Why Do I Keep Getting Texts and Letters to Buy My House?

Why do I keep getting texts and letters to buy my house?

You keep getting texts and letters to buy your house because investors and wholesalers buy marketing lists built from public records, such as deeds, tax bills, probate and foreclosure filings, and then match owners’ names to phone numbers. Contacting thousands of owners is cheap, and a small share reply. It rarely means anyone has looked at your house.

It can feel personal. A text with your first name and your street. A handwritten-looking letter. A postcard that says “I drove by your house”. Some arrive after a death in the family or a missed payment, which makes them feel worse. But in almost every case, you’re one row in a spreadsheet that went out to a whole town, or a whole county, at once.

A lot of these senders are real estate wholesalers: they put houses under contract and assign the contract to another investor. That’s legal when it’s disclosed, and our guide to how wholesaling works explains it from the seller’s side. Others are investors who buy directly, agents looking for listings, and a few bad actors. This page explains where the lists come from, what the offers mean, what the law says about them and how to make them stop, or at least slow down.

How did they get my name, address and phone number?

They got your name and address from public property records, which list every owner and mailing address, and your phone number from data companies that match owner names to phone numbers, a process investors call “skip tracing”. None of this needs your permission. Public records are public, and many phone and email lists are bought and sold legally.

Here’s how it usually works:

• Land and tax records. Your town or county records who owns every property, the mailing address for the tax bill, and often when it was bought and for how much.
• Court and probate records. Foreclosure filings, probate cases, divorces, liens and evictions are public court records in most states.
• Data companies. List vendors combine those records into lists and sell them, often with phone numbers and emails matched to owners’ names from other sources.
• Automated sending. Texting platforms and mail houses then send the same message to every number or address on the list.

That’s also why the texts sometimes go to the wrong person, use an old owner’s name, or keep coming after you’ve sold.

What kinds of homeowners get the most offers?

The homeowners who get the most offers are those whose public records suggest they might sell at a discount: owners with a lot of equity or a long time in the house, heirs of an estate, owners behind on taxes or the mortgage, landlords, out-of-state owners, and owners of vacant houses or houses with code violations. Investors build lists around each of these signals.

Common list types include:

• High equity or free and clear. Owners who bought long ago or have paid off the mortgage.
• Inherited and probate. Recent probate filings and houses still in a deceased owner’s name.
• Pre-foreclosure. Owners named in a foreclosure filing.
• Tax delinquent. Owners behind on property taxes or with a tax lien.
• Absentee and out-of-state owners. Tax bills mailed somewhere other than the property, which often means a landlord or an heir.
• Vacant, code violations, or divorce filings. Signals that a sale may be coming.

If you’ve just lost a parent and the letters started a few weeks later, that’s why. It’s a probate list. It’s not a sign that someone knows your family. Our guide to selling an inherited house in Connecticut covers what you actually have to do, and when.

Does a text or letter with a price mean someone really wants to buy my house?

A text or letter with a price usually does not mean someone really wants to buy your house at that price. The number is often generated from public data before anyone has seen the house, and it’s designed to start a conversation. A real offer comes in writing after the buyer has seen the house or photos, with a contract, a deposit and a closing date.

Treat a mailed or texted number as marketing. It might be too high, to get you to call, with the plan to lower it after an inspection. It might be far too low, to find owners who are desperate. Georgia now requires a monetary offer in an unsolicited letter to say “THIS OFFER MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE PROPERTY” (Georgia Department of Law). That’s good advice everywhere.

If you want to know what your house is actually worth, ask a local agent for comparable sales, or read how to tell whether an offer for your house is fair. To understand why investor offers sit below retail, read why cash offers are so low.

Is the check in the “we buy your house” letter real money?

No. A check in a “we buy your house” letter is not real money and not a binding offer. It’s an advertisement designed to look like a check so you’ll open it and call. Federal postal law treats mail containing an imitation check as nonmailable unless the check itself states it is not negotiable and has no cash value.

