I
received a suspicious call yesterday from an unknown number, and my gut told me to ignore it. However, due to my current situation helping family members with medical and financial needs, I have to answer calls just in case. Unfortunately, my instincts were right - it was a scammer trying to buy my house. The caller, who mispronounced the city name "Yakima" as "Yakeeeeeeeeeeema," seemed persistent and wouldn't take no for an answer.

    Asking me if I'd be interested in selling my house in six months, she kept asking the same questions in different ways. When I told her I wasn't interested, she asked again, and when I politely declined, she even suggested that ghosts haunting my property might change my mind. I finally hung up on her mid-sentence.

    This isn't an isolated incident; many people are receiving unsolicited calls from real estate investors and wholesalers, some of whom may be scammers. Legitimate buyers are targeting homeowners who might be looking for a quick sale or a way out due to the housing shortage. If you're interested in selling your home, it's best to work with local professionals to avoid lowball offers and scams.

    To minimize these calls, HomeLight suggests:

    * Telling unsolicited callers to remove your number and information

    * Registering your number on the Do Not Call Registry

    * Using phone software to block unwanted calls and texts

    * Adding your information to the Data & Marketing Associations' marketing Opt-Out service list

    Be cautious of scams, especially if they sound too good to be true. If you didn't initiate contact, it's likely a scam.