With every short story, article or book I write, I’m hoping to achieve two goals: entertain and educate. If I can help one person laugh and cry in a story that teaches them how to prevent a real estate fraud happening to them, then I’ve really accomplished something.

The Darker Side of Real Estate

We tend to think of real estate as a safe place. It is our home — where we raise our children, share meals with friends and sleep securely behind four walls and locked doors. That perception of safety spills over into the business of investing. Real estate investors have long sought single-family homes, condos and multi-family buildings as safe places.

“Everyone needs shelter.”

“Housing always appreciates.”

But what if your home isn’t that safe?

I’ve spent twenty-five years in the housing industry. It’s been very good to me, and it’s been very good to most of my clients, owners and tenants. However, over those two-plus decades, I’ve also seen the darker side of the business:

Equity skimming
Rip-off contractors
Predatory lenders
Fraudulent borrowers

And I haven’t even begun to get into an entire industry built to bilk senior citizens out of their equity and savings.

To be absolutely clear, I believe the overwhelming majority of men and women in the industry as housing professionals do a magnificent job, often sacrificing potential earnings for the benefit of their clients.

It only takes a few bad apples to derail a life.

Notice of Assignment drops on October 27, 2026.

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Between the covers, you’ll get an insider’s look at real estate and greed from an author who has lived the property world and who draws on nine years of experience as a process server and private investigator.

This Week’s Real Estate Fraud

Social media stars Christopher and Raquelle Judge were sentenced by a federal court after pleading guilty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Read the full story here.

Lesson

The hardest part about cases like this? The credentials he claimed to hold — like his architect and contractor licenses — could have been verified in minutes with just a little bit of internet sleuthing.

When hiring a contractor, always track down independent references and directly verify state and local licenses before signing a contract or handing over any money. While you are at it, as for an insurance certificate.

Tell

Look at the photo of his poop-eating grin as he walks into court. Learn to spot that exact arrogance when deciding who you are writing checks to. A legitimate, honest professional will never be offended by you double-checking their sources and credentials.

The Golden Rule

A $0.99 read featuring Cal Brink

See Cal’s thinking. Learn his moral code. Because sometimes, justice doesn’t mean jail.

In 1997, Imagine being responsible for a priceless national treasure and you realize it is missing. Your mind races and your pulse quickens. Nausea sets in. Who do you call for help?

Jesse called Cal Brink, a former private investigator.

Follow Cal from a custom photo lab on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, DC, to the back streets of suburban Maryland. No car chases. No shoot-outs. Just lifelike investigative process told by a writer who lived the streets, did the job.

A Chris Writes, LLC Publication
Not legal advice / not professional guidance / do not imitate tactics
Fictionalized/composite/altered details + no identification intended

© 2026 Chris Writes, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Cal Brink Files

Safe as Houses? Think Again