Marc Tow
Written and partially revised by lmiller. May not contain actual quotes made by Marc Tow...disclaimer....
Hi, I’m Marc Tow.
I am the business partner/attorney/scam artist aka EZ Access Properties. The manager/owner? of the home that exploded on West 83rd Street in Cleveland. The home that caused damage to 55 surrounding properties, physical injuries, and numerous people to lose their homes and all of their belongings. If it were not for my slum foreclosure tactics, many people would not be homeless. Not just in Cleveland, Ohio, but elsewhere too.
I am in it for the money and have my own rules:
New Rules for Investing in Real Estate
Investors: Pretty is not always profitable! Buying the prettiest of all the properties doesn't mean that you are going to make the most money. Just run the numbers and you might find yourself buying the dump next door instead.
more of Marc Tow's rules here
I have no empathy. I just make the highest bid on foreclosed property because other's misfortune is one hell of a money maker. Picking at the bones of another's economic collapse may leave you a little queasy, if you have any empathy. But misfortune is the mother of opportunity. more here
I like to target communites that have NO point of sale inspections. It makes for EZ Access to take advantage of poor communities. For I know that none of my dumps next door could pass any inspection. I always avoid:
Point of Sale ordinances that requires a disclosure report prepared by independent certified evaluators (hired by the seller). Under this code, licensed evalulators would walk through homes prior to their being placed on the market and shown for sale. This applies to all single family homes, twin homes, townhouses, and condominiums (except new construction). Reports would indicate items which are acceptable, below standards, and require repairs. Required repairs include imminent structural failures, unsafe electrical and plumbing systems, hazardous or unsanitary conditions, and lack of basic items (sinks in kitchens, toilet facilities, etc.).
Gas Connection Problems
- Kinked, deteriorated or improperly connected gas pipes
- Unapproved gas connector
- Broken/seized/inoperable gas valves
- Improperly capped/plugged gas valves
General Conditions
- Potential for imminent structural failure
- Severe deterioration of walls/floors
- No water. No hot water. No electricity
- Staircase or stoop cannot support load
- Sump pum without proper discharge piping
- Missing/improperly installed smoke detectors
- Floor coverings with serious trip hazards
- Broken galss and exposed edges with cut hazard
- Chimney structurally unsafe - visible deterioration of flue liner
Water heater and/or boiler problems
- scorched, missing/broken valves
- leaking
- installed on combustible surface and guidelines prohibit
- no temperature/pressure relief valve
- missing, inoperative, improerly located discharge pipe
- flue improperly installed, evidence of back spillage
- no combustion air
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- Plumbing issues
- unsanitary plumbing fixtures. missing vent stacks.
- improperly abandoned plumbing lines
- improperly operating or no sink in kitchen
- improperly operating or no sink in or near toilet room
- no toilet facility
- no water connections to shower or tub
- improper repairs allowing sewer gas in leaks
- broken, cracked, leaking fixtures
- improperly capped, abandoned drain lines
- water must flow at least a pencil width in lowest tap
- no anti-syphon ball cock in toilet
- visible leakage in waste lines
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Electrical issues
- over-fused, tampering to or alteration of wiring
- improper grounding of electrical outlets
- extension cords used as wiring (under floors/through wall)
- broken elctrical recepticles. Missing cover plates
- No GFCI in remodeled bath areas
- exterior mast broken or improperly secured
- electric wires over outide pool or hot tub
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But, don't just blame me. There are other investors that are also taking advantage of foreclosure victims that have lost their american dream. There are other investors that have no empathy and are also taking advantage of NO POINT OF INSPECTION communities and causing further decay of many cities.
Cleveland City Councilman Tony Brancatelli greets buyers at a recent foreclosed house auction in Strongsville’s Holiday Inn. He’s handing out a list of houses in his ward up for sale on this day that are condemned or not up to code. Then, to his surprise, James Odell Barnes comes over to chat. The South Carolinian’s name appears on no property title in the county, yet he’s becoming one of the biggest brokers of foreclosed houses in Cleveland.
Odell Barnes: I’m going to try not to buy any that have to be demo’d today, unless you want me to…
Odell Barnes: There’s either got to be people like us - me and my investors - or you’re going to have to have a whole lot more bulldozers bulldozing these houses.
full story here
Cleveland......SOLD to the highest bidder.
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The new carpetbagger - example Mark Tow
Buying Real Estate through Bankruptcy Strategy....
This is where Tow says, "Experience teaches that people with financial problems often own properties with problems. Indeed, the problems of the property may in large measure explain the bankruptcy. All properties need maintenance. When someone is headed for bankruptcy, the first thing that's deferred is maintenance. After all these cautions, does it make sense ever to buy a property out of bankruptcy? Of course! Picking at the bones of another's economic collapse may leave you a little queasy, if you have any empathy. But misfortune is the mother of opportunity."
