Question 1

Who are you?

Accepted Answer

Fairline Property Group LLC is a real estate investment company registered in [PLACEHOLDER state of formation]. We do two things. We buy houses directly from owners who need to sell, and we recover surplus funds for people whose property has already sold at a foreclosure or tax sale. Our address and phone number are at the bottom of every page on this site.

Question 2

Are you real estate agents?

Accepted Answer

No. We are not agents or brokers and we do not represent you. When we buy a house, we are buying it for our own account as the principal in the transaction. We do not charge commission because we are not providing brokerage services.

Question 3

Are you a law firm?

Accepted Answer

No. We are not a law firm and we do not give legal advice. If your situation involves a dispute, a deceased owner, probate, or competing claims, you should talk to a licensed attorney. In some states, surplus claims must be handled by an attorney, and where that is true we will tell you and work with one.

Question 4

Are you affiliated with the county or the government?

Accepted Answer

No. We are a private company. We are not affiliated with any court, county office, state treasury, or government agency, and nothing we send you is an official government notice.

Question 5

How did you get my information?

Accepted Answer

Foreclosure filings, auction results, and property ownership records are public records. We obtain information from those public records and from data providers. If you would like us to stop contacting you, tell us and we will remove you permanently. You can also email [PLACEHOLDER privacy email] to request that we delete your information.

Question 6

How much will you pay?

Accepted Answer

Less than a fully repaired house would sell for on the open market. Our offer is the value of the house repaired, minus repairs, minus our holding and closing costs, minus our margin. We show you all four numbers. What you get in exchange is speed, certainty, no repairs, no showings, no commission, and a closing date you pick.

Question 7

Do I pay any fees or commission?

Accepted Answer

No. No commission, no listing fee, no closing costs on your side in most transactions. We cover standard closing costs. What you owe on the property, such as your mortgage payoff, unpaid taxes and any liens, still comes out of the sale proceeds, because those are debts against the property.

Question 8

Would I get more with a real estate agent?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes, and we will tell you when we think that is the case. If your house is in decent condition, you have two or three months, and you can handle showings, a listing usually nets more even after commission. Selling to us makes sense when the timeline is short, the condition is poor, or you need certainty more than you need the last few thousand dollars.

Question 9

Can you stop my foreclosure?

Accepted Answer

No. Only your lender or a court can stop a foreclosure sale. What we can sometimes do is buy the property and close before the sale date, which pays off the loan and ends the foreclosure that way. Whether that is possible depends on how much time is left and how clean the title is. Anyone who tells you they can stop a foreclosure is not being straight with you.

Question 10

What if I owe more than the house is worth?

Accepted Answer

Then a straight cash sale may not work, because the sale has to at least cover the payoff. There are other paths, including a short sale, where the lender agrees to accept less than the full balance. Tell us the numbers and we will tell you honestly whether we can help or whether you need someone else.

Question 11

Do I need to clean it out or make repairs?

Accepted Answer

No. Take what you want and leave the rest. We buy as-is, including houses that are full of belongings, damaged, or that have not been lived in for years.

Question 12

What if there are tenants?

Accepted Answer

We buy tenant-occupied properties. Tell us about the lease and whether rent is being paid. We handle it after closing and we do not ask you to remove anyone before we buy.

Question 13

Will you actually close, or back out at the last minute?

Accepted Answer

This is a fair question because it happens in this industry. Our agreement has a defined inspection period, and after that period passes we are committed. We will tell you exactly what our contingencies are before you sign, and we will not add new ones later. Ask us for references from past sellers.

Question 14

Do you buy in my area?

Accepted Answer

We buy nationwide. Send us the address wherever it is. If it turns out to be a market where we cannot close, we will tell you straight away and, where we can, point you to someone reputable at no charge.

Question 15

Is this a scam?

Accepted Answer

It is a real thing, and there are also real scams in it. Surplus funds are genuine. When a property sells at auction for more than the total debt against it, the extra money belongs to the former owner, and counties hold it. The scams come from companies that charge upfront fees, hide extra fees, or pressure you to sign immediately. Here is how to check us: look up our LLC in the state registry, call the county yourself and ask if the funds exist, and read our agreement before signing. Everything we say should be verifiable.

