Making Landlords Out Of Sellers

We’ve all seen them: Empty houses with for- sale signs littering neighborhoods across the country. Some have been sitting there for months, others more than a year.

What’s a homeowner to do when they’ve already lowered the asking price; renovations have been made; and the front lawn looks pristine, but still have no takers?

One Realtor in Monson has taken this situation and not only turned it upside down, but also helped many displaced families in the process. In her efforts to help victims of the recent tornadoes in Western Massachusetts, Karen King, a Massachusetts Realtor, persuaded many of her clients not to sell their homes, but instead to rent them to families who have lost their homes, according to WBUR, one of our local National Public Radio stations. King, who has been providing shelter for 11 tornado victims, has already taken five houses off the market that were for sale and are now being rented to families in need.

And she’s not stopping there.

King created a Facebook page listing Monson homes available for tornado victims and recruited other local Realtors to her cause. King also called up the owner of every home for sale in Monson to ask them to consider renting, instead of selling, their homes.

In one case, a recently homeless family was able to move into a Monson home in foreclosure. The only housing expense they have is to pay the utilities.

This isn’t the only case of generosity The Teller has seen as a result of the tornadoes that hit earlier this month. On the day after the disaster, Banker & Tradesman’s own reporters witnessed these acts of altruism firsthand. Country Bank executives delivered food and water to affected towns. United Bank set up an emergency loan program. And Kevin Perrier, president of Five Star Building Corp., mobilized two dozen workers to stabilize the badly damaged Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society building, which houses dogs, cats and turtles among other residents. Attorneys are offering free legal advice. Numerous banks and insurance agencies have set up funds to aid the victims.

King and others like her serve as inspiration for us all, and The Teller hopes they know their generosity won’t soon be forgotten.