My First Home Had Black Mold, a Drug Raid, and a Seller Who Attacked Me at Closing

In the very first episode of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze takes you all the way back to where it started... her own first home buying experience. And it was a disaster.In 2003, Jen and her husband were young, broke, and desperate to buy their first house in a competitive market. They finally landed a $72,000 home in Edgewood, Maryland. Sounds like a win, right? That's where the nightmare begins.The seller's wife, who wasn't even on the deed, physically blocked them from doing the final walkthrough. At settlement, that same woman came over the table screaming and threatening Jen. They had to split into separate rooms just to close the deal. The listing agent was so concerned about the situation that he put up his entire commission as a guarantee the sellers would leave the home in good condition.They didn't. Jen showed up on move-in day to holes in the walls, trash everywhere, a destroyed fence, and tire marks across the backyard. The agent lost every dollar of his commission.But it gets worse. Fifteen months later, a drug raid hit their court. Jen found herself on the floor of her bedroom in the dark at midnight while helicopters circled overhead and suspects ran past her house. The for-sale sign went up two weeks later.Their next home? A $138,000 house in Abingdon with 22 showings and zero offers, because the inside was trashed. A daycare operator with seven kids had left the home with poop on the bathroom walls, destroyed carpets, and a smell so bad they had to sit outside during the home inspection. Jen and her husband saw the potential and bought it anyway.To start renovations before closing, they agreed to pre-occupancy which meant waiving the final walkthrough. That one decision cost them everything. After closing, they discovered the basement was soaked, the walls were wet, and behind the drywall was black mold running up every joist. They couldn't afford to fix it and had to sleep on an air mattress in that basement with the mold for three months while they rehabbed the rest of the house.No one would go to court to help them. Their agent stopped returning calls. They were on their own.These two nightmares are exactly why Jen became a realtor. She never wanted anyone else to go through what she went through... and now, with over 20 years of experience in Maryland real estate, she makes sure they don't.In this episode you'll learn: → What a final walkthrough actually covers and why you should never skip it → What pre-occupancy means and why it can strip away your only protection as a buyer → Why your agent's obligation to you legally ends at settlement → What to do if you discover damage or hidden problems after closing → The one mistake first-time home buyers make that costs them thousandsThis is the episode that started it all. If you're buying a home, selling a home, or just love a wild real estate story... hit play.New episodes bi-weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips.Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't.New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show.Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode.CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestateWORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at [email protected]