Fighting Back: Roberts v. Unlock Partnership Solutions and the CFPB Enforcement Action

Predatory real estate schemes are stripping homeowners of their most basic right—the right to keep their homes. The case of Roberts v. Unlock Partnership Solutions AOI, Inc. is shining a national spotlight on these abuses and fueling federal enforcement against deceptive practices targeting vulnerable homeowners.

🔍 About the Case: Roberts v. Unlock

In Roberts v. Unlock Partnership Solutions (Case No. 1:24-cv-01374), the plaintiff alleges that Unlock Partnership Solutions, a subsidiary of EasyKnock, engaged in a deceptive home-sale leaseback transaction under the false promise that the homeowner could stay in their property and repurchase it later. Instead, the plaintiff faced eviction and the permanent loss of their home, despite continuing to make payments.

This case exposes a growing trend: companies like Unlock and EasyKnock misclassify loan products as “sales” to bypass consumer protection laws, including the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), and state homestead protections.

⚖️ The CFPB Steps In

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is currently investigating and taking enforcement action against companies offering “sale-leaseback” products that are, in reality, disguised mortgage loans.

These schemes often:

• Mislead homeowners into thinking they can easily buy back their homes

• Include hidden fees, balloon payments, or ambiguous buyback terms

• Result in the loss of equity, eviction, and foreclosure without proper due process

CFPB Director Rohit Chopra has stated that these arrangements may violate federal mortgage lending laws, especially when vulnerable groups—such as seniors, low-income families, and people with disabilities—are disproportionately affected.

🧾 What’s at Stake

The Roberts case and the CFPB’s actions highlight a pattern of abusive financial engineering, where private equity-backed firms use shell entities and special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to strip homeowners of legal rights and protections.

These entities often:

• Do not disclose material terms

• Bypass mortgage licensing laws

• Exploit gaps in federal enforcement by operating in a legal gray area

If allowed to continue, these practices will set a dangerous precedent, turning American homes into speculative financial instruments—and homeowners into tenants in their own property.

✊ Why It Matters

This fight is bigger than one case. Roberts v. Unlock represents thousands of homeowners who have been deceived, displaced, and defrauded under the false promise of financial relief. With the CFPB now involved, there is renewed hope for regulatory accountability and legal precedent that will protect future homeowners.

🛡️ What You Can Do:

• Support legal actions like Roberts v. Unlock that challenge predatory real estate structures

• Donate to grassroots legal defense funds fighting against housing injustice

• Call on regulators and legislators to expand oversight and close legal loopholes

• Report unlawful sale-leaseback practices to the CFPB and your state Attorney General

https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_unlock-proposed-amicus-brief_2025-01.pdf 

Disclaimer:

The information provided herein is based on publicly available statutes, administrative rules, and enforcement precedents under the Texas Occupations Code and Texas Administrative Code. This post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The analysis reflects a good-faith interpretation of Texas real estate law as it may apply to unlicensed real estate activity.

All entities mentioned are presumed innocent of any wrongdoing unless or until proven otherwise through appropriate legal or regulatory proceedings. If you believe this information is inaccurate, please contact the author with verifiable corrections.

This content is protected by the First Amendment and is presented in the public interest concerning real estate consumer protections in Texas.