@negeen,

@halle-eavelyn

@kent-littlejohn

Please find herewith my attempt to dig myself out of the hole. Please help.

Thanks for your time and dedication.

Back in 2007, I purchased my first investment property to fix and resell. This property, a row house, had 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. My intention was to add an additional bedroom and 1 full bath. Transforming the 2-bedroom house to a 3 bed 2 bath townhouse…

I went ahead and designed the new configuration and pulled permit to get the works started.

Works started in earnest, demolished the existing structure to the studs,

put in the framework for the new rooms,

installed new plumbing lines,

new electrical lines and

heating and cooling ducts,

new windows installed.

Everything was moving according to plan.

And I was so happy with the pace of work.

The drywalls were installed, sanded and primed – waiting for final painting.

Plumber in place to install fixtures, kitchen sink, toilets and shower stalls installed.

Then came the time for the central air conditioning unit to be installed….

And then … bam!!!!

The problems started …

When we got to the project-site that fateful day, a new AC unit that had been delivered the previous day – and was expected to be installed on that fateful day – had disappeared… into the thin air! Gone with the wind, I would say…

The doors of the house were intact. No sign of a break-in….

I was convinced that this must have been an insider’s job but had no proof.

Not only did I find myself powerless I also did not know what to do next…. I had always thought I knew what I was doing and could handle whatever situation I was in. But this was a tough cookie for me.

The insurance had denied my claim with some flimsy excuses…

I was petrified…

I lost interest in the project and did not want to visit the project-site any longer…

This went on for about 2 weeks.

I started ignoring my phone-calls…

Then something happened that would change everything.

I entered this McDonald’s Store to grab a bite. And as soon as I entered, I heard somebody call my name from one of the tables. I was surprised, because this store was in a different area of town where I have never been before. And I did not expect to see or meet anybody I knew there.

I turned to see who had called me. At first, I did not recognize the person. So, once I got what I wanted, I walked to the table where this gentleman was seated with another person.

I still could not put a name to the face and could not even recollect having met him before. But this man was smiling from ear to ear, while I was trying as hard as I could to remember who he was, but I could not.

“I am Paul’s brother” he said. “Which Paul?  I know at least 10 or more people with the name Paul”.

“Do you remember the young man who was stranded at the bus stop that you took home and helped to locate his family some 5 years ago?”

“Yes” I responded.

“I am his brother” he said

Then I remembered… how I met the young man, took him home and fed him whilst waiting for the family to come and take him home.

“How is he doing?” I asked

“He is fine and doing very well. He has finished his course and has since returned to our country. He is in business and doing very well. He often asks about you. But to confess, I lost your contact. He will be delighted to hear that we have met”

We talked for some time – about he does, and I also told him about my situation. “Don’t you worry” he told me. There and then, he wrote me a check for $20,000 to enable me to finish the job and then offered to be my money-partner for other deals that I should come across. I couldn’t believe my ears nor my eyes.

Just like that… $20,000 drops into my laps…

unexpectedly

and from an unforeseen source

With the money, I was able to complete the rehab and put the property on the market.

Then came the mortgage meltdown…

The house stayed on the market for ever…

For a total of 375 days