Cash for Keys and Dignity

The first time I heard the phrase “cash for keys,” I thought it was a scam.

It sounded like one of those too-good-to-be-true offers you see in spam emails: “We’ll give you cash if you walk away from your house!” The kind of thing desperate people fall for.

But as it turns out, I was desperate. And it turns out, it wasn’t a scam. It was the beginning of the most honest and humane interaction I’d had throughout the entire foreclosure process.

Let me back up.

I bought my townhouse in 2010. It wasn’t flashy—just two bedrooms, a little back patio, and a kitchen I remodeled with my tax refund. It was mine. I was proud of it.

I stayed current on the mortgage for over a decade. Through layoffs, car repairs, and a divorce. I always paid.

But then came the medical bills.

I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that knocked me off my feet—literally. I couldn’t work for six months, and disability barely covered rent, let alone a mortgage.

The late notices came fast. The foreclosure filing came faster. And suddenly, I was behind by $14,000 and facing a sheriff’s sale in under 30 days.

I tried calling the bank. Tried working with a mediator. But everything was “pending” or “under review.” Meanwhile, time kept slipping away.

I was googling last-ditch options one night—completely exhausted, my laptop balanced on a pile of unopened envelopes—when I saw a short article about homeowners who had left their homes voluntarily and received financial assistance to do so. The program was called cash for keys.

I thought it was a joke.

But then I found a post in a community forum where someone had shared their experience. They’d worked with 4Closure Rescue, a homeowner support service run by someone named David Litt, and received help negotiating a cash-for-keys agreement that let them leave their home with money for a deposit on their next rental. They even mentioned the number: 224-344-5700.

I didn’t sleep that night. I called first thing the next morning.

David answered on the second ring.

He didn’t talk like a banker. Or a lawyer. He talked like someone who had sat across the table from hundreds of people just like me.

When I asked him about cash for keys, I expected hesitation. I expected fine print. Instead, he said, “Let me explain how it works—then let’s figure out if it’s right for you.”

In the hour that followed, David Litt explained my rights, the timing of the sale, and the legal steps I could take to delay eviction. More importantly, he helped me negotiate with the bank directly.

We didn’t get a fortune. But we got something I hadn’t had in months: a plan.

Four weeks later, I handed over the keys in exchange for a written agreement and a check for $3,500. More than enough for my security deposit, movers, and a few months of breathing room.

I didn’t feel like a failure. I felt like a grown-up making the best of a bad situation. I walked away with my head up, knowing I had handled things honestly, responsibly, and on my terms.

If you’re facing foreclosure and think your only option is getting kicked out by the sheriff—stop.

There are options. There are people who will treat you with respect.

There’s someone who helped me see the light in a very dark time—and he can help you too.