Jeez, I just skimmed through the thread and saw that because I used asterisks to simulate a swear word, Garden Web removed the first post I made today. Eyeroll. So my above correction doesn't even make any sense now. To reiterate it: Today the owner of the roofing company came into my yard without announcing himself. I only knew he was there because my wonderful watchdog barked. He had a camera and I assume took photos but I don't know for sure of what. He also had another person with him. I went out as he was getting in his truck to leave and he introduced himself and the professional gardener he had brought with him. He said he has never seen anything like my letter and there was no way I was getting $700 out of him (which was the number I finally went with, significantly less than the total sum for damages and repair). He said I could take him to court, but he would only countersue for his lost wages, which would be substantial. He could see I had "a bit of a garden," though, and was willing to "chip in a few dollars for some plants". I explained that he couldn't see much of the damage because it involved plants that weren't there anymore, that was kind of the whole point, and that I had estimates for replanting and remulching and it costs a lot. He essentially said I was lying, that there was no way there was enough damaged to total $700, and tried to intimidate me by adding that he was contacting the property management and owner (which I already did, of course) and that the woman with him was a professional gardener. He says his guys had legal access to do the work and had to do it around messes like dog poop (yeah, I miss a pile once in a while, I admit it) and there was just no way to avoid some damage with the kind of work that had to be done. I say this is bull poop (ahem: happy, GW magic eye?), most of the damage was done during cleanup and if it had been the garden of one of the guys up there on the roof, they would have made sure to find a way to protect it. I've since called 4 local roof companies and asked them and 4 out of 4 have answered that no, there would not be big piles of shingles and debris on the flowerbeds if they did the work. As a rule if someone is trying to intimidate me I assume there's something I CAN do that they don't want me to do. But I'm deathly scared of a countersuit, because there's no way I could pay it if he did win. In retrospect, the minute I found out who he was and that he had simply walked into my fenced backyard I should have called the cops. I am really angry now -- I HATE being manipulated -- but I have to find out what the likelihood of his countersuit being successful is before I can go ahead like I want to and sue his sleazy brains out. Kristin

Oh yes, I absolutely love my Gagg steam oven! After enjoying it for almost two years, I know I'd replace it in a heartbeat if I had to, despite the outrageous price. I've learned to steam many of the things I used to boil---potatoes or shrimps, for example. It's much faster than waiting for a pot of water to boil, and if you're in a severe drought situation, as we were last summer, it saves water. For steaming small quantities, I use an inexpensive Chinese bamboo steamer, placing it on the wire rack; a 10"-diameter one works fine, and you can stack two if necessary. Usually, they come in three-piece sets (two round baskets plus a cover), but since you don't need the cover in the steam oven, try to find a place that sells them singly (sorry, I can't remember where I got mine). But stick with the steam oven, and don't be afraid to experiment a bit after you feel more comfortable with the knobs and buttons. I think you'll come to love it as much as most owners do. ---Margaret

malwarebytes is not an antivurus program it is an anti malware program and will find much much more than your antivirus will, there is a free version but you can also purchase it for a minmal fee which gives you lifetime protection and will enable it to do auto updates and scheduled scans. I would definitely get and use malwarebytes it is one of the top products we use on the support forums to clean the hardest infections. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop. * Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program. * At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish. * If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version. * Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan. * When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results. * Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.  The log is automatically saved by MBAM and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM. The log can also be found here: C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt  Copy and Paste the entire report in your next reply. Extra Note: If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts, click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process, if asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately. There are free antivirus programs that are available that are just as good as or in some cases better than ones you pay big bucks for, the same companies that give those free also do sell a more full featured version so they are available for sale, I prefer to support companies that will go above and beyond and provide a free version for those who can not afford to pay for a product, they certainly do not have to do that but it is an extremely helpful thing to do, the more people we can keep from getting infected the better off we all are. I personally use AVAST and find it an excellent product. People often try to push the big name products especially when they are making a profit from selling them, installing them and maintaining them. The decision should be a good informed and researched one made by the pc user.

I'll take a stab at answering some of your questions... 1.) Large difference between appraisal & judgment. It might be a junior lien holder that is foreclosing. For example, the property is appraised at $180K; there's a first mortgage with $60K outstanding (hypothetical); and a second for $14,895.53. Many times, a homeowner in trouble will keep payments on their first mortgage current but default on the second. In our example above, there's enough equity for the junior lien holder to foreclosure, take title subject to the priority lien, & still anticipate selling the property for enough to clear their position. 2.) Yes, that's probably correct about the taxes. You should pay a visit to town hall & take a look at the land records. That will tell you who the mortgagee(s) is. It will also tell you if my above guess is accurate as to who is actually foreclosing. If it's a junior lien holder foreclosing they have probably paid the taxes. A junior lien holder does not want the priority lien holder to foreclose in a case like this because that foreclosure would wipe out their subordinant position. 3.) Other monies owed. Yes, undoubtedly there are additional charges against the borrower. These would include penalties, late fees, accrued interest, attorney fees, auctioneer fees, advertising fees, appraisal, insurance, real estate taxes, etc. A foreclosing lender will include all of the above into their auction bid. 4.) Also, if it is a subordinate lien holder who is foreclosing anybody bidding at the auction would be taking title SUBJECT TO PRIOR LIENS such as a first mortgage. So, let's say you were the successful bidder at $21K. You didn't buy the property for $21K...you purchased it for $21K plus the $60K I noted as hypothetical above for a total purchase price of $81K & you are responsible for paying the first mortgage. Now, that's a whole 'nother bucket of worms because there's probably no assumption clause in the mortgage...so the holder of the first might require you to get a new mortgage. 5.) Real estate taxes are ALWAYS A PRIORITY LIEN. So, they would have to be paid. In your example though there is no tax lien. Somebody has paid the taxes (likely the lender). The lender would have taken the taxes into consideration in their bidding strategy at auction. So, there would be no consequence to any successful bidder at the sale. Any liens lower in priority than the foreclosing entity (other than real estate taxes, mechanic's liens) is distinguished in the foreclosure process. So, if Aunt Thelma is owed $10K...she loses. 6.) Your link only took me to the county page. I was unable to actually look at anything useful to your example. So, I can't comment on your "detective" work. 7.) NEVER assume there are no title problems. As example, maybe whoever built the house never paid the roofer & the roofer filed a Mechanic's Lien that has been sitting there all of this time. It's a priority lien. There's any number of title issues that could be a problem. Again, a trip to town hall will reveal title issues. 8.) Yes, he could be losing the property for $15K. I once foreclosed approximately $75K against a property appraised at $2.2M. (There were nesting bald eagles & my borrower couldn't sell the property because of the eagles.) I foreclosed & worked out a deal with the city to buy the property from the bank & establish a park around the nesting site. The city purchased the property for what I was owed plus cancellation of all of the back property taxes. Strange things happen. I'm guessing it's a second lien holder that is foreclosing based on what the attorney told you. 9.) Has he trashed the place? Gosh, who knows! 10.) Buying an REO is easier than purchasing at foreclosure auction but not nearly as much fun nor as exciting as standing there with your bidder paddle, "Do I hear $50K? I've got 50...do I hear $55K? Yes, back there in the corner...come on now, it's a great house...now do I hear $60K?" lol /tricia