First Choice Home Buyers Issues

Conclusion

Issue reported to the: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Pennsylvania Department of State, Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.

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Details

April 2025: According to a representative of the investors: Offer $80,000. The sewer line inspection would be the only one required. This inspection was based on the homeowner's alert to potential buyers explaining that the neighbor had illegally connected to the property sewer line.

We informed First Choice Home Buyers that we had a signed agreement with a Selling Agent. That our selling agent would review any offers. (Note: initially, First Choice Home Buyers communicated with the Selling Agent. However, First Choice Home Buyers then proceeded to explain to us how Realtors take a commission. Furthermore, First Choice Home Buyers also agreed to pay all closing costs; something that Realtors did not do. Ultimately, First Choice Home Buyers emphasized that, in order to save time and money, we should not use a Realtor.)

April 2025: Dyck O'Neal lien explained to potential buyers. Initially, the investor group promised to have the best Attorneys and Title Searchers work on clearing the lien. After over a week, when nothing was done, we took over. According to the investors, "Jessie" should have been working on clearing the title. Jessie eventually did call and asked about the lien. (**Note: The lien has recently been discharged; albeit, without any assistance or input from First Choice Home Buyers.)

April 2025: Promise of moving services and relocation assistance. In particular, the moving services were articulated in a way that led us to believe that the investors would pay for the moving.

Later in the communication, we pressed for information as to who would actually pay for the moving services. It was then that the representative of the investors admitted that they would hire the movers; however, the cost would be deducted from our proceeds at Settlement.

After a week of our email messages being ignored, including one requesting relocation services on a specific date, we received a message stating that we would have to be referred to several different departments, people within the organization for help with relocation.

Settlement was scheduled for April 26th.

May 2025

Communication on file: May 2nd, 8th, 9th, & 22nd. **However, at this point, the Dyck O'Neal lien was not yet cleared. Ultimately, the decision was made to cancel the contract. Email messages on file.

June 2025

First Choice Home Buyers filed a Praecipe of Writ of Summons / Breach of Contract Action / Lis Pendens. Judgment pending. (bweaver@firstsourcetitle.com First Source Title Company)

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Synopsis: Given the timeline, the services offered would not have been completed within the promised 'few days' or even before settlement. Another words, these were 'hooks' used to get us to sign.

Why did we sign? We needed a cash advance prior to settlement. We had been assured that we would receive the cash as soon as the title was cleared. We were assured that this would be done in an expedient manner. However, days went by when we didn't hear anything.....only to learn that nothing had been done.

**High pressure tactics (calling frequently until the contract was signed then communication stops); Too good to be true tactics (promise to use the best Attorneys and Title Company to clear the lien on the title); Gaslighting tactics (encourage seller to share immediate needs; then offer "help").**

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Note

First Choice Home Buyers LLC Broker of Record: Liz Hamburger, Keller Williams Keystone

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Email Messages (Note that promises; e.g. to provide movers, help with relocation, and having their best title team work on clearing any liens, were made verbally.)