Family settling into home after state pact with agent

AUGUSTA – Two months after an encounter with a Hampden entrepreneur left them homeless, Michelle and Tina Paquette and their three children finally have a place to call home.

The Paquettes are buying a home in Augusta.

It’s the house they originally intended to buy when they signed a business deal in June with Shellie Robinson and her business, Creative Financial Solutions. That arrangement became the subject of a state investigation and stories in the Bangor Daily News.

The Paquettes, who have children ages 8, 11 and 13, signed a 30-year loan commitment agreement June 26 that had been prepared by Robinson for $85,000 at 8.25 percent interest. The loan was to be used to buy the house in Augusta.

Assured by Robinson that the financing was in place, the Paquettes gave their landlord in Westbrook notice and began preparations to move. After Robinson twice failed to show up for closings in July, it became clear to the Paquettes that there was no loan and that the family could not move into the house that Robinson promised them. As a result, the family was left homeless.

After the city of Augusta deemed the families ineligible for general assistance benefits, the Paquettes were forced to live in various Augusta motels. Consequently, the family racked up thousands of dollars in expenses, Michelle Paquette said. In the meantime, they continued to look at houses in the Augusta area.

In August, Robinson and her business became the focus of a state investigation that eventually resulted in a consent agreement with the state Attorney General’s Office in which she admitted that she was illegally acting as a supervised lender and credit services organization. She was ordered to pay the Paquette family $2,000 by Sept. 30. If Robinson fails to pay the Paquettes or violates the other terms of the agreement she could face up to $10,000 in fines.

Michelle Paquette said last week that she and Tina have entered a lease-to-purchase agreement with the owner of the house and are working with a legitimate mortgage company to