We all have them. The only good thing about nightmares is that we wake up and it is gone. Most people never even remember what it was that scared the hell out of them.
I have been living in a nightmare for the past 2 weeks. My husband and I left our home for 2 days to get away from it all. We returned to our home only to find that locks had been placed on the doors, the utilities meter boxes removed and a notice that the home had been foreclosed on.
Long story short - our landlord failed to pay the mortgage on the house not once, not twice but since 2007 the bank has not received a payment. Said landlord had claimed that our home was his 2nd home, i.e. NOT rental property.
We contacted the bank and explained to them that we have been living in our home for 8 years and that we were not related to the owners, we were tenants. The bank said that they were ever so sorry and said we still have to go. But they would take the locks off the doors and extend the 3 days to 30 days for us to get out of dodge or the sheriff was a coming.
So I have been camping out in my living room (no utilities), trying to pack up 8 years in less than 30 days and deal with the fact that I will have to put everything in storage and join over 7000 other families in San Joaquin County in the search for a place to live. Yes, I said 7000. That is the figure from the San Joaquin County Housing Authority. 7000 families in this county in just over 2 years have become displaced from bank foreclosures.
I never saw this coming and will need to get creative with finances. This is the kind of crap that happens to other people or on the Tuesday night movie of the week. I am a member of the DAR for God's sake! This certainly can't be happening to me, not when I finally have my foot in the door career wise. My life was finally at a point that made me jump out of bed each morning thinking "Ain't Life Grand."
I am a pretty tough cookie. I am sure that I will survive. But it will take some time. We will find a place to live sooner or later.
Better watch out - I could end up in your neighborhood! Bwhahahah !!!!!(laughter of a woman on the very edge of insanity)
Oh Baby!
ReplyDeleteI'm forming a posse to hunt down the landlord, padlock his house, remove his utility boxes, or anything else that might be hanging out.
How could anyone continue to take rental payments from an unknowing tenant while allowing the property to be foreclosed on? And unfortunately, the law is not good for those who are/were renting foreclosed properties.
Oh Sheri, you know, you can count on me. I know lawyers in California. Wish I owned a house you could move into.
Anyone out there have rental property in Stockton, CA?
-fM
Sheri,
ReplyDeleteHow devastating. I'm with fM - we need to form a posse to deal with this scoundrel. A little bird needs to tell the IRS. I know there's gonna be a silver lining in this somewhere for you - you are such an upbeat, positive person. My best thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kathryn
Mother Superior,
ReplyDeleteI shall join fM ("my" name for her is "Killa") in hunting down your landlord. It's just not right. I feel for you, I'll pray for you. I wish I could help in some more tangible way. If you weren't 3,000 miles away, I'd gladly have the Fenley's camping out in my living room. Hang in there - you're too tough to give up. It may not seem like there's a light at the end of the tunnel, but I know things will get better. Somehow, some way. Sista's got your back.
Love & Prayers,
Donna
Sheri, I wish I did own property for you to move into. I lived in Stockon for 3 years and my daughter was born there but we were renters too. I wish we could do something. I think Footnote Maven has the right idea and sick her lawyers on that rat of a landlord. My mind is going a mile a minute....is there anything possibly in Lodi?
ReplyDeleteOh Sheri, I am so sorry this has happened to you! You don't know me from Eve, but you will be in my thoughts in your difficult days ahead. Take care.
ReplyDeleteAmy
Wait for me! I'll join the posse! This is just the lowest of the low.
ReplyDeleteI truly hope something turns up for you.
Sheri, my heart goes out to you and your hubby. Boy, can I identify. A little-known story of my life is that years and years ago, I was there. Hubby, 2 little ones, and I were technically homeless for a little over three years. We lived with family, lived with friends, did three housesitting stints, and actually lived for four horrible months in a cockroach- and drug dealer-infested apartment unit for homeless families. It was hell. When we were finally able to buy our little house, we had moved eight times in nearly five years.