Under 39 U.S.C. § 3001(k), a “facsimile check” is anything designed to resemble a check that isn’t negotiable. Mail that includes one must carry a statement on the check itself that it isn’t a negotiable instrument and has no cash value. Look closely and you’ll usually find that wording in small print.

Regulators have taken notice of these mailers. In 2026, the Kansas Attorney General sued a “we buy houses” wholesaling company, alleging, among other things, thousands of unsolicited mailers styled as personalized checks, offers cut after sellers responded, and documents recorded against owners’ titles. The company denies wrongdoing, and those are allegations, not findings. More in our page on “we buy houses” scams and what regulators found.

Is it legal for investors to text and call me about buying my house?

It is often legal for investors to text and call you about buying your house, which surprises people. Since March 26, 2024, federal Do Not Call protections cover marketing texts. But several federal courts have ruled that a message offering to buy your property isn’t a “telephone solicitation” under federal law, because it doesn’t ask you to buy anything. Other rules, and some state laws, still apply.

Here is what the federal rules cover, as of October 2026:

• The National Do Not Call Registry covers telemarketing calls, and the FCC has codified that its protections extend to text messages (47 CFR 64.1200(e), effective March 26, 2024).
• “Telephone solicitation” means selling. The federal definition is about encouraging you to buy, rent or invest in something. Several federal trial courts have held that texts offering to buy a home fall outside it, while at least one has allowed such a claim to go forward. The question isn’t settled.
• Robocalls are different. Calls to a cell phone using an artificial or prerecorded voice generally need your prior consent, whatever they’re about (47 U.S.C. § 227(b)).
• Revoking consent. Under FCC rules, replying “stop”, “quit”, “unsubscribe” or similar is a reasonable way to revoke consent to robocalls and robotexts (47 CFR 64.1200(a)(10)).

In Connecticut, the state’s telemarketing law expressly covers text and media messages, not just voice calls (CGS 42-284 and 42-288a). As with the federal rule, it is written around messages that encourage you to buy, rent or invest, so whether it reaches an offer to buy your house is not clear. If a sender keeps texting after you’ve told them to stop, you can file a complaint with the Department of Consumer Protection.

This is general information, not legal advice. If you believe a sender broke the law, a consumer protection attorney can tell you whether you have a claim.

How do I stop “we buy houses” texts, calls and letters?

To stop “we buy houses” texts, calls and letters, reply STOP to texts from senders you can identify, block and report spam texts by forwarding them to 7726, register your numbers at DoNotCall.gov, ask each mailer in writing to remove you, and use a mail-preference service. Nothing stops all of them, because new senders buy new lists, but together these cut the volume.

1. Reply STOP to texts from a sender you can identify

   If the text names a real company and you’ve no reason to doubt it, reply “STOP”. Under FCC rules that is a reasonable way to revoke consent, and a sender who keeps texting after it is ignoring a clear request, which is worth reporting. If the text looks like a scam, with odd links or requests for personal details, don’t reply at all. Go to the next step.

2. Block and report spam texts

   The FTC suggests forwarding unwanted texts to 7726 (SPAM), which helps your wireless carrier block similar messages, using your messaging app’s “report junk” option, and turning on your phone’s filter for unknown senders. Don’t click links in an unexpected text.

3. Register every number on the National Do Not Call Registry

   Register free at DoNotCall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. Cell phones count. The FTC says your registration “will never expire”, and that sales calls can take up to 31 days to stop. It won’t block every “we buy houses” message, for the reasons above, but it covers telemarketing calls and marketing texts generally, and it costs nothing.

4. Report calls and texts that keep coming

   Report unwanted calls at DoNotCall.gov. If you lost money or think it’s a scam, use ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also file with the FCC’s consumer complaint center. In Connecticut, file with DCP. Note the number that called, any callback number and the date and time.

5. Ask mailers, in writing, to remove you

   Most letters include a phone number, email or return address. Send a short note: “Remove [your name and property address] from all mailing, calling and texting lists, and do not contact me about selling this property.” Keep a copy. Reputable companies honor it, and in Philadelphia it’s the law (see below).

