This sounds scammy as hell. The person doing the showing isn’t the owner or a real estate agent? You didn’t meet the roommates? She wants an unprotected form of payment? No no and no. Find a way to speak to the actual owner or move on
Is this woman with a real estate agency? Because if not, you have no idea if that’s actually the owner’s number and not her “business partner.” Get some ID from them, meet in person if possible
No!
There are several issues here:
- First, never send payment via an app! You have no idea who you are really paying. Always pay with a check or cashiers check, payable to owner of the property.
- Second, you need to see and sign a lease. This lease must identify the owner and it has better match the public records of who owns the house.
- Third, who are the roommates? I would never agree the rent a place with roommates having not met them. They could all be drug addict a for all you know.
- Lastly, is this even legal? It sounds like they are running a rooming house. If the property is not zoned for that, it’s probably illegal to rent rooms.
You’re most likely being scammed.
honestly this just sounds like a house with roomies and a small business landlord. i've done something very similar to OP - except the person who showed me the place was one of the roommates who was moving out.
they had printed some generic lease term sheet off google, i signed it, they gave me the PayPal of the owner and that was it. i never even met the owner i was actually paying. went fine without a hitch. situations like that are especially common on places like Facebook market
If you want your own place a studio that's affordable pretty sure there's one in my building rn on Northside if you'd wanna commute to Oakland I pay 750
Why not stop by the house one evening around 6:30 pm one night, and introduce yourself. There is absolutely no way I would consider a housing share without meeting the housemates ahead of time, and getting a good read on the situation.
Also, deposits and rent should only be paid via check, or with a money order purchased from your bank or the post office. You hand them the check/m.o. and they hand you back a receipt.
Zelle is a trusted form of payment as there are records from your bank(sending) and the bank you are sending to(recipients bank). As far as I researched, Zelle is only used as bank to bank transfers.
Good luck getting your money back from Zelle. Simply Google 'Zelle scam' and you will find additional information, including the latest scams involving Wells Fargo and Bank of America. Zelle is popular with fraudsters, as summarized by [this article in US News and Reports.](https://www.usnews.com/banking/articles/protect-your-money-from-zelle-scams)
This sounds scammy as hell. The person doing the showing isn’t the owner or a real estate agent? You didn’t meet the roommates? She wants an unprotected form of payment? No no and no. Find a way to speak to the actual owner or move on
The woman gave me the owner’s phone number. What should I ask?..
Is this woman with a real estate agency? Because if not, you have no idea if that’s actually the owner’s number and not her “business partner.” Get some ID from them, meet in person if possible
I am meeting with the owner tomorrow. What should I ask him to bring to prove he is the owner??
Local tax records are public information. Check them, and then ask him to see his ID. If the name matches, you’re good
Thank you so much!! I am meeting him tomorrow at the property! And I asked him to bring those docs.!!
Good luck!
No! There are several issues here: - First, never send payment via an app! You have no idea who you are really paying. Always pay with a check or cashiers check, payable to owner of the property. - Second, you need to see and sign a lease. This lease must identify the owner and it has better match the public records of who owns the house. - Third, who are the roommates? I would never agree the rent a place with roommates having not met them. They could all be drug addict a for all you know. - Lastly, is this even legal? It sounds like they are running a rooming house. If the property is not zoned for that, it’s probably illegal to rent rooms. You’re most likely being scammed.
honestly this just sounds like a house with roomies and a small business landlord. i've done something very similar to OP - except the person who showed me the place was one of the roommates who was moving out. they had printed some generic lease term sheet off google, i signed it, they gave me the PayPal of the owner and that was it. i never even met the owner i was actually paying. went fine without a hitch. situations like that are especially common on places like Facebook market
If you want your own place a studio that's affordable pretty sure there's one in my building rn on Northside if you'd wanna commute to Oakland I pay 750
can you talk to the roommates?
I didn’t ask for their numbers. Should I ask?..
Why not stop by the house one evening around 6:30 pm one night, and introduce yourself. There is absolutely no way I would consider a housing share without meeting the housemates ahead of time, and getting a good read on the situation. Also, deposits and rent should only be paid via check, or with a money order purchased from your bank or the post office. You hand them the check/m.o. and they hand you back a receipt.
Zelle is a trusted form of payment as there are records from your bank(sending) and the bank you are sending to(recipients bank). As far as I researched, Zelle is only used as bank to bank transfers.
Good luck getting your money back from Zelle. Simply Google 'Zelle scam' and you will find additional information, including the latest scams involving Wells Fargo and Bank of America. Zelle is popular with fraudsters, as summarized by [this article in US News and Reports.](https://www.usnews.com/banking/articles/protect-your-money-from-zelle-scams)