Our family recently encountered a challenging situation while trying to honor a loved one's wish to donate proceeds from property sales to several charities. After selling two properties, we were surprised to find ourselves involved in a lawsuit from multiple organizations, including the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), Camp Born This Way, Eon Youth Lounge & Anti-Violence Program, LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund, Arizona Public Media, HOPE Animal Shelter, Habitat for Humanity Tucson, Tucson Pride, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tucson, Inc.
The attorney representing these organizations is claiming that the properties were sold below market value.
After the homes were sold, SAAF's attorney recruited the other charities to join the lawsuit.
Prior to the sales, all beneficiaries were provided with Comparative Market Analyses (CMA) from licensed Realtors and full appraisals conducted by licensed appraisers, including interior and exterior inspections. These appraisals were performed in accordance with state guidelines to determine fair market value.
Despite these thorough appraisals, SAAF's attorney has based his claim on a single drive-by appraisal and Zillow Zestimates, which are less reliable than professional appraisals. The CMA's and full interior/exterior appraisals that we provided were disregarded by their attorney and the charities.
Drive-by appraisals, which are conducted without a full interior inspection, lack critical information about a property's condition and features. Similarly, Zillow Zestimates are algorithm-based estimates that often fail to account for local market conditions, unique property characteristics, or recent renovations, making them less reliable than appraisals performed by licensed professionals.
This situation has been both emotionally and financially taxing for our family. We took great care to ensure the properties were accurately valued by involving licensed Realtors, appraisers, Title Companies, and State Home Inspectors throughout the entire process.
This unexpected legal challenge has been discouraging and has caused us to reflect on how we approach future charitable donations. While we do not claim to know the motivations behind this lawsuit, the circumstances suggest that it may be driven in part by a desire for financial gain. We encourage anyone considering significant contributions or property donations to consult with experienced professionals and proceed with caution to help prevent these types of unnecessary legal challenges. read more