Naomi Klein calls this Disaster Capitalism. I agree Jeff, we invite it. That doesn't make it any less shady.
bottom feeders - "disaster capitalists" take advantage of post-crisis chaos to push through a set of free-market reforms that further their own interests, rather than those of the victims.
Cleveland City Councilman Tony Brancatelli
Why would Brancatelli be at this auction place in Strongsville handing out lists of condemned or not up to code properties?
See above comment--
I have no empathy. I just make the highest bid on foreclosed property because other's misfortune is one hell of a money maker. Picking at the bones of another's economic collapse may leave you a little queasy, if you have any empathy. But misfortune is the mother of opportunity. more here
who's being quoted?
In this comment and the one it references, I cannot find a link that takes me to a place where Mark Tow says that. Did that opinion summary originate here on realneo?
I did find "misfortune is the mother of opportunity" and "picking at the bones" in the one link that does work. The other seems to be dead. It is here in Article Alley titled Buying Real Estate Through Bankruptcy.
I did find "Buying the prettiest of all the properties doesn't mean that you are going to make the most money. Just run the numbers and you might find yourself buying the dump next door instead."
I did not find anything written by Marc Tow that states, "I like to target communites that have NO point of sale inspections."
Can you please connect us to that link? Perhaps my search skills are just poor or Google doesn't care for Article Alley and Associated Content.
Are we also searching Christian Dillon?
Susan Miller - quote-
That is my quote mixed in with his. sorry for the confusion. I will seach for Christian Dillon stuff. I recall reading on one of the sites that Christian Dillon is aka Marc Tow.
OK well let's review
What you say and what he says - big difference in legal terms.
In the tool bar is an icon of a big quote mark. That's block quote. It is just to the left of Source when you have rich text enabled. It will italicize and indent the quote, but you have to type in the quotation marks.
It may not be advisable put words in this guy's mouth inadvertently. It seems he may be able to put himself in enough trouble without our help. We can distinguish between our opinion or our suspicions with the use of the tech tools here. The guy does seem to have given himself enough rope.
Yes, if you have the time, it would be interesting to search California Secretary of State websites for the loan modification business and the Bar Association for anything marc tow or christian dillon. Good work on the searching!
Susan Miller
thanks for the tip. I will try it and see what happens.
Christian Dillon -- same bad news as Marc Tow
I appologize if the links do not work. I have a problem with my computer. Most of the time, I can not copy/paste the web address for some reason.
****I checked the links and only one works, but you get the picture........****
Marc Tow / Christian Dillon= Scam Artists
Old saying, "it takes one to know one."
According to the California State Bar website, Christian Dillon has “voluntarily” tendered his resignation with the state bar–oh, and with chargers pending. It is not uncommon for attorneys to surrender their license where they are facing disbarment. Christian M. Dillon for the last year or so has been performing (or not performing as alleged by many) loan modifications. Either way, I am personally very satisfied with the State Bar’s effort [...]
site here
Marc R Tow is affiliated with the Law Offices of Christian M Dillon in Dana Point California, part of cdloanmod.com These people should be arrested for the want they are doing under the guise of a loan modification. Christian Dillon is not licensed to practice law, check out the CA Bar Association. They have the same business practice: get your money, promise that you will get a loan modification that lowers your current payment and in the case of Christian M Dillon, close his offices in Laguana Hills and Dana Point and leave you with nothing, nada, zip, zero. Christian M Dillon also associated with Foreclosures Relief in Dana Point and Aligned Holdings, Inc also Dana Point.
August 10, 2009 by emily in Buena Park, CA
site here
I am a victim of fraud thanks to Marc Tow/Christian Dillon..whatever his real name is. I’m facing losing my home because Marc led me to think he was on my case in helping to save my house. He instead waited until I went into foreclosure and now wants more money so I can file for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. I don’t know what to do, but I am definitely up for some Cat and Mouse chase game. I want my money back! I want his wrongdoings to stop!
Posted by J.C. | December 28, 2009, 7:57 pm
site here
site here
Posted by: Brian Wolfman | Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 11:05 PM
I am a victim of loan mod.fraud. Marc Tow & Associates...he is on the list above. I paid him $3000.00 hoping he will help bring relief. I waited and waited...He pretty much waited until I went into foreclosure and said I should file for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy for additional fee of $1000.00. From February of 2009 till now, I thought he was working on my loan modification. When he was asked of it, I was told he knew nothing of loan modification and that he wants me to go for Chapter 13 filing. Devin Rockefeller works with Mr. Marc Tow (I have a suspicious feeling Marc Tow is also known as CHRISTIAN DILLON who is not allowed to practice law in CA). I need help. I do not know what to do. Mr Marc Tow will not give me my $3000.00 back and says he has been working on my case since I've come to them for help. They have these documents stating they've sent via FED EX in efforts to communicate with me about my loan modifications. I honestly did not receive anything from them, albeit they say they have sent many things in mail. I am frustrated, I am scared to lose my home, and I need help. What do I do? What are my rights? How do we catch this bad person?!?!?!
