They?re in many of Baltimore?s neighborhoods ? signs offering homeowners quick cash to sell their homes. But they?re not legal.
That?s why on Saturday, Baltimore?s Community Law Center, along with the Citizens Planning and Housing Association, St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center and the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors, will lead an effort to remove as many of the signs as possible from city neighborhoods. Called “Take Down the Signs,” the event will be a counterattack on companies trying to take advantage of homeowners through offers such as “We Buy Houses.”
According to Robert Strupp, director of research and policy for the Community Law Center, posting the signs violates the city?s zoning law that prohibits posting materials on street poles, stop signs and other public areas.
It also violates the city?s environmental law that prohibits signs in public areas.
“The people who are posting these signs are preying on people in financial distress, whether it be a foreclosure or a widow,” said Robert Strupp, director of research and policy for the Community Law Center. “It?s very clear that their objective is to buy the house at the lowest possible price and resell it for a big profit.”
Strupp added that sellers are not the only ones who are negatively impacted by these quick sales. He said that the buyer, who purchases the home on the second round, may do so thinking it has been completely rehabbed, often to find out that the improvements were just on the surface and the home has major problems.
“These are would-be real estate investors or their cohorts placing these signs,” Strupp said. “Through this effort, we?ll be able to identify several organizations that have had signs posted over the last several months.
“The ultimate goal here is to make homeowners aware that they do not have to call these numbers,” he added. “What you want to do is contact the Community Law Center, which can direct you to someone who can help you keep your house. These people are not interested in helping you keep your house. They?re interested in taking it away.”
Jody Landers, executive vice president of the GBBR, said that homeowners who use these numbers to sell their homes often could sell their homes for a greater value, as national studies estimate that sellers get a 13 percent higher sales price when the property is listed. He added that he expects a few hundred volunteers to turn out for Saturday?s event.
“These signs are detrimental to the home seller and detrimental to the community,” Landers said. “We want to see these signs come down.”
SIGNED AWAY
» Removed signs will be taken to the Community Law Center?s offices at 2500 Maryland Ave. between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact 410-366-0922.
