[quote=sdrealtor]… The infamous Irvine Family amassed much of thier land holding by sending out thugs to beat and/or kill landowners. Admittedly it is an extreme example but that is the way things used to be done for those who wish a return to the past.

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Joining together our discussion of NJ and thuggery, I have another anecdote. Recently, I was looking at comp sales near our home. Almost all seemed pretty reasonable, except one that seemed to have sold for a very low price (approx. $300,000 less than expected). From what I could see, the owner was a single woman. It appears (from newspaper articles that I was able to find) that the purchaser had significant ties to the mob. My guess is that the owner was put under some duress to sell low, or to receive a portion of the purchase price under the table.

I don’t see how the present system would do anything to discourage or encourage such results. It does make me want to stick with the buyer that we have, though. Never know who’s going to come through the door next. . .