Scammed real estate investor continues fight for justice

By: The VNN Team  //  Ripoffs & Scams

by Carol Thompson

Justin Hunt has given up on the American dream, but the Ballymote, Ireland resident hasn’t given up on his pursuit for justice.

Hunt established Eire Realty, LLC in Texas Jan. 31, 2012, with the assistance of Frisco, Texas-based attorneys Brian Merkley and David Krueger. He then purchased a home located at 705 Jeran Drive, Dallas, on Feb. 29, 2012. To maintain his new property located across the ocean, Hunt hired a property management company called CCMG, Inc. The new manager rented the house out for $1,150 and all seemed fine. That was until Hunt saw no rent money.

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Soon after, Hunt learned that Eire Realty’s agreement with CCMC, Inc. had been transferred to American Asset Management Partners, LLC (AAMP). The house was rented for $990 per month and all went well for a few months. AAMP, Inc. kept 10 percent of the rent and the remaining balance was forwarded to Hunt.

Then, the payments stopped. AAMP, Inc. began keeping the rent proceeds for lawn mowing and other maintenance, Hunt said.

One year later, Hunt learned by chance that his house had been seized and sold at auction. On or about November 6, 2013, Daniel Walters of Hot Land Landscaping showed up at the Jeran Drive property and announced to Hunt’s make-ready contractors that he now owned the house. Walters told the contractors that he had purchased the property the previous day at a Sheriff’s sale.

Hunt would come to learn that he lost his property for a bill that totaled $631.42. The creditor: Hot Land Landscaping. According to documents pertaining to the case, Hot Land Landscaping purchased the property at a Sheriff auction for $3,300.

Hunt had no idea Hot Land Landscaping had even done any work at his property. He had never heard of the company nor had he ever received a bill. He also assumed that since AAMP was keeping all, or most of, the rental payments that all bills pertaining to the property were being paid.

Not only did Hunt know nothing about the landscaping bill, he had never received any notice of foreclosure.

Hunt has filed complaints and contacted government representatives in Texas, to no avail. But, he said, he is not giving up. He said he will be contacting the Federal Trade Commission and the Texas Attorney General.

“It was a scam,” Hunt said of his experience investing in U.S. real estate. “I have no idea how the landscaper ended up with the house and I have no proof that there was really any landscaping done at the house.”

Hunt had paid $88,500 for the property and had approximately $40,000 in equity invested.