I rented a property (with the option to purchase during 2nd year of my lease) through HomeAmerica/gorenter.com because I was in a bind with not enough credit to buy up front, but not enough time to build it up. These people offered me a rental property with option to buy later, with promises that my down payment would be held to use as down payment money toward purchase or closing costs (i'm talking in excess of $3000), and that half my rent would also go toward the purchase (unless I defaulted). The catch was, if I chose not to complete the purchase, I forfeited my down payment monies.
Several months down the road, after having a PERFECT rental record with Home America (and having suffered a few bumps such as them shutting off my water account with the City and I got charged to turn it back on even though I was the rightful resident!), i started getting certified letter notices addressed to the homeowner, then large flyers posted on my door about "Let us help you avoid the foreclosure!" Home America denied any knowledge of foreclosure etc.
So for a couple of months, I questioned daily to find out what was up. They finally admitted they couldn't reach the homeowner but still had no evidence of foreclosure. When I confronted them saying "well, I DO have evidence" (I'd found it listed as a Notice of Trustee Sale on the County Recorder's site and they posted it on my front door!), they were skeptical and rude like "WHAT evidence?" when I told them what I had, they were still short with me, and when I started asking for my deposit back, they said i wasn't entitled to it, but if I wanted to move into another home, they'd help me relocate... For another down payment of course! This became a war.
I stated that I did NOT default on the purchase, the OWNER did, so I was entitled to my money back, and I sure wasn't going to give them $3K more for another home. Then, they said "Well we don't have the money. It was given to the owner." Hmm interesting, their owner contract states that down payment monies are to be held by the Agent (Home America) in a TRUST ACCOUNT. I was later told that there was no trust account.
After a great deal of research, I found how much negative vibe there was about Mr. Bosworth, CEO, and how many of his family members were now involved with the gorenter office. Suddenly, the property manager who had been trying very hard to help me out... Wasn't my contact anymore... But miraculously, a BOSWORTH was. She was not very helpful.
I then found out how many complaints were filed against the designated broker of Home America with the AZ Dept of Real Estate. I also found out that the owner of my home had MULTIPLE properties, all managed by Home America, going into foreclosure as well! Note, my checks were all PAYABLE TO and CASHED BY Home America, NOT the homeowner... HMM.
It wasn't until I threatened legal action that "miraculously" they were able to come up with the money from somewhere to refund my down payment. I wonder how many of their other renters are going through this, obviously at least 10 others who they managed for the homeowner I rented from! Additionally, my own ex husband rented from them as well and also is having trouble with the property having not been paid for appropriately.
I would not recommend anyone to this place.
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