6. Consider a mail-preference service

   DMAchoice is run by the Association of National Advertisers, a trade association, not the government. The FTC describes it as costing a $6 processing fee online ($7 by mail) and lasting 10 years. It only reduces mail from companies that check its list, so a small investor’s mail campaign may never use it.

7. Use local protections if you have them

   If you own a home in Philadelphia, join the city’s Do Not Solicit list. In Georgia, keep any solicitation that lacks the required notices and report it. Both are explained below.

What does Georgia require on unsolicited offers to buy a house?

Georgia requires unsolicited written inquiries about buying your home to say at the top, in capitals, “THIS IS A SOLICITATION”, that you are under no obligation to respond, and to carry a solicitation notice on the envelope (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.18, since January 1, 2024). Since May 2, 2024, any monetary offer must also say it may or may not be fair market value.

According to the Georgia Department of Law’s consumer page, the rules work like this:

• At the top of the letter, in capitals and set apart from other text, it must say it is a solicitation, that the sender is asking whether you’re interested in selling, and that you’re under no obligation to respond.
• On the envelope, or on the postage side if there’s no envelope, it must say it’s a solicitation and that you’re under no obligation to open or respond.
• A monetary offer must state “THIS OFFER MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE PROPERTY”.
• An offer below the county’s assessed value must also say “THIS OFFER IS LESS THAN THE COUNTY ASSESSED VALUE FOR THIS PROPERTY”.

The department says Georgia law gives people who believe they were deceived a private right of action, and it takes complaints through its Consumer Protection Division at (404) 651-8600 or online. Georgia’s rule covers solicitation letters. It isn’t a wholesaling law, and Georgia has no wholesaling statute as of October 2026. See wholesaling laws by state.

How does Philadelphia’s Do Not Solicit list work?

Philadelphia’s Do Not Solicit list lets any residential property owner in the city ask not to be contacted about selling. Once you join, or once you tell a solicitor you don’t want to sell, wholesalers and real estate professionals may not solicit you by phone, mail, in person, digitally or with notes left at your home. The Commission on Human Relations enforces it.

• Who can join: residential owners in Philadelphia, including people with a legal claim such as an inherited home not yet in their name. Commercial owners can’t.
• How: the online form on phila.gov, or the Do Not Solicit hotline at (215) 686-4500.
• What it doesn’t do: the city says joining “will not prevent you from selling your home or listing it with a real estate broker”.
• If they keep contacting you: send the Commission’s complaint form by mail or to pchr@phila.gov. Penalties range from a reprimand to a fine of up to $2,000, and the city can take repeat offenders to court.

Philadelphia also requires residential property wholesalers to be licensed. Most cities and states have no list like this yet, and Connecticut doesn’t. If you live elsewhere, the steps above are your tools.

Should I ever answer one of these offers?

You can answer one of these offers if you are genuinely thinking about selling, especially a house that needs work, has tenants or comes with a deadline. Replying commits you to nothing. But treat the first number as marketing, ask whether they are buying or assigning, and compare at least one other offer and an agent’s opinion before you sign anything.

For some homeowners, one of these letters is the first time they realize there’s a way to sell without repairs, showings or a commission. That can be a real relief. The sender just has to be honest about what they are.

Before you reply, decide what you want to learn. Then ask:

• “Are you buying my house, or assigning the contract to someone else?”
• “Have you seen the house? What would change this number?”
• “Can you show proof of funds for whoever will close?”
• “Who holds the deposit, and how much is it?”
• “Are you licensed or registered?” In Connecticut, wholesalers must be registered with DCP and hand you a state disclosure report before you sign.
• “Will you record anything against my property?” The only good answer is no.

Our guides to checking a cash home buyer and to wholesalers vs. realtors vs. cash buyers go deeper.

From the closing table

If a letter landed at the right moment and you’re curious, call. Just don’t let a number on a postcard anchor you. Get a written offer from someone who has actually seen the house, ask what kind of buyer they are, and get a second opinion from an agent. If your house is in good shape and you have time, the agent will probably get you more, and I’ll tell you that myself.

Why do the offers flood in after a death, a foreclosure filing or a tax bill?

