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LOSE YOUR SCRUPLES
AND GET RICH QUICK |
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In the interest of making all of my readers rich, I have come
across a surefire way to make money in real estate, even if prices
stabilize or decrease in the coming years.
It's pretty simple, and I'm happy to share the concept. All you do
is buy a dilapidated old house and threaten to rent it to a sexually
violent predator. Then watch the offers to purchase at an inflated price
pour in from panicked neighbors.
This is exactly what happened in our little desert town of Borrego
Springs (population 3000), located in San Diego County about an hour south
of Palm Springs. We're fortunate to own a second home in a golf course
community there, and sexually violent predators are not a good fit.
It all began about a year ago when a chaplain (yes, a man of God)
bought a run-down house as an investment property. He tried to rent it for
a couple of months and was unsuccessful, mainly because it wasn't very
appealing.
Here's where the get-rich-quick scheme comes in. Rather than
spend any money fixing it up, he contracted with a company called Liberty
Healthcare, who receives $344,000 annually from the State of California
for each sexually violent predator they monitor. They then pay landlords
astronomically higher than market rental rates to place their
"client."
Sexually violent predators, also known as SVP's (not to be
confused with Senior Vice President) are a dangerous breed. There are over
50,000 sex offenders in California, and only a handful of SVP's. They have
multiple violent offenses and have been diagnosed with a mental disorder
that makes them likely to re-offend.
Liberty Healthcare proposed placing a guy in our golf course
community who had been convicted of several sexual assaults against young
children as well as adults. Not exactly the ideal neighbor, no matter
where you live.
On the other hand, like many struggling golf clubs, ours
could always use a new member. Not many members were amused when I asked,
"Is he a golfer?" I think they knew I was kidding, though. It
was time to act.
Letters went flying. The community was on fire. A court date
had been set to approve or disapprove of the placement. While a golf
course community seemed like a highly inappropriate place for a sexually
violent predator, the judge assigned to the case was unpredictable. There
was a chance it would happen.
A group of neighbors decided they didn't want to take the
risk. They went to the chaplain homeowner and offered to buy the house. He
said he'd sell, but only at a ridiculously inflated price. This man of God
was extorting the community.
The neighbors reluctantly agreed to pay his price, the court
date was cancelled, and the chaplain walked away with a boatload of money.
I doubt he bothered to pray for forgiveness.
The house was cleaned up by the neighbors who bought it. A
fresh coat of paint, some minor landscaping, and a few other cosmetic
improvements. It goes on the market in January, and it will sell for far
less than they paid. They still consider it a good investment.
So where does this guy go? Practically everyone is a NIMBY
(Not In My Back Yard) when it comes to a neighbor that is "likely to
re-offend." Who wouldn't be?
It could happen again in Borrego Springs. The chaplain could
certainly buy another house and repeat the scenario. Considering the abuse
he received in his first attempt, it's unlikely. But that's the risk the
neighbors took.
Where is the best place for someone like this? For the
neighbors, certainly not a dark sky community where there's no
streetlights or police station and no one locks their doors. Nor would it
be a good place for the SVP himself. He couldn't walk out of his house
without being recognized.
But that's where they generally end up---small towns, where
the opposition is limited in numbers. A quick search of the five SVP's
placed recently in San Diego County show one in Boulevard (population
405), one in Campo (population 3300) and three in Jacumba Hot Springs
(population 300). Don't vacation in Jacumba Hot Springs anytime soon.
Meanwhile, our sexually violent predator is still searching
for a home. He's completed his time in prison, and needs to live
somewhere. So if you have no scruples whatsoever, buy a home in an area
with no schools and contract with Liberty Healthcare. You won't make many
friends, but you'll make a bundle.
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