ReplyDeleteI never take for granted that having my own home and living in one place for now 12 1/2 years (the longest I've lived anywhere) is a given, and I'm always nervous when difficulties come (such as my husband's plant closing next month) because I know how close to the edge life can be.
I wish you both all the the best and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Yikes, Sheri, that is a nightmare! Hope you find something suitable -- and soon.
ReplyDeleteBarbara
Unreal!!!
ReplyDeleteSheri Baby, you have the deepest sympathy (and astonishment) (and tears) from everyone who loves you. I know you can't respond because of priorities. You are a survivor, just do it. Your friends "on the ground" will come though with practical help. Like fM I wish I could do something which would be more like wishfully immersing that greedy immoral bugger of a landlord in a vat of hot oil.
Oh my goodness!! Are you serious?
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that something like that could happen and that your landlord didn't even have the decency to give you some warning!
I hope that you are able to find something quickly.
Sheri,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. I wish I had a house you could use (although you'd have a heck of a commute to work from Massachusetts).
This is so unfair. I hope there is a way your "landlord" can be prosecuted
for this. Fraud, maybe?
My heart goes out to you.
Sheri - if you and your family can make it out here to Chicago, I have no problem putting you up - I am serious. When times are tough families - be they blood, friend or even "on line" - band together.
ReplyDeletePlease let me know what you need. Also if you need legal help please contact me - I have an extensive legal network in California as well.
Thomas MacEntee
Sheri - I hope you are able to find a place to live soon. It seems like the bank should take some action against your landlord, other than foreclosing on the property. Maybe they will. But it also seems like they should be happy to let you continue to live there with your rent going to them. At least that way they would be getting something out of the house... and you'd have a place to live. It'll be hard, but keep smilin' and have positive thoughts and things will work out for the best. Maybe there is some reason you weren't supposed to continue living there???
ReplyDeleteSheri, I'm so sorry this happened to you. It is very unfair!
ReplyDeleteIf there's anything I can do from afar, let me know. Do not hesitate to ask. If circumstances find you in Houston, I'll do whatever I can here to help you get settled.
Oh my! I am stunned! I was wondering where you were! I am flabbergasted to say the least. I can't even put into words what I am thinking. Stockton is the worst in the state for housing I believe right now.
ReplyDeletePLEASE CHECK FACEBOOK FOR A MESSAGE! CAN YOU CALL ME?
I'm with fM on this - lets go hunt this landlord down and lock his house up. You need to report him to the housing authority because what he did was illegal!
ReplyDeleteI live more in the Long Beach area - but you can come camp out in my one bedroom apartment with my parents and I!
Come down to the areas around Long Beach - there is so much rentals available. Nearly every apartment building on my block has a for rent sign. And you can negotiate on the prices a lot more - and we got the beach close by!
I hope you can find a place quick - and I hope the landlord gets what is coming to him!
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you!
Oh Sheri,
ReplyDeleteI cant' even begin to tell you how sorry I was to read about your situation.
I wish I had something worthwhile to offer you. I've got nuthin' - just anger for your selfish landlord who was taking your money and leaving you hanging.
Hang in there, kiddo. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Ohio Terry
There's plenty of property for rent (cheap) in our area and I'd be honored to have you in our neighborhood. I know SC probably seems like a continent away but really it's just a few thousand miles is all...Think about it. :-)
ReplyDeleteUntil then, I'll keep you and yours in my daily talks with God.
Sheri - I'd say take the landlord to court but then again, that just strings the inevitable out plus sounds like the landlord has financial issues & you wouldn't get anything anyway. Somehow, someway along with all this other regulatory stuff - renters need to get some protection against this sort of thing. Stay strong and smiling - you may discover that there was a reason for all this that makes life so much better in the long run!
ReplyDeleteOh Sheri, I am so very sorry. We had the unfortunate experience of our landlord going through foreclosure, but luckily he was honest with us, and we were able to move out of the house before the poop hit the fan. My thoughts are with you!
ReplyDelete