Question 16

How much does it cost me?

Accepted Answer

Nothing up front and nothing if we recover nothing. If we recover funds, our fee comes out of the recovery and never exceeds what your state's law allows. We do not charge consultation fees, research fees, or administrative fees. Your exact fee, in dollars, is in your agreement before you sign. Out-of-pocket costs such as certified copies, notary fees and court filing fees are itemised and come out of the recovery, never billed to you separately.

Question 17

Can I just do this myself?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and if your case is simple you probably should. Call the county that handled the sale and ask for the surplus funds or excess proceeds department. They will tell you what form to file. It costs you nothing and you keep everything. We are worth hiring when the case is contested, when the owner has died, when there are junior lienholders, when it crosses state lines, or when you simply do not want to handle it.

Question 18

How do I know there is actually money?

Accepted Answer

We check the county record and tell you either way, free, before anything is signed. You can also check yourself. Many counties publish their surplus lists online.

Question 19

What if I still owe other debts?

Accepted Answer

Other creditors may have a claim on the surplus ahead of you. Second mortgages, HELOCs, judgment liens, HOA liens and IRS liens can all have priority. Part of what we do is figure out where you stand in that order before you sign anything, so you are not surprised later.

Question 20

The owner passed away. Can the family claim it?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes, but the estate normally has to be opened first. Depending on the state and the amount, this may be a full probate or a simplified small estate process. This is one of the situations where having help genuinely saves people money, because heir claims are the ones most often denied for paperwork reasons.

Question 21

How long does it take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the county and whether a court filing is required. Administrative claims in a fast county can take 60 to 90 days. Claims requiring a court motion, or involving heirs or competing claimants, commonly take 6 to 12 months. We will give you a realistic range for your specific county once we know which one it is, and we will not promise you a date we do not control.

Question 22

I already signed with another company. Can I switch?

Accepted Answer

Maybe. It depends on what you signed and what your state's law says about cancelling it. Send us the agreement and we will tell you what we see. If we think you are better off staying where you are, we will say that. If we think the agreement is not enforceable, we will tell you to have a lawyer look at it.

Question 23

Is the money taxable?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what the funds are and your own tax situation. We are not accountants and we cannot advise you on this. Talk to a CPA before you spend it.

Question 24

Do I have to go to court?

Accepted Answer

In most cases no. Some counties require a motion to be filed in the foreclosure case, but that usually does not require you to appear. If a hearing is needed, we will tell you in advance.

Question 25

Do you ever ask for money up front?

Accepted Answer

Never. Not for a cash offer, not for a surplus claim, not for research, not for anything. If anyone in this industry asks you for money before you have received anything, walk away.

Question 26

What is an assignment, and should I sign one?

Accepted Answer

An assignment transfers your legal right to claim the surplus to us, so we can file in our own name and pay you your share afterward. It is a normal instrument in this business and it is also the one that gets abused. Never sign one with the amount left blank. Read what it says about cancelling. Take it to a lawyer if you have any doubt. We will wait.

Question 27

Why does your fee vary by state?

Accepted Answer

Because state law sets the ceiling and the ceilings are very different. Some states cap recovery fees tightly, others allow more, and a few bar non-attorneys from charging at all. Our fee never exceeds the legal maximum where your claim is filed, we do not add anything on top of it, and the exact dollar figure is on your agreement before you sign.

Question 28

Will you sell my information?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not sell or rent your personal information. We share it only with the parties needed to complete your transaction, such as a title company, attorney, or notary.

Question 29

How do I stop being contacted?

Accepted Answer

Reply STOP to any text, click unsubscribe in any email, or tell us on the phone. One request covers all channels and it is permanent. If you want your information deleted entirely, email [PLACEHOLDER privacy email].

Question 30

Do you record calls?

Accepted Answer

[PLACEHOLDER call recording policy]

Everything people ask us, answered straight.

General

Selling your house

Surplus funds

Fees and costs

Privacy and your data

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