanda-com_10 avatar
Peter Parker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am white, live close to Seattle, and I am getting these offers too. These companies just try to lowball and scam anyone, don't victimize yourself for being black.

tlgmc avatar
tl gmc
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I bought my home for 450k, I got a vague offer letter a few times. I called them and said I'd sell it for 600k, never got another letter

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hunnreich avatar
T.Milly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get solicitations to sell my home every single day. It has nothing to do with skin color or being a woman or pushing people out of their homes. When real estate agents find homes that they know they can make a decent commission on, they're like sharks and they will hound you to sell. I just ignore them. Some of them are very unscrupulous in their methods but it's because they're trying to make a living too.

tlgmc avatar
tl gmc
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tell them to put you on the do not call list, if they call you can sue, sometimes settling for 2-3k

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markfuller avatar
Mark Fuller
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thankfully, I'm not a lone Panda on this. Why has this person decided the issue pertains solely to the colour of their skin? The offers are probably being auto-generated mail shots from agents who don't even know her. I'm white, trying to sell a house and have had some hugely insulting offer from private individuals and agents promising to "buy any property". I'm totally against racism but equally cannot stand those who view every transaction in life through that lens.

tlgmc avatar
tl gmc
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a Hispanic woman I've gotten these, and so have my white neighbors. You are right, these are just mass produced and sent out

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katebaker_2 avatar
madbakes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's enough real racist b******t that goes on. This isn't one of them.

omboyganesh avatar
OmBoyGanesh
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here’s how it can be racially motivated. For the record, I’m white. Zip code 94114. G-parents bought their home in 1939. After WWII, the neighborhood became a Latino & black redlined neighborhood. My mom bought the house around the block in 1970. As a white woman, even she couldn’t get lending at all. Zero. Because it was redlined. Nearly every lender recommended she seek another hood. She paid cash, with help. My aunt/uncle bought the house next door in exactly same situation. My family was the only white folks in the hood. Only! By 80s, gentrification crept in, inheritance happened to many homes and those POC couldn’t maintain the generational homes because of the influence of outlawed redlines; taxes. Short sold at fraction. By the 90s entire hood was white. And they bought at well below market rates with great mortgages. Like many POC, I too inherited my grandparents home. But as a white man, I had no problems with lenders & when I sold, it was well above market value.

omboyganesh avatar
OmBoyGanesh
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Edit: I’ve posted many times about growing up in Eureka Valley/Castro, so no secret. Current median home price in 94114 is $1.9M. Mom still owns/lives in her home. I sold grandparents and bought aunts/uncles (yes, I live next door to my mom 1/2 the year) Historically, 1/2 zip was POC and wealthier half was Irish immigrants. Tho gentrification took over, majority were queer, specifically gay men.

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jessica_amber avatar
Jessica Amber
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been in my home over 10 years. It's in my name. The second I got a divorce, I got tons of these letters and "offers". Still do.

boredpanda-com_10 avatar
Peter Parker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because divorce records are public. These vultures just try to scam anyone...

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zoel-krieger avatar
HurlWurk
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When my very white sister in law passed away, her very white kids got all the same trash. Scammers just look for dead homeowners, not races.

michaellargey avatar
Michael Largey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was fourteen when my father suddenly died, leaving my stay-at-home mom with five children. We had predatory neighbors come around asking my mom if she wanted to sell the house or car. "Why would I do that?", she asked. They said," Well how are you going to make the mortgage and car loan payments?" She looked them straight in the eye and informed them, "Our house and car are all paid for. Aren't yours?"

michellec0581 avatar
Michelle C
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny story...I have this happen all the time to me with my moms house. I get texts, mail, and phone calls...best part is she's still alive! I think they think I inherited it because I was renting it from her for 10 years while she worked out of state. One day while bored I entertained myself by answering a call. She asked if I would be interested in selling and I said "YES...OMG YES!" and made her go through the whole process and answered questions...EVERYTHING....then when she asked if I had any questions and I said "1. Does it matter that I don't get the house until she passes...if so I can take care of it real quick since I really need the cash and 2. Would the value decrease or increase if I buried the body in the yard..." That call ended very quickly. When I told my mom she wasn't amused and told me that I wouldn't be getting the house 🤣🤣🤣

stefaniepatterson avatar
BluEyedSeoulite
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That his hilarious. My mom frequently told telemarketers that she was dead and to stop calling. I'd pee myself laughing if my kids did this

