Help! I needhelp in verifying landlord's ownership of rental unit

[SteveGinGto]

My first post here. Hopefully many more to come.

I currently live in the Chicago area and am relocating to Gto in September. I have been working on lining up an apartment, and am doing it blind. I have not been to Gto to see the unit.

There are three people here advising me to do due diligence and find out for sure if the landlady and landlord own the apartment for sure. The two of them are in London, UK, and are asking me to Western Union the upfront money - the first month's rent and security deposit - to them there.

I am basically a trusting person, but with three people thinking I am crazy to send money to England.

Can anyone direct me to a rental agent or a realtor who would be able to check to see if the unit in Gto is owned by the people in London?

I don't expect a freebie.

Any help would be truly appreciated.

Steve

[mr bill]

Steve - interesting situation. How did you come by the rental listing? Can you forward it ? - also if the apt address is easily accessible I can go knock on a door or two.

Bill
guanajuatorentals.com Since 1999
casagto.com

[meroberts]

Hi Steve,

As much as you may want to trust people, (one of my sins) I have learn to: "Trust but verify." (Reagan)

You have the right to ask them for a copy of their "escrituras", two references of people in town who knew them when they lived in Guanajuato, photos of their place, location, services provided, utilities, a proposed lease/contract agreement, etc. I would recommend seing the location BEFORE you move in, and certainly BEFORE you blindly send them any money.

If anyone on this board can recommend a Real Estate Agent who would act on your behalf, it would be best. Good luck making an educated and sensible decision.

Martha Roberts [/size]

[terriolinda]

Hi, Steve. I'm with the others on this, too. There are just too many scammers out there - even in beautiful Guanajuato. My husband, Marcos, and I own a real estate company in Guanajuato, together with Marcos' sister, Martha. Right now, we are not in Guanajuato (oddly, enough, we're in Chicago!), but my sister-in-law is. I'm sure she would be more than happy to help you out. Our business is www.guanajuatobienesraices.com - shoot me a private message if you want her to get involved at all. The office is right downtown across from VIPS restaurant so she's in town every day. Hope that helps a little. Good luck!

[SteveGinGto]

Thanks for the feedback, Martha.

Newbie questions...

What is an "escritura' exactly?

I did get all of what you said except for these:

• Escritura
  
• Two references
  
• It took two tries to get the address, and it still isn't really complete (no unit#)
  
• The photos were not as complete as I'd have liked. Strangely for Gto, there were no pics from their balcony terrace.
  

I have been a trusting sort, but being an engineer I also have learned how to be a hard-nosed thinker. But I don't do that in all areas of my life. This being essentially a new experience for me, I have to learn about renting all over again. But I did have good landlords and landladies back in the day.

One thing: I had sent the money (Western Union), but it ran into a snag, which bought me time - and I had the payment stopped in time. Just in case. That buys me a bit of time to find someone local to help out.

Whoever does it I buy dinner for after I get settled!

Steve

[NanN]

The escritura de propiedad is a land title deed of ownership for the property.

Two tries to get the address complete with unit number and photos that are less than you expect would give me cause do doubt too. Where did you find this place advertised?

I personally wouldn't rent anything site unseen. Before we moved here we had visited several times and then we came and stayed for a week and a half and found a place we liked before heading back to the coast to pack up the show and move it here.

We stayed in a hotel for that time but there are BnB or home stay type places advertised on this site http://www.airbnb.com/search?location=Gu...to,+Mexico that might be better for longer term. Some of them appear to be owned and operated by people who are either from Guanajuato or have been here for sometime so they might even be able to give you some advice as to neighbourhood and things like that if you were to stay there.

[meroberts]

Steve,

"Escritura" is their Deed. Asking for recommendations and getting good (legitimate) photos, location, and all the rest of it is "priceless" (as they say).

I worked extensively with Terri and Marcos who can be of great help to you. If you wish, you may call my toll free number: 1 877 225 2154 or Skype me at: meroberts 5100 where I may be able to assist you further. No dinner necessary... :)

Martha

[SteveGinGto]

To all:

Some of you I've been in contact with via PM, so not all of this story is on the thread here. Sorry about that, but I felt I needed to deal with some of it more privately, at least to start.

Heather: I informed James Pyle that we've worked this out and won't need him to do anything.

NanN and Meroberts:

Thanks for your info and advice. All here have been helpful beyond words.


TerrioLinda and Mr Bill:

Thanks for yours, especially. For everyone's info, Mr Bill informed me that the house number given to me - #5 - on Calle San Juan de D?os does not even exist. That pretty much clinches it. I had to pry the number out of their mitts, and they seem to have simply just made something up. It seems pretty much 100% certain that it was a scam.

So, with help, I dodged a bullet. And even if it isn't a scam, I approached it all wrong, and I learned something. I trusted as long as I could, and then I got to a point where I couldn't anymore. Knowledge will set you free.

And where do I go from here? I seem to have made some friends, so that is a head start on when I arrive in the first half of September. And I will do as advised - just land and hit a hotel and look around. That was advised months ago by an old hand down in Chapala - but I thought I'd found a goody and tried to jump the gun.

So, to all a good night, and thanks again!

Steve

[The Duck]

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[SteveGinGto]

Thanks, Duck!

Yeah, I got taken - but was saved by my son and all of you. The money is back in my account. Life did not see fit to bite me this time. I had some guardian angels. And now a few new friends.

I will do as advised here: Rent a hotel room and check out places once I've landed. Once bitten, twice shy - even if the bite didn't break the skin.

Steve