03/10/2026
Yesterday I sat with a lender and some of my agents, and she shared a story that has stayed with me.
A family in our community wanted to buy a home.
They found a For Sale By Owner and decided to pay cash. The seller asked for half of the purchase price up front… so the family gave them half of their life savings and were told to come back later to get the keys.
When they returned…
ICE was there.
The family was deported.
And the seller kept their money.
I have been thinking about that family ever since.
Not because the story is shocking… but because it is heartbreaking.
For many families, especially in underserved communities, the dream of homeownership already feels uncertain. There can be fear, language barriers, and a lot of confusion about how the process works.
This is exactly why who you work with matters.
In a real estate transaction done the right way:
• Your money goes into escrow, not directly to a seller
• Ownership is verified through title
• Contracts protect both sides
• There are licensed professionals making sure no one is taken advantage of
These protections exist for a reason.
After 24+ years helping people buy homes, I know this much is true…
Buying a home isn’t just about finding the right house.
It’s about making sure no one loses everything trying to achieve the dream of homeownership.
If you or someone you love is thinking about buying a home, please don’t try to navigate it alone. Ask questions. Get guidance. Work with someone whose job is to protect you.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a future through homeownership… safely.
And if you’ve ever heard a story like this before… or know someone who might not understand how the process really works… share this with them. It could protect someone’s future.