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demi_zwaan avatar
Demi Zwaan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So she thinks they wouldn’t have tried this if she was white? Lol.

payroll avatar
Tuna Fish
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the poor and uneducated they target. I don't personally think they care if you're black or white or whatever. They're just greedy and want to take advantage of anyone regardless.

fantasticfaeryn avatar
Faeryn Savage
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So... How would anyone know the race of a homeowner? Nobody drove by your house

fantasticfaeryn avatar
Faeryn Savage
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And sat outside waiting to see if you were black. Your race has NOTHING to do with people wanting to lowball you to buy your house. Get real.

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joicain_1 avatar
Joi Cain
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. These comments don't acknowledge the part where she speaks of the intimidating tax claims and such. Also, let's say that the powers that be have no idea of her ethnic background. The end result is that black people no longer make up the majority of the neighborhood. Now how does that happen and why, no when home ownership is the ultimate goal of the American dream? If you're pushed out because you can't afford taxes and are being low balled as a result you're not going to a better home owning situation.

boredpanda1_3 avatar
Becky Samuel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So let's see. Her property value is going through the roof, the neighbourhood has more job opportunities and local amenites, and she wants to give us a sob story because she's getting letters? And playing the race card *very heavily* while she's doing so. If black people want to live in majority black enclaves, how does that make them in any way different than the white people that they're criticising?

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heathertaylor_2 avatar
heather Taylor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am white. Same type of bullying happened to me when I inherited my mom's house.

jonscargill avatar
Jon scargill
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're not special, this has been going on for decades. My (white) grandad and Grandma were hassled several times a day by Pakistanis trying to bully them into a cheap sale. They were in their twilight years and hated being disturbed. When my grandad died, they upped their game and started pestering us along the lines of 'when your grandma dies, so sad, so sad, please sell me the house'. So you go off and enjoy your multi million dollar house (how many times do you want mention that btw?), and whine about first world problems, while you keep on thinking you invented the universe. It's not about you. It's not about race. It's just the usual sharks that circle a corpse.

tabitha_martinez10 avatar
HighNMightyBigshot
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the racists will show up en mass saying race is NOT the issue, every single one

shylahryann avatar
Shylah Harley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok everything she’s saying is 100% true except I’d love to hear her sources and statistics on it “happening disproportionately” to black homeowners. People think they can make up some b******t stats and get away with it

edavellaneda avatar
El MasChingon
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

MF we all get these flyers as homeowners it's not personal

damonhill avatar
Seadog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are those that try this c**p regardless of race or gender. I bought a 1920 bungalow to rem=novate with my son for him and his family to live in. People refuse to take "it's not for sale" for an answer. Not until I started telling them if they want it, it's $500K did they get the message. Even then they wanted to know how I arrived at that figure. Really? Do you think after 4+ years of working on this house do you think I don't know how much we have invested in it? If making false claims as OP has mentioned here or ridiculously low offers could result in charges and fines, it would make things for everyone better.

nicoleholttx avatar
Nicole Holt
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get letters and phone calls several times a week. I think they are just trying everyone and everywhere to get houses cheaper, so they can flip them and sell them for a nice penny.

bigeddogg47 avatar
Conan Maschingon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

as a homeowner I get these all the time and it is not about race it's about location but sure make your stupid little tick tock for views

stefaniepatterson avatar
BluEyedSeoulite
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

1. Credit is 100% right about red lining and how it has led to gentrification. 2. Her current experience doesn't have much to do with race. Scams like these are universal. They are preying on ignorance. In the past, POC were definitely more vulnerable to this style of scam but with how things are going, there are a lot of ignorant and straight up stupid people regardless of skin tone.

stefaniepatterson avatar
BluEyedSeoulite
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, I'd LOVE to be harassed to sell a home I owned. I'd have to buy one first...