-J
Posted by: J Choe | Monday, December 28, 2009 at 09:07 PM
Safeguard Properties to the rescue--- home explosion---
City of Cleveland Explosion, January 29, 2010 SAFEGUARD PROPERTIES WEBSITE
A recent report from News Channel 5 (Cleveland) discusses a house that was destroyed when it exploded on the West 83rd block in Cleveland, OH (Zip Code 44102). The explosion caused significant damage to the surrounding homes on West 83rd and on neighboring streets. An initial list of the damaged homes is available to servicers upon request by submitting an email to: robert [dot] klein1 [at] safeguardproperties [dot] com
Many Repairs Needed After House Explosion
CLEVELAND -- The blast on Monday was felt for blocks and more than a dozen homes and businesses were damaged.
2022 West 83rd St. is now just a pile of rubble. An explosion leveled the house and rocked a west side community, but now dozens of property owners are picking up the pieces.
Pastor Carlos Lewis and church secretary Jeanette Vargas surveyed the damage to the Christian Pentecostal Church, which is right across the alley from the house that exploded.
The church and the property it owns next door are both damaged. Inside the church, the pews are covered in debris, the floors are littered with glass and the cracks are visible.
“We might not have service this week due to cleaning up. We will meet with inspectors to see how safe it is,” Vargas said.
The church’s insurance agent has already been there. It’s safe to say many homeowners have made the call to their insurance company already.
"They will then get into their hands to the claims adjuster. They will contact you, take photos and document,” Don Meier with Westfield Insurance said.
Meier said even if a person believes someone else is responsible for the damage, start with the insurance company.
"They could pursue for recovery for what was paid and expenses on top of that that would be part of the investigation. If there is ability, take part to do that,” Meier said.
West 83rd Street Explosion -- update--
Volunteers Gather to Help Families Affected by House Explosion
Full story: WJW Fox 8 Cleveland
Forced out of their houses by a devastating explosion, those who were the most directly impacted have been living in hotel rooms and shelters.
The explosion destroyed one home, injured three people and damaged 57 other houses and businesses earlier this month.
With help from volunteers on Sunday, four of those families were given the chance to start putting their lives back in order.
The Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization organized the effort. They assembled volunteers willing to do some heavy lifting.
Some families have been able to box up their smaller belongings, but heavier items like furniture and appliances presented a challenge to get them moved to temporary residences.
On Sunday help arrived.
Arbry Price is one of those residents who helped carry out couches and chairs to waiting trucks, en route to a new temporary home. He has been inconvenienced, his life disrupted since the explosion but he refuses to look at it like that.
"As long as we are alive our life isn't disrupted, we just move on, just pick it up and move on," Price tells Fox 8 News, thankful for the people who came to his aid.
Stacey Phillips, who lives just a few doors away, was also getting help on Sunday. She was at work when she says she felt the explosion and soon learned that it was across the street from her house. She says the first thing she thought of was her six children who were at home.
"This material stuff... it comes and goes, that's life. But I thought I was burying my six kids, and that was hard," Phillips said on Sunday as she helped carry out her belongings for her move.
"It gives me and my family a chance to be back together and we wasn't, we were split up for a time being then we were at this shelter so that means a lot to me," Phillips added.
The effort to help those affected by the explosion came from the heart. One volunteer -- who wanted no credit for himself -- said he was there just because he knew people were down and needed a hand. " Wouldn't you want people to help you if you were in need, that's what we are her for," he said.
Some of the residents were being moved to homes where the home owners agreed to significantly reduce the rent to help the victims get back on their feet.
Lamonte Harvey is one such victim who said he couldn't describe the feeling when he saw the volunteers actually show up.
"At first they were telling us that we were going to receive some help but when the help actually came it's a feeling you never felt, a feeling of joy... just happy, you know you think somebody doesn't care but they actually care about you," Harvey said.
The Detroit Shoreway Organization has also been separating and distributing donated items to the victims of the explosion, and are planning a benefit at Mt. Carmel Church at West 70th and Detroit on February 7.
Looking over his boarded up old home, Arbry Price said all of the help simply makes him very thankful.
"We're moving on today," Price said, understanding it was just a new beginning. "We'll be back here in three months after they repair the house and back to our normal life."
link here
Eerie Coincidence?
SEVEN DIE IN EXPLOSION.; Natural Gas Destroys Cleveland House ...
full story here