Georgia Woman Allegedly Deceived into Signing Home Away in Predatory Foreclosure Scheme

A Georgia woman is locked in a desperate battle to retain her home after she alleges she was deceived into signing it away for $0 while attempting to secure a loan. Jamie Norris, 62, of Locust Grove, transferred ownership of her metro Atlanta-area home to T and T Properties Limited Inc. in a transaction revealed by Henry County deed book records obtained by WSB-TV 2 News. The grandmother claims she fell $6,850 behind on her property taxes and was lured by the company with a promise of financial relief. What she believed to be standard loan paperwork was, in fact, a quitclaim deed—a tactic frequently tied to predatory foreclosure rescue schemes. This scam, which targets homeowners struggling with mortgage payments, often strips individuals of their equity, demands upfront fees for nonexistent services, or, as in Norris' case, trick owners into surrendering their property titles. Norris now faces eviction for the second time, as T and T Properties has once again filed a dispossessory action against her.

Norris' ordeal began when she was approached by a representative of T and T Properties, who she claims pressured her to sign over the deed before approving a loan to cover her back taxes. 'Why would I sell them the house for nothing, just to give it to him?' she told WSB-TV. 'It doesn't make sense.' The company allegedly required her to sign the paperwork before issuing the loan, a practice attorney Sarah Mancini of the National Consumer Law Center described as far from standard. Norris was told the deed was 'just for collateral,' a claim that Mancini called misleading and legally dubious. A quitclaim deed, she explained, is a legal document that transfers whatever stake a person has in a property with no guarantees, protections, or safety nets. It is typically used in family transfers, divorces, or other non-sale scenarios—never in the context of a loan.

'There's really no good reason to have someone sign over a deed to their house if you're lending them money,' Mancini told the outlet. 'The person who's claiming to help you is saying they're lending you money to help get you out of foreclosure, but they're in reality trying to steal the ownership of the house.' Norris said the company charged her $700 a month in interest-only payments on the loan, a rate she called 'higher than a pawn shop.' When she requested details on fully repaying the loan, she discovered the total amount owed was far greater than the money she had received from the company. At that point, she realized T and T Properties had already taken legal ownership of her home and stopped making payments.

Ed Joyner, T and T's attorney, defended the company's actions, arguing that a quitclaim deed is a standard method for lenders to protect their investment without going through foreclosure. 'The company did nothing wrong,' Joyner claimed. However, Mancini countered that such practices are deceptive and illegal. 'If it's a loan, the lender should not be allowed to take the entire house,' she said. In July, the company filed to evict Norris, claiming she was a 'delinquent' tenant. The court ruled against this, stating no landlord-tenant relationship existed. Joyner insisted the title would be returned to Norris upon full repayment of the loan, but Norris has yet to see this happen. T and T has since filed a second motion to evict, citing a debt that has ballooned to over $12,000, including interest, late charges, and attorney fees.

This case is not an isolated incident. Last September, WSB-TV reported on a similar scheme involving Kimberly Gravitt, a Gwinnett County widow whose home was allegedly claimed by an investor who paid nothing for the deed. Gravitt was hospitalized in a mental health facility after learning she would be evicted by Georgia Venture Investment Company, LLC, which claimed she had agreed to sell her home for $150,000. The company obtained the deed through Homesaver 911, a firm previously sued by Georgia's Attorney General for stealing homeowners' titles. Gravitt was offered $15,000 to 'nullify the deal,' which she agreed to—but the company later retracted that offer and claimed full ownership of her home. Mancini, referencing both cases, warned: 'Someone can rob you with a pen and paper just as surely as they can rob you with a loaded gun. Be careful about signing any piece of paper connected to real estate.'

The pattern of these scams highlights a growing crisis in predatory lending practices, where vulnerable homeowners are targeted with false promises of salvation. Experts urge the public to seek legal counsel before signing any documents related to property ownership. 'These companies prey on people's desperation,' Mancini said. 'They use complex jargon and emotional manipulation to get people to surrender their homes. The legal system is supposed to protect people, but these scammers are exploiting loopholes and confusing language to stay ahead.' As Norris continues her fight to reclaim her home, the broader community is left to grapple with the alarming rise of such schemes, which threaten not only individual livelihoods but also the integrity of the housing market itself.