Stranger Buys Foreclosed House at Auction and Gave it back to Owner

Marilyn Mock Says 'People Need to Help Each Other'

By JONANN BRADY

Tracy Pottsboro lost her job and then her home when she couldn't make mortgage payments. On Saturday, she watched as her home was auctioned off in Dallas.

"The final farewell to my house," Pottsboro said. "It means so much to all of us. It's not just a house."

Auctions on foreclosed houses are an opportunity for some and agony for those who've lost their homes.

From July through September of this year, more than 2,700 Americans lost their homes to foreclosure every day, according to The Associated Press. In Texas, almost 9,200 homes entered the foreclosure process in September.

On Saturday, Pottsboro took her seat among the crowd, waiting for house No. 73 to be called.

Marilyn Mock, a small-business owner from Rockwall, Texas, had accompanied her son, who was interested in buying a house, to the auction that day.

Mock was sitting near Pottsboro and noticed that she was upset.

"She was crying, and I asked her what is she upset about, and you know, she lost her house," Mock said.

When the No. 73 came up and the auction began, Mock said she asked Pottsboro, "Is it worth it?"

"She said yes. & I just kept taking her word," Mock said.

Mock ended up winning the auction, with a bid of about $30,000. And just like that, Pottsboro's sad goodbye turned into welcome home.

Mock told "Good Morning America" that she will take out a bank loan to finance about half the cost and will let Pottsboro and her family live in the house and make payments to her instead of the bank. She said she will pay for about half the house upfront.

Mock was straightforward about her motive. "People need to help each other, and that's all there is to it," she said.

Link here: abcnews.go.com...


Bottomline, people needs to help people. That is the only way to go in 2009 and beyond. If we continue to live this way there will never be an end to misery and pain. A socialist world?
I rather be a socialist than a emotion-less and braindead cold human being.

reply to post by Skittle


It's a good story and i hope things like this continue to happen.

A socialist world? I rather be a socialist than a emotion-less and braindead cold human being.

I don't get this comment though. This has nothing to do with socialism. This is someone voluntarily helping someone else in need....not socialism.

What a refreshing story in these times.....pay it forward.

That is a wonderful story!
It chaps me that this country would rather toss a family out in the street and let a house rot down than to try and help people! We need more stories like these!

reply to post by Skittle
God bless you Marylin Mock!Lets hope this spark of kindness grows into a raging inferno and sweeps the land!I hope this sets an example for all of us to practice acts of random kindness !

A great story, marred only by the posters comments about socialism.

Do people who espouse a socialist worldview not recognize the difference between socialism and charity? The fact that Mock's action was voluntary and not mandated by government decree or popular opinion makes it so much more noble.

I am going to be very honest with you all here in ATS, this story brought tears on my eyes.

Indeed we still have some good souls in this world after all, those that help others will be rewarded with abundance and blessing for years to come.

This story brought tears to my eyes as well. It is amazing to see a random act of kindness in th emiddle of all the pain. Star and flag for you.

Starred and Flagged. I wish there were more stories like this. There is one that I have found though that didn't have to do with foreclosures but with a fire.

A few weeks ago Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat bought a house a few for a family who accidentally lost their home to a fire.

I felt that was heart warming and deserves a star and flag. I'm sure however that events like this are only exceptions to the rule. As more and more people loose their jobs and homes only the bankers and land barons will hold everything.

My girlfriend told me about this back in October, score one for the good guys, a big one. Hopefully it'll be an inspiration even after Christmas.

[edit on 8-1-2009 by TylerKing]

It really is refreshing to hear of stories like this, It reminds me that there are still decent people who actually do nice things with no hidden agenda.

A wonderful and heart warming story, lifted my spirits when I read it.

You see though how people think helping others out is Socialism? saw this a lot during last years Election, promises of help being called Socialism.

I am certain this lady (Mock) will feel like a million $$$$ inside, I hope she is blessed with the greatest of good fortune for this good deed.

There is hope out there.

reply to post by marg6043


It brought tears to my eyes as well. If this is the face of socialism then I'm all for it. We must all help each other through these horrible times. I'd like to think that if I had the money I'd do the same. Maybe one day I will.

reply to post by Skittle


thanks for sharing this - so good to know

really - good to know :-)

Great story! Reminds me of the Dust Bowl days. A rancher would loose his property and at the auction, all of the other farmers would only bid a penny or so for the property. Whoever won the auction would simply give the property back.

I see this as socialism on a personal level, exactly the direction we should be going, but not on a government level (which I think should be avoided at all costs).

Helping only means something if you CHOOSE to do it

Thanks to the OP for bringing this forward.It makes me relise how lucky I am with what I have and reafirms that I should have nothing to complain about. This made my day seeing that there are still sensless acts of kindness left in the world.

strange , isn't this communism or socialism ??

this is against the spirit of capitalism , seems that USA is becoming a Soviet union

Beautiful action and a great sign of love for the others.

Originally posted by Seeker Mom


If this is the face of socialism then I'm all for it.

I don't understand what has this to do with socialism? I think you guys have the wrong idea for socialism as being a system where love, kindness and caring for others is the foundation. But you're big time wrong. Believe me, comes from the mouth of one who has been living under that system for 22 years of his life

Originally posted by David9176
reply to post by Skittle

 

It's a good story and i hope things like this continue to happen.

A socialist world? I rather be a socialist than a emotion-less and braindead cold human being.

I don't get this comment though. This has nothing to do with socialism. This is someone voluntarily helping someone else in need....not socialism.

Thats EXACTLY what socialism is. A concern for the welfare of those around you - as opposed to a purely capitalist society which has no concern for anyone but themselves as the "market" will take care of the destitute, hence why it has failed.