ROCKWALL COUNTY — From the stockings to the Christmas tree, Kimberly Agee and her family planned to celebrate the holiday in their new home in Heath, but now their future is in limbo.
"We are finally getting settled. We thought this was our big break," said Agee. "And then there's a knock on the door. It's the constable serving us with an eviction notice, and we've been only here two weeks at this point."
The family rented the home after responding to an ad on Craigslist. It turns out this home is a foreclosure.
Fannie Mae, the owner, told News 8 it took over the property more than 50 days ago and that it was illegally rented out. They consider Agee to be the victim of a rental scheme, and the agency has launched an investigation.
"This feels like someone else's house," said Agee. "It feels like we are borrowing our house-sitting, and after Christmas we've got to go."
Documents show that Agee, a single mother, signed a one-year lease with Dan Blackburn from Housmart Inc. The company's Web site indicates it specializes in helping families stop foreclosures.
The Housmart operation is based out of a luxury high-rise on Victory Park Lane in downtown Dallas. We didn't find Blackburn there, but we reached him by phone.
Blackburn told News 8 that as far as he knew, the house was in litigation and couldn't comment any further. When we asked him if he had the authority to rent out the home, the call went silent.
News 8 tried to contact Blackburn again, but our calls were not returned.
Fannie Mae sent us a statement, telling us that is working with a non-profit agency to help the family currently renting the home. It encourages tenants to do their homework before leasing a property.
Rockwall County Constable, John Cullins agrees. "If it sounds to good to be true, it's too good to be true," he said.
Agee and her family said they lost close to $2,000 in the deal. They are disappointed and devastated.
"It's not right," said Agee. I have to explain it to my kids. Now, half of their Christmas is going to be, 'Let's find a new house.' It's just not right."
E-mail mdiaz@wfaa.com
