Michael Hathman / Steve Scharf Mo Homes Screwed a Veteran...Bought my house, never filed the papers, took the rental money and removed appliances. Internet

I contacted Mr. Hathmann as I located a website where he bought homes as investments. When he contacted me, I related I am a Veteran, home is behind and I needed to sell it right away. I was moving from the area and was pending a divorce.

I sent him all the information and also had lined up what I felt was a good prospective renter for the home. I executed the rental contract with the renter and it was agreed upon by all parties involved. I held a $1000 deposit from the renter and the rest of the funds would go to Mr. Hathmann. Mr. Hathmann and his partner assured me that they would get the house caught up, refinance the house, and maybe "put some money into my pockets" . The sales contract was completed.

I THOUGHT I was finally able to start a new life, having this headache behind me.  Little did I know what really was going on.

FIRST: after several months (maybe 3) of the mortage statement showing it was only increasing in debt and numerous emails back and forth, no paymnets were being made to the lender.

Mr. Hathmann stated I MUST SEND HIM THAT $1000 to make the books balance and they depended upon that money to get the mortgage caught up.  (Really ?)

SECOND: The approved renter whose lease iuncluded all utitlites for one price, was being forced to pay them. When they got shut off, I had to pay to get them reconnected...Mr. Hathmann again insisted that he had never approved the rental price, and that the monies I was paying for the reconnect fees would be refunded if I paid the $1000. (Really?)

THIRD: Mr. Hathmann insisted I contact a thrid party for a loan modification. He and his partner insisted it really was the only way to go now that the loan was so far behind. FOOLISHLY, I sent to them the original loan documents to get this accomplished. They agreed to waive the $1000 I owed them to do this. I contacted the third party and the wheels are now really coming off the train. The rentaer moves out int he middle of the night. He has been told that since he owes them rent, to just get out and they would not process and eviction orpursue him for monies owed.

FOURTH: The house is a total wreck....Mr. Hathmann and his partner remove the appliances from the home . (Stove and refrig)...they now insist that they want nothing further to do with it and say they never owned the house. That's right foilks! they never executed the paperwork for the sale. 

They just took the money from the rent, let the house go to total disrepair, never made a payment to the mortgage company and had a real estate agent contact me to sell the house!

The real estate agent, (A WONDERFUL WOMAN Named Terry Gannon) is appaled byt he series of events. Her advice was to try and short sale (unless I have $20,000 to get the mortgage caught up), which we have entered into a listing agreement to do.

I discovered the missing appliances when I reviewed the listing agreement. I have an email from Mr. Hathmann admitting that since they technically owned th house (REALLY?) they removed the appliances.

This all has taken place in Missouri. I have been told to either sue them in small claims, sue them outright, file a police report for the appiances.....I really do not know what to do.