How a hard-money lender took a man's home

Jefferson Marsh, a jobless mechanic, is one of several borrowers who took hard-money loans from Emiel Kandi and paid the price.

15719 118th Avenue Court E., Puyallup

2007

• Marsh is behind on property taxes and owes $13,400.
• Nov. 19: Kandi loans him $17,000 through 619 South Howard LLC, a company under his mother's name, Juanita Kandi.
• Emiel Kandi meets Marsh at The Keg and has him sign a promissory note that shows a loan for $170,000 with 18.99 percent interest, compounded daily, to be paid back in 11 months.
  

  Kandi charges $7,000 in fees and interest. The true rate of the loan -- 45 percent -- was undisclosed.
• Marsh signs a quitclaim deed that says if he misses a payment, Kandi can take the property immediately.
  

  This allows Kandi to bypass the foreclosure process, which takes months and offers consumer protections.
• Kandi then hands Marsh $3,600 cash. He pays Marsh's property taxes of $13,400.

2008

• Marsh has made four cash payments to Kandi in person for a total of $4,400.
• Mid-April: According to Marsh, he can't reach Kandi to make a payment. Kandi later denies avoiding him.
• April 25: Kandi files the quitclaim deed and 619 South Howard LLC owns Marsh's home.
• May 1: Kandi transfers the title to 15719 Puyallup LLC, another of his mother's companies.
  

  Kandi uses LLCs to avoid having property in his own name.
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  Courtesy of Martin Burns

  Later in July: Marsh is kicked out of the home and his belongings thrown outside.
• May 1: Kandi transfers the title to 15719 Puyallup LLC, another of his mother's companies.

2009

• McLaurin defaults on her loan and files bankruptcy. The property is unoccupied.

2010

• Marsh lives in an old RV next to his former home.

Source: reporting by Christine Willmsen; Pierce County Superior Court documents