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martinkawai avatar
M Kawai
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK y'all. I have read a few articles about miss Credit, and the three that I've read paints a completely different story of this post. And I will post the links of them for you all to see. I don't have tik tok so I can't verify her statements that sounded like she was being targeted because she was black. If I didn't read about her story here first, I would have totally been on her side. And if someone just inserted controversial statements in her story, she needs to be informed. That's slander and it's so wrong.

martinkawai avatar
M Kawai
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

https://www.blackenterprise.com/black-woman-blames-gentrification-after-lowball-solicitation-on-her-inherited-home/

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moyamcbride avatar
MoMcB
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We're in the UK, and are just completing on the sale of our house. I was shocked by the letters and low ball offers we got, some with nasty comments, like, you'll never get what you're asking. We got over asking price. Same when we sold my father in laws property after his death- one offer was £30k below. Property brings the sharks out, no matter what your skin colour is.

desireemckinnon620 avatar
Desiree McKinnon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get these letters too. Got the first one that day we moved in. I put them all in the same special place: my micro-cut shredder

rhodabike6 avatar
Seabeast
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I paid off my mortgage, I was advised to check the house status at the land titles office every year or so to make sure nobody had taken out a mortgage on it without my knowledge. That's another thing that can happen on houses with a clean title - mortgage fraud. Dress up some person about the same age as the homeowner, take them to a bank, apply for a mortgage with fake ID under the same name but with a different mailing address.

tlgmc avatar
tl gmc
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They'd need a fake DL, social security card or W2, and at least bank statements in your name to do so. If some commits mortgage fraud it's likely someone you know.

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strayeivor avatar
Damon
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m pretty sure real estate agents would do this irregardless of the owner’s race. I don’t know what this had to do with gentrification

konradabramczuk avatar
Konrad Abramczuk
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep it's standard practice to get in touch with anyone in the region especially if houses were selling well in the area. All that religion and race bullock is just a person looking for clout online, thinking everything is literally an attack on her person just because of her ethnicity. Estate agents couldn't care less even if she was blue as long as they can get commission for selling a property.

Load More Replies...
saint-kristopher avatar
Mr.Kris
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The assumption that these letters & offers are only attributed towards black homeowners is annoying.

tuliplovef76 avatar
nonawolf avatar
Nona Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it is a common practice for investors to send lowball offers to the heirs of an estate. Why? Because very frequently, the heir doesn't want the house - he or she would rather have a nice quick easy sale and walk away with some cash. This is particularly true when there is more than one heir... you're not going to live in a house with your 10 cousins. Most people just want the money without the hassle of listing and showing a house. Please stop making everything about race.

thinkofthelily avatar
Dr Meatbeefs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do the marketing departments for these companies offering to buy her home have a box checked somewhere indicating race...or how did they know she was black? Im honestly curious to know how the files are different

boredpanda-com_10 avatar
Peter Parker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am white, live close to Seattle, and I am getting these offers too. These companies just try to lowball and scam anyone, don't victimize yourself for being black.

tlgmc avatar
tl gmc
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I bought my home for 450k, I got a vague offer letter a few times. I called them and said I'd sell it for 600k, never got another letter

Load More Replies...
hunnreich avatar
T.Milly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get solicitations to sell my home every single day. It has nothing to do with skin color or being a woman or pushing people out of their homes. When real estate agents find homes that they know they can make a decent commission on, they're like sharks and they will hound you to sell. I just ignore them. Some of them are very unscrupulous in their methods but it's because they're trying to make a living too.

tlgmc avatar
tl gmc
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tell them to put you on the do not call list, if they call you can sue, sometimes settling for 2-3k

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markfuller avatar
Mark Fuller
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thankfully, I'm not a lone Panda on this. Why has this person decided the issue pertains solely to the colour of their skin? The offers are probably being auto-generated mail shots from agents who don't even know her. I'm white, trying to sell a house and have had some hugely insulting offer from private individuals and agents promising to "buy any property". I'm totally against racism but equally cannot stand those who view every transaction in life through that lens.

tlgmc avatar
tl gmc
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a Hispanic woman I've gotten these, and so have my white neighbors. You are right, these are just mass produced and sent out

Load More Replies...
katebaker_2 avatar
madbakes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's enough real racist b******t that goes on. This isn't one of them.

