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COMMUNITY LAW
CENTER, CITIZENS PLANNING & HOUSING ASSOCIATION AND ST. AMBROSE HOUSING
AID CENTER TARGETS GROWING PREDATORY AND DECEPTIVE REAL ESTATE SCAM
INDUSTRY
The Community Law
Center (CLC), Citizens Housing & Planning Association (CPHA) and St.
Ambrose Housing Center (St. Ambrose) have joined forces to combat the
foreclosure “rescue” scam artists responsible for illegally posted “We
Buy Houses” signs throughout Baltimore City.
Research conducted
by the CLC’s Project to End Predatory Real Estate Practices reveals that
oftentimes these signs promote unfair predatory and even illegal
activities associated with real estate transactions. The Project’s
director, Robert Strupp, states: “As a result of information obtained
from the signs, we are seeing numerous ploys used and numerous players
engaged in a variety of tactics designed to prey on the unsuspecting
homeowner and small investor”.
These nonprofit
agencies, well known for their ongoing advocacy efforts on behalf of
community development groups and city residents, have organized a
removal effort aimed at sending a message to would be scammers: CEASE
and DESIST! The groups’ initiative is bolstered by new legislation
passed by Baltimore’s City Council allowing residents to remove signs
from utility poles or stop signs. The new law, effective July 2,
increases fines to $200 per sign and allows for neighborhood
associations with 501 ©) (3) status to qualify for a cash credit when
presenting the removed signed to a designated agency for collection.
As part of the
sign-removal effort, advocates called on homeowners under financial
duress to contact reputable nonprofit organizations, such as the
Community Law Center and
St.
Ambrose, for help.
If you
would like information
concerning We Buy House signs,
or if you have spoken to anyone connected with these signs, please call
Robert Strupp, Director of Research and Policy at 410-366-0922 ext. 16
or email
Unable to open links e-mail to
mail@communitylaw.org
The Community Law Center Website is under
construction please watch for updates
Last Updated:
September 25, 2006 ©
2006 Community Law Center, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland
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The Community Law Center, Inc.
