Stacked Deck

First time homeowners usually have no reason to fear losing their home but sometimes the deck is stacked against you from the start.

This week I spoke with a disabled veteran who learned his inherited property came with some major challenges:

• Mark Thompson inherited two properties from his mother

• Immediately discovered that he was at risk of losing both to foreclosure

• Then learns that, even if he saves them, a tax hike is coming that he can’t afford

Mark had no money to hire a lawyer and was getting nowhere trying to help himself. But, when we connected, I was able to bring clarity to the situation, allowing us to chart a course that made sense for him.

Note: While this story is based on real events, some details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

Facing a complex property situation like Mark's? Don't wait until it becomes a crisis. Book a free 15-minute consultation with Piedmont ARP today to understand your options.

A December Surprise

Mark Thompson was still grieving the loss of his adoptive mother when he got the notice: one of his inherited properties was headed for foreclosure. 

A lender he'd never heard of had won a court judgment for $18,000, and the house would be sold at auction in February.

"I tried to stop the foreclosure by myself," Mark told me, "but it was already scheduled." 

As a disabled veteran living on a fixed income, he had no money for lawyers.

He called everyone he could think of — the tax office, the lender's attorneys, the county — but no one could tell him how to fix the situation.

Deeper Trouble

As Mark dove deeper into his situation, it seemed to worsen at every turn.

There was more to the debt underlying the $18,000 judgment. Before her passing, Mark’s mother had taken out a tax loan — but she didn’t use the funds to settle her outstanding tax debt.

So, between the two properties, unpaid taxes now exceeded $10,000, and the long delay in payment had triggered a delinquent tax lawsuit.

Even if Mark found a way to stop the February foreclosure, both properties would still be at risk of being sold in a tax auction.

The trouble didn’t end there.

Mark’s neighborhood at the edge of Austin was gentrifying, and skyrocketing property values meant significant tax hikes starting in January. As a disabled veteran on a fixed income, he would never be able to afford to stay put.

Next, Mark learned that he didn’t have sole possession of one of the properties.

He had taken shortcuts in administering his mother’s estate and, as a result, two distant relatives in Minnesota retained fractional interests — a complication that further limited his ability to act.

“Everyone I spoke to was polite and friendly,” Mark shared, “but no one could actually tell me how to fix all this or explain how I might avoid losing everything.”

A Path Forward

When Mark first came to me, he showed unusual clarity. 

Unlike many people who focus only on stopping an immediate foreclosure, Mark understood his bigger challenge: even if he saved these properties today, rising taxes meant he'd likely lose them tomorrow.

Once we laid out all the issues, this insight made our path clear. 

While we had several options to address the foreclosure — from investor partnerships to special veterans' programs — we needed a solution that would work long-term. 

This led us to consider selling one property to save the other, using the proceeds to relocate somewhere more affordable.

The Hard Truth

Mark's story isn't unique. 

Every week I meet property owners in similar circumstances. Even when they own their homes outright, many discover that keeping their property requires more than making payments — it requires navigating a complex system that few understand. 

But here's what I've learned: there are almost always options. 

The key is getting help before it's too late.