Suspected squatters found living in $3.2M mansion for sale

Just move into an empty one.

That's what police say happened in Kirkland, where a group of people have taken up residence inside a $3.2 million home for sale, even going so far as to change the locks.

"This is just unbelievable," said Terri Fletcher, a local realtor who drove by the house after hearing about the squatters. "Look at the house she picked! I've never, in my entire 17 years (on the job), seen anything like this. Unbelievable."

Police started receiving calls from concerned residents last week who noticed unusual activity at the home at 435 8th Ave. W. The six-bedroom, nine-bathroom house has been vacant and for sale for months.

The people inside told police they were in the process of possibly purchasing the house, said police department spokesman Sgt. Rob Saloum, but they've produced no paperwork to support that argument.

"As far as we know, they are not in a position to buy the house," Saloum said. Police added King County sheriff's deputies served an eviction notice some time this week.

"We saw them serve the eviction notice," said one neighbor, who asked not to be named. "We're all just wondering how long it's going to take for them to actually put it into action.

"It's alarming for us, as a family, that this can happen in a neighborhood like this. We take pride in the safety and our neighborhood."

As recently as Friday, two women and a man were spotted inside the house or on the surrounding property. Also seen were a young boy and a girl, playing on the property.

Two "no trespassing" signs were posted on the front of the house, as was a financing statement taped to the window. The statement lists Priority Rose Children's Outreach as the contact, with a P.O. box in Bellevue as the address. KOMO News could find no listing or history for the organization.

State records show the house is owned by First Citizens Bank. The bank's corporate communications manager Barbara Thompson confirmed the bank's ownership, and said the people inside the house were not there legally.

"Under the various legal channels, we hope they will be removed from the house as early as next week, but again, we are having to work with law enforcement and the courts," Thompson said.

A woman seen at the house Friday answered the door and said she did not live there, but was simply feeding the cats. She later called the Kirkland police to complain about a KOMO News crew trespassing on the bank-owned property.

A man who showed up at the home on Friday afternoon said he was the legal owner, but did not provide his name or proof of ownership.

"I own it," he said. "I actually live here."

"I would love to comment on it but we have an ongoing court hearing," he later added, "and after that, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you guys have."

Late Friday night, bank-funded security guards were circling the property to make sure no damage was being done to the house. They believe the eviction notice is set to expire at midnight on Saturday.

"I mean, it just blows me away," said Fletcher, the realtor. "How can she just move into this home, staged with $80,000 worth of furniture? Beautiful, and just move in and just take over and just have the locks changed? It just blows me away."