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OmBoyGanesh
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here’s how it can be racially motivated. For the record, I’m white. Zip code 94114. G-parents bought their home in 1939. After WWII, the neighborhood became a Latino & black redlined neighborhood. My mom bought the house around the block in 1970. As a white woman, even she couldn’t get lending at all. Zero. Because it was redlined. Nearly every lender recommended she seek another hood. She paid cash, with help. My aunt/uncle bought the house next door in exactly same situation. My family was the only white folks in the hood. Only! By 80s, gentrification crept in, inheritance happened to many homes and those POC couldn’t maintain the generational homes because of the influence of outlawed redlines; taxes. Short sold at fraction. By the 90s entire hood was white. And they bought at well below market rates with great mortgages. Like many POC, I too inherited my grandparents home. But as a white man, I had no problems with lenders & when I sold, it was well above market value.

omboyganesh avatar
OmBoyGanesh
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Edit: I’ve posted many times about growing up in Eureka Valley/Castro, so no secret. Current median home price in 94114 is $1.9M. Mom still owns/lives in her home. I sold grandparents and bought aunts/uncles (yes, I live next door to my mom 1/2 the year) Historically, 1/2 zip was POC and wealthier half was Irish immigrants. Tho gentrification took over, majority were queer, specifically gay men.

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Jessica Amber
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been in my home over 10 years. It's in my name. The second I got a divorce, I got tons of these letters and "offers". Still do.

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Peter Parker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because divorce records are public. These vultures just try to scam anyone...

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HurlWurk
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When my very white sister in law passed away, her very white kids got all the same trash. Scammers just look for dead homeowners, not races.

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Michael Largey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was fourteen when my father suddenly died, leaving my stay-at-home mom with five children. We had predatory neighbors come around asking my mom if she wanted to sell the house or car. "Why would I do that?", she asked. They said," Well how are you going to make the mortgage and car loan payments?" She looked them straight in the eye and informed them, "Our house and car are all paid for. Aren't yours?"

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Michelle C
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny story...I have this happen all the time to me with my moms house. I get texts, mail, and phone calls...best part is she's still alive! I think they think I inherited it because I was renting it from her for 10 years while she worked out of state. One day while bored I entertained myself by answering a call. She asked if I would be interested in selling and I said "YES...OMG YES!" and made her go through the whole process and answered questions...EVERYTHING....then when she asked if I had any questions and I said "1. Does it matter that I don't get the house until she passes...if so I can take care of it real quick since I really need the cash and 2. Would the value decrease or increase if I buried the body in the yard..." That call ended very quickly. When I told my mom she wasn't amused and told me that I wouldn't be getting the house 🤣🤣🤣

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BluEyedSeoulite
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That his hilarious. My mom frequently told telemarketers that she was dead and to stop calling. I'd pee myself laughing if my kids did this

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Demi Zwaan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So she thinks they wouldn’t have tried this if she was white? Lol.

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Tuna Fish
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the poor and uneducated they target. I don't personally think they care if you're black or white or whatever. They're just greedy and want to take advantage of anyone regardless.

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Faeryn Savage
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So... How would anyone know the race of a homeowner? Nobody drove by your house

fantasticfaeryn avatar
Faeryn Savage
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And sat outside waiting to see if you were black. Your race has NOTHING to do with people wanting to lowball you to buy your house. Get real.

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Joi Cain
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. These comments don't acknowledge the part where she speaks of the intimidating tax claims and such. Also, let's say that the powers that be have no idea of her ethnic background. The end result is that black people no longer make up the majority of the neighborhood. Now how does that happen and why, no when home ownership is the ultimate goal of the American dream? If you're pushed out because you can't afford taxes and are being low balled as a result you're not going to a better home owning situation.

