Buffalo Rising Online

This is reminiscent of notorious Houston slumlord Scott Wizig, who flooded declining areas of the city with his "NY Liberty Homes, Rent or Buy" signs on public spaces.

What is the phone number or other contact info on the signs?

It would be helpful for concerned citizens to call seeking infomation. Housing scammers get nervous when they know concerned citizens are watching.

Dick Kern

Have we convicted people trying to invest in Buffalo? Are we going to go after the local real estate company that states if your house doesn't sell they will buy it from you?

If your property is in foreclosure or distressed, chances are no one can steal it from under you.

I called "We Buy Houses" phone # 563-7930, but response is: "The Cricket Number you have called is no longer in service: Message # 29-BUF"

Does anybody know why?

Dick Kern

Last week BRO was heralding the rehab work of a distressed property on the West Side; This week BRO is shunning the process of acquiring a distressed property.

The former would not happen without the latter.

About a month ago a group of guys got out of a minivan in front of our house in the city of Buffalo and started taking photographs of neighborhood houses. When I asked what they were doing, they identified themselves as British investors interested in investing in homes in this area. Not sure if it's connected or if it even matters, but it sounds like the same sort of thing.

But to try to contribute something meaningful--Sal and Fox, I think the difference between investors and flippers lies in the improvements made to the property. While the purpose of rehab work is to improve properties, the purpose of flipping a property is profit, and that profit is often gained through fraudulent representations of the condition of the home when it is resold. At least that's how I understand the line between these two things.

joeschneider:

I agree with your definition of flipping, and am pleased you understand the difference; many people do not appreciate this distinction.

Oh NO!!! Profit!!!??? We cant have that in Buffalo!!!!! I wont allow it!!!

I still get amused by the little, unassuming "Eat at Lone Star" signs I will occasionally see scattered around north Bflo.....good stuff

They're called snipe sgns, and they're illegal in most of the country. Check out http://www.causs.org for more information.

Around here in east suburban Cleveland, most snipe signs ("WE BUY UGLY HOUSES",. Herbalife, handyman services, etc.) last only a few hours before they're removed by the underlying municipality. Teamsters union election signs ("VOTE BLUE TEAM", "TANKSKI", etc.), though, tend to stay up forever.

These "disturbing signs" are indeed a moving target.

Upon calling 568-7930, the message identifies as "City Place Properties" & suggests going to website "My Keys 4 Sale DOT com", which is virtually identical to "Buying Houses USA DOT com".

There is a PO box in Wmsville but at a zip code I do not recall for that area. No indication of which human beings are behind the endeavor, of course.

Check it out here:

http//www.mykeys4sale.com/

City Place Properties LLC

PO Box 151

Williamsville, NY 716-568-7930

AND

http://buyinghousesusa.com/