Unsolicited inquiry concerning the sale of my airplane.

[HIghpockets]

I came home from a family vacation today to find an envelope without a return address in my mail.  Contained therein was a hand written note. The sender had found my N number on the FAA registry and wanted to know if I wanted to sell my Mooney or did I know anyone who owned an airplane who wanted to sell..  I have received postcard's from brokers before but this just seemed a little creepy. No return address, handwritten with just  an email address.  Anyone else get a note like this recently?

[exM20K]

I received a similar note shortly after buying my Acclaim.  Contacted the sender, said, “No, thanks,” but helped him locate another Acclaim and arrange training with one of the great CFI’s here.  He’s since moved on to a pressurized plane, but I struck up a great friendship that endures post-Mooney because he reached out to me.

Quality planes are very difficult to find now, so I’m not surprised you got such a note, and if it were sent to me, I’d not be at all creeped out unless given good reason to be.

YMMV

-Dan

[201Steve]

I sent letters to every J owner within 3 states of me when I was looking. Did not yield my final result but it came close. 

[Hank]

12 hours ago, exM20K said:

I received a similar note shortly after buying my Acclaim.  Contacted the sender, said, “No, thanks,” but helped him locate another Acclaim and arrange training with one of the great CFI’s here.  He’s since moved on to a pressurized plane, but I struck up a great friendship that endures post-Mooney because he reached out to me.

Quality planes are very difficult to find now, so I’m not surprised you got such a note, and if it were sent to me, I’d not be at all creeped out unless given good reason to be.

YMMV

-Dan

My brother sold his house like that one time . . . . It was not listed for sale, and he was just finishing an extensive remodel / update. 

[201er]

14 hours ago, HIghpockets said:

I came home from a family vacation today to find an envelope without a return address in my mail.  Contained therein was a hand written note. The sender had found my N number on the FAA registry and wanted to know if I wanted to sell my Mooney or did I know anyone who owned an airplane who wanted to sell..  I have received postcard's from brokers before but this just seemed a little creepy. No return address, handwritten with just  an email address.  Anyone else get a note like this recently?

I got that one too

Looked like it was hand written but then run on a copier. It went in the same place all the "car warranty" renewals and offers for "top dollar" on my car go

[aviatoreb]

I got it too.  I just tossed it in the wood stove.  And kept the plane.

[ArtVandelay]

If they sent the letter with a blank check with instructions to fill in the amount…that would get my attention.

[ilovecornfields]

I called him. It seems pretty legit. It’s a foreign buyer so there’s some transaction fees I have to pay for up front but I really don’t see how this could go wrong. He even paid me much more than my plane is worth to make up for the inconvenience!

[Bartman]

Somewhere, there is a microphone dropped in a cornfield….

[rbp]

i got a text message last week wanting to buy my apartment -- all cash buyer. I replied with "send proof of funds" and never heard back

[eman1200]

I got a letter in the mail, oh at least a year ago from a guy who said his father or grandfather previously owned my plane and he wanted to buy it.  I was, of course, skeptical but after asking him a few questions, it seemed legit.  The letter did have a return address, and the guy was listed in the FAA database with the same address.   I found his relative's name in the logbooks.  I appreciated the situation but told him the plane was not for sale.  Sending a letter seems like something I would do in certain situations, so I didn't see the harm in responding.

[Browncbr1]

I've received a letter from a local guy who scoped my plane and wanted to buy a share...  I called with intent to help him find another mooney, but he had no money and was too old and out of currency to ever get insurance... 

As far as the scams, I think a lot of the phishing that comes by txt are actually just trying to connect active phone numbers with real property, that are then sold as sales leads or something....  About every week, I get something asking to buy my house at "xxxx road" address.   

 

[ArtVandelay]

Got the same, took a little longer because it was mailed from NJ, west coast owners might get it later this week.
The guy is listed in the FAA database as a student issued back in 2008.
I also found where he inquired about an old navy barge that was for sale?

[HawkGT]

I am shopping for a Mooney right now and will admit to searching the FAA registry for Moonies within 100 mile radius and then reaching out to the owners.  No joy so far.  As a buyer the market is tough right now.  I have also solocited for leads and contacts on local flight groups Facebook pages, talked to local mechanics and anything else I can think of to find a decent plane.  I did have one owner call me back and offered to sale his cherokee six that had an inch of dust on it in a communoty hangar and poor avionics for $180k.  I thanked him for calling me back and kept looking.

@TSC1020

[carusoam]

Good Mooney hunting is a country wide effort…

Extra tough finding a nice one within 100mi radius…

When the nice ones go up for sale… be ready to pounce.  It might be at your home drome….

My first Mooney… at my home drome…

My Good Mooney… at San Antonio 1knm away… 
 

Traveling for business helps get you to some neighborhoods that are too far away to get to on your own…

Best regards,

-a-

[sleeper-319]

On 2/15/2022 at 9:06 PM, carusoam said:

Good Mooney hunting is a country wide effort…

+1, but what’s not obvious to a noob is how connected the aviation community is, and how you can leverage the help that people in the community are often very willing to provide. Between people here, people at respected MSCs, and people in my local club and EAA chapter, it felt like the connections were nationwide, and there was a multiplier effect. Once my search started getting serious, people helped connect me to IAs, insurance providers, CFIs, and even off market aircraft whose owners were contemplating selling. The one I bought was about 200 miles away, and all things considered, that felt like it was in my backyard.

[ilovecornfields]

I called several MSCs and asked them if they knew of any aircraft for sale. Top Gun got me in touch with a very nice Bravo owner who had a beautiful plane for sale. In the end, I ended up getting an Ovation but I don't think it would hurt to call the MSCs if you haven't already.

I think the market right now is very challenging for buyers. I think most of us here would be willing to sell, it's just a matter of what price you're willing to pay.

[A64Pilot]

4 hours ago, ilovecornfields said:

 

I think the market right now is very challenging for buyers. I think most of us here would be willing to sell, it's just a matter of what price you're willing to pay.

Yep, money talks, but as I’d want to replace it with something and everything is overpriced, I’d not sell for a reasonable offer

[FlyingDude]

I guess my plane is considered 2nd tier because I only got "wanna sell your plane" postcards 

No handwriting, no scented paper... Just a postcard...

I don't like my name and adress being public but that's more because of concerns about some anti-airport idiot showing up at my door... Otherwise, I believe there's no harm...

But I'll tell my wife that I'm jealous that others are getting personalized handwritten letters while I only got the cheap printed postcard without even an envelope...

I guess M20Es are 2nd tier, huh 

[steingar]

I get postcards and letters all the time from folks wanting to buy my aircraft.  Might respond to one soon.  We'll see.

[FlyingDude]

14 hours ago, nosky2high said:

my Mooney will be available

What are you switching to?