KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has filed a lawsuit against a Wyandotte County company, alleging “pervasive consumer fraud.”
Kobach’s lawsuit alleges that real estate company House Max, CEO Jason Jones and purchasing manager Herbert Brown Jr. lured vulnerable Kansas homeowners with false promises to leverage their equity under the guise of fast, free and commission-free home sales.
Homeowner in dispute with State Farm over roof repairs
Kobach claims in the lawsuit that instead of working for homeowners, House Max locked them into one-sided contracts.
More specifically, the lawsuit alleges that House Max, its CEO and purchasing managers sent thousands of unsolicited emails containing “personalized checks” in Wyandotte, Johnson, Leavenworth and Miami counties. The checks were specific cash offers made to homeowners on properties they claimed House Max was interested in purchasing.
Kobach added that House Max was operating without the real estate license required for such an action.
Kobach’s lawsuit also alleges that after homeowners responded to emails from House Max, the defendants would significantly lower their quotes, claiming repairs were needed while concealing commissions, hidden fees and unapproved cancellation policies.
However, that’s not all. The state’s lawsuit also alleges that House Max filed liens against consumers’ properties to assert a legal interest in the property, further forcing them to complete the sale even if they changed their minds in some cases.
Distracted driving is punishable by a $60 fine in Kansas
Kobach’s statement said the state’s investigation revealed that in some cases the defendants’ commissions were more than three times the amount of typical real estate transactions.
The lawsuit, in turn, seeks to stop the alleged deceptive practices, civil penalties and compensation for all consumers harmed by the scheme.
“House Max is a scam disguised as a service,” Kobach said. “They sent fake checks to hard-working Kansas homeowners, promising simple free real estate sales, and used intimidation and false liens to fleece consumers. We allege they operated without proper licenses, misrepresented their offers, and concealed their fees and commissions. This lawsuit will hold them accountable and stop their predatory operations forever.”
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.