A little more than a year ago, I was about to purchase a co-op and was about to close on the property. I mentioned it to a real estate friend of mine Anthony **. He asked why I would purchase a co-op when I could buy a house and have the tenants pay my mortgage. I told him my credit wasn't good enough to get a house. He said not to worry and that he could get someone to co-sign for me and get me a house with no money down.

A few days after, he came and got me. We went and looked on a few vacant properties. A few days after, we began the paperwork. Finally, we were at the closing. After signing, he said that there was some problem because the house I wanted needed repair and also needed a downpayment. So this closing (house) wasn't mine; it was for the other person who signed with me, Camile. He did it this way, so he could get the $10.000.00 downpayment for my property. But as soon as I got my house, he would take my name off the first house.

So here I was with a check for $10,000.00. Now, we are at the second closing. He said he got some good news that my house don't need a downpayment again. But he's gonna get me a next $10.000.00 to make up with what I have, so I can do repairs. Closing was finished. At the end of all this, I found out that Ms. Mitchell and Mr. Laird are a couple and have kids together and live together. I now had two $10.000.00 check and still no house.

For days, I kept calling, and there's no answer. There was another real estate guy involved, Mr. Doug **. I finally got a hold of him, and he said,"Oh, they didn't tell you. I'm still looking about your house."

They all kept giving me the runaround, until I never heard from them again. It got worse. I spent almost the whole year last year going to court, because the tenants who live in the property is not getting any heat and hot water. I went to court for months, because they refused to show up. I explained my situation to the judge and the lawyer for the city. They dismissed me from the case in November 2009.

Now, it's February 2010, and the court cases started again. I can't spend this year missing work and going to court for properties that I'm just the co-signer on. And they haven't paid any mortgage from when they purchase the properties. I can just feel disaster striking very, very soon. So what do I do now? I really can't go on living like this. Thoughts of suicide keep flashing through my mind. But I am a single parent, and my daughter needs me.