The offers flood in after a death, a foreclosure filing or a missed tax bill because each one creates a public record that list vendors pick up, and investors target those lists because the owners may need to sell quickly. The timing is about data, not about anyone knowing your family. But it’s also when you are most likely to sign something too fast.

• After a death: you usually can’t sell until someone has authority to sign. In Connecticut, if the house was in the deceased owner’s name alone, a probate estate is needed (CGS 45a-273), and the fiduciary can sell with the Probate Court’s approval (CGS 45a-164). There’s no reason to sign anything in the first weeks.
• After a foreclosure filing: call your lender and a HUD-approved housing counselor first. Connecticut has a court foreclosure mediation program for many homeowners. Be wary of anyone who offers to “save” the house if you sign over the deed. See selling before foreclosure in Connecticut.
• After a tax lien: the town will tell you your options and payment plans. Selling may be the right answer, but on your timeline.

What protections do Connecticut homeowners have?

Connecticut homeowners have a state telemarketing law that covers text messages, a complaint channel at the Department of Consumer Protection, and, since July 1, 2026, a wholesaler law. Wholesalers must be registered with DCP, give you a state disclosure report before you sign, and let you cancel within three business days. Connecticut has no do-not-solicit list for homeowners.

• Telemarketing: CGS 42-284 and 42-288a cover calls and text messages. File complaints with DCP.
• Wholesalers: registration, the disclosure report, a three-business-day right to cancel, a 90-day closing limit and no recorded liens (CGS 20-329aaa to 20-329hhh). Read selling to a wholesaler in Connecticut.
• Your own attorney: every Connecticut closing is handled by attorneys, and you can have your own.

We are We Buy Houses In Connecticut, LLC, and we’ve been buying houses here since 2016. If you’re ready to talk to a buyer on your terms, rather than one who found you on a list, start below.

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Questions about unsolicited offers

Related guides

• Real estate wholesaling, the seller’s guide
• “We buy houses” scams and red flags
• Why cash offers on houses are so low
• Wholesaler vs. realtor vs. cash buyer
• All the ways we buy houses in Connecticut
• Who we are, and how to check us

Prefer a real offer? Ask for your written cash offer, or call Jerryll at (203) 529-4712.

Sources

• FTC: National Do Not Call Registry FAQs (registration, no expiration, up to 31 days).
• DoNotCall.gov.
• FCC Second Report and Order, 89 Fed. Reg. (January 26, 2024) (Do Not Call protections extend to texts, 47 CFR 64.1200(e), effective March 26, 2024).
• FCC order DA 25-312 (revocation-of-consent rule, 47 CFR 64.1200(a)(10)).
• 47 U.S.C. § 227 (Telephone Consumer Protection Act).
• FTC: How to recognize and report spam text messages (forward to 7726).
• FTC: How to stop junk mail (DMAchoice fee and duration, prescreened offers).
• FCC Consumer Complaint Center.
• FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• 39 U.S.C. § 3001(k) (facsimile checks).
• Georgia Department of Law: unsolicited real estate solicitations (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.18).
• City of Philadelphia: sign up to stop unsolicited offers on your home.
• City of Philadelphia: residential property wholesaler license.
• Kansas Real Estate Commission bulletin on the Attorney General’s wholesaling lawsuit (April 2026).
• CGS chapter 743m, §§ 42-284 and 42-288a (Connecticut telemarketing, including text messages).
• CGS §§ 20-329aaa to 20-329hhh (Connecticut wholesaler law).
• Connecticut DCP: file a complaint.

Who wrote this

Jerryll Noorden

Jerryll has bought and sold Connecticut houses since 2016 and has sat at more closing tables than he can count, on both sides. Before real estate he was a robotics scientist at NASA, IHMC and IIT. He wrote this guide because the national sites that rank for it skip the Connecticut rules that cost sellers money. When listing or selling it yourself would get you more than a cash offer, he says so.

More about Jerryll · (203) 529-4712

This guide explains Connecticut rules in plain English. It is not legal or tax advice. Laws change; for your sale, talk to a Connecticut real estate attorney and a tax professional.