21st Mortgage files complaint against Yurezz Mobile Center owners amid customer concerns

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - One of the nation’s largest lenders in the manufactured housing industry has filed a lawsuit in Southeast Georgia against the owners of a mobile home dealership, alleging a dispute over financed inventory.

Court records show 21st Mortgage Corporation filed a complaint in Appling County against Richard and Heather Altman, who are tied to Yurezz Mobile Home Center. The complaint describes the case as an inventory financing dispute involving manufactured homes the lender says it financed for the Altmans’ retail operations and that the Altmans personally guaranteed.

According to the complaint, 21st Mortgage alleges the Altmans moved a home from business inventory to their own property in Appling County without paying the lender for it as required. The lender is asking a judge to order the home returned or require the Altmans to pay for it.

The lawsuit comes as some customers across South Georgia have taken to social media to raise concerns about unfinished work, communication problems and fears they may not be refunded or compensated.

Brianna Kelch, a customer, told WTOC she purchased a manufactured home from Yurezz Mobile Home Center’s Statesboro location in May. Kelch said the home was delivered and a septic system was installed, and she stayed in regular contact with the company while repairs were underway. She said communication suddenly stopped near the end of the month.

“Their Facebook pages were gone. All the locations — Statesboro, Baxley — all the ones I could previously see were no longer there,” Kelch said.

Kelch said she later contacted Richard Altman through Facebook and received a response saying the company was temporarily closed and he would call that day. “But he never called,” she said. Kelch said she later received an email from the company asking her to list remaining issues with her home, but she said she has not received follow-up.

Yurezz Mobile Home Center previously said it was operating on a limited scale while it works through next steps and asked customers to contact the company by email. WTOC said it has requested comment multiple times about both the lawsuit and customer concerns but has not received a response.

In a statement to WTOC, 21st Mortgage said it takes customer concerns seriously and is addressing them individually with each customer.

The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to keep copies of contracts, receipts, emails, text messages and other records related to purchases. The organization also says that if a company does not fulfill contractual obligations and has not filed for bankruptcy, consumers may have legal options.