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Becky Samuel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So let's see. Her property value is going through the roof, the neighbourhood has more job opportunities and local amenites, and she wants to give us a sob story because she's getting letters? And playing the race card *very heavily* while she's doing so. If black people want to live in majority black enclaves, how does that make them in any way different than the white people that they're criticising?

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heather Taylor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am white. Same type of bullying happened to me when I inherited my mom's house.

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Jon scargill
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're not special, this has been going on for decades. My (white) grandad and Grandma were hassled several times a day by Pakistanis trying to bully them into a cheap sale. They were in their twilight years and hated being disturbed. When my grandad died, they upped their game and started pestering us along the lines of 'when your grandma dies, so sad, so sad, please sell me the house'. So you go off and enjoy your multi million dollar house (how many times do you want mention that btw?), and whine about first world problems, while you keep on thinking you invented the universe. It's not about you. It's not about race. It's just the usual sharks that circle a corpse.

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HighNMightyBigshot
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the racists will show up en mass saying race is NOT the issue, every single one

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Shylah Harley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok everything she’s saying is 100% true except I’d love to hear her sources and statistics on it “happening disproportionately” to black homeowners. People think they can make up some b******t stats and get away with it

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El MasChingon
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

MF we all get these flyers as homeowners it's not personal

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Seadog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are those that try this c**p regardless of race or gender. I bought a 1920 bungalow to rem=novate with my son for him and his family to live in. People refuse to take "it's not for sale" for an answer. Not until I started telling them if they want it, it's $500K did they get the message. Even then they wanted to know how I arrived at that figure. Really? Do you think after 4+ years of working on this house do you think I don't know how much we have invested in it? If making false claims as OP has mentioned here or ridiculously low offers could result in charges and fines, it would make things for everyone better.

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Nicole Holt
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get letters and phone calls several times a week. I think they are just trying everyone and everywhere to get houses cheaper, so they can flip them and sell them for a nice penny.

bigeddogg47 avatar
Conan Maschingon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

as a homeowner I get these all the time and it is not about race it's about location but sure make your stupid little tick tock for views

stefaniepatterson avatar
BluEyedSeoulite
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

1. Credit is 100% right about red lining and how it has led to gentrification. 2. Her current experience doesn't have much to do with race. Scams like these are universal. They are preying on ignorance. In the past, POC were definitely more vulnerable to this style of scam but with how things are going, there are a lot of ignorant and straight up stupid people regardless of skin tone.

stefaniepatterson avatar
BluEyedSeoulite
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, I'd LOVE to be harassed to sell a home I owned. I'd have to buy one first...

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M Kawai
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK y'all. I have read a few articles about miss Credit, and the three that I've read paints a completely different story of this post. And I will post the links of them for you all to see. I don't have tik tok so I can't verify her statements that sounded like she was being targeted because she was black. If I didn't read about her story here first, I would have totally been on her side. And if someone just inserted controversial statements in her story, she needs to be informed. That's slander and it's so wrong.

martinkawai avatar
M Kawai
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

https://www.blackenterprise.com/black-woman-blames-gentrification-after-lowball-solicitation-on-her-inherited-home/

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MoMcB
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We're in the UK, and are just completing on the sale of our house. I was shocked by the letters and low ball offers we got, some with nasty comments, like, you'll never get what you're asking. We got over asking price. Same when we sold my father in laws property after his death- one offer was £30k below. Property brings the sharks out, no matter what your skin colour is.

desireemckinnon620 avatar
Desiree McKinnon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get these letters too. Got the first one that day we moved in. I put them all in the same special place: my micro-cut shredder

rhodabike6 avatar
Seabeast
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I paid off my mortgage, I was advised to check the house status at the land titles office every year or so to make sure nobody had taken out a mortgage on it without my knowledge. That's another thing that can happen on houses with a clean title - mortgage fraud. Dress up some person about the same age as the homeowner, take them to a bank, apply for a mortgage with fake ID under the same name but with a different mailing address.

tlgmc avatar
tl gmc
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They'd need a fake DL, social security card or W2, and at least bank statements in your name to do so. If some commits mortgage fraud it's likely someone you know.

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