Hello, My name is Rick Otton

Ever wondered about the origins of those iconic yellow and black signboards that have spread across the Western World and beyond? It all started with the “Savings and Loans” event in the late 1980s and early 1990s, closing down the banks and reshaping real estate transactions.

During this time, a need arose for a new approach to real estate transactions due to the crisis. The eye-catching combination of black writing on a yellow background was chosen for its visibility. This creative “We Buy Houses” sign strategy was born to attract sellers during this property market collapse.

Originating in Dallas, the discontinuation of assumable real estate loans in 1989 led to the development of innovative marketing strategies to navigate a market with up to 30% vacancy rates as the “Yankees” moved back north.

Though history seems to repeat itself, this time with newcomers to such market shifts, I’m here to offer insights from a Global prospective as financial crisis affects different world markets at different times and share process and legal structures to overcome financial challenges, drawing from lessons learned.

We Buy Houses remains active, first investing in Europe 2002 and more recently Asian regions , addressing the evolving needs of homebuyers and sellers impacted by the changing real estate landscape. Our mission, declared over 30 years ago, endures: “Changing the Way the World Buys and Sells Houses to Benefit us all.”