Marketplace homes Marketplace will throw you out on your butt. Renter beware Livonia Michigan

Update One year later. I was forced to move out. I didn't receive my 1,500 option money back. I didn't have my moving costs paid for. I was told that because of this honest ripoff report that I wasn't entitled to anything. Just fyi

Let's describe the situation beyond markeplace homes' control. It may have been communicated verbally to marketplace homes that the homeowner wanted a long term renter. But, the contract that was signed by the homeowner given to them by marketplace homes was only a 12 month contract with renewal options at the homeowners discretion. Meanwhile a contract that was given to me by marketplace homes was a 3 year term. Bottom line, marketplace homes knowingly entered into a contract with me for a specified amount of time (3 years) knowing that their contract with the homeowner was for a shorter , unspecified length of time that had the potential but not guarantee of fulfilling my contract. 

Now let's explain the $500 under market value accusation. The original posting for the house was for the amount of $1895 with a one year lease. When I called about the house I talked to sharla skedel and stated that we liked the home but wanted a three year lease. She stated it was possible but we needed to do a "rent-to-own" and the rent would be $1500 with $100 going toward the purchase of the home if we executed the option to purchase. So.... You're telling me I want a house for $1895 and if I stay longer I only have to pay $1500? Great! So because of a bad business move on their part my "comparable " housing options that they are "helping" with are nothing even close to what I have.

The option money they described was asked for by us and in an email from cole young (marketplace homes attorney)it stated that it was "laughable" that we would ever purchase the house for the price that was offered.  I guess they know more about me than I do.

As for trying to resolve the situation, nothing at all was offered until I got a lawyer. Until that point it was stated by mark shaftner (marketplace homes vp) that we needed to leave and they had no houses in the area they could offer to us. Now if the tables were turned and I ditched out on 15 months of rent, I would be sued and obligated to pay all of it to them. 

Nothing except emails of run down homes has been communicated to me in three months. Even mark shaftner ( marketplace homes vp) has passed the buck off to someone else that sends canned emails of zillow links. Nice attempt to resolve. 

We had provided a 3-year lease to Jon R., the author of the above post, because we believed the homeowner wished to have a long term tenant. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the homeowner has changed their mind and would to like to take back possession of the home.

We made Jon aware of the issue in November of 2012, 4-5 months before the date that the homeowner requested to take back the home. We have continuously sent him comparable properties, have offered to pay moving costs, and will fully refund the option deposit.

Jon states that he was not satisfied with the comparable options we sent him. However, the options in Bennett are very limited to nonexistent and we have made a diligent effort to try and find homes with similar square footage, bedrooms, etc. that are renting for around the same price as Jon is currently paying. Since the home we rented to him was at least $500 below fair market value, this has proved difficult and we have had to send comparables a little farther out from where Jon and his family currently reside.

We are still continuing efforts to resolve this, and hope we will be able to find a solution that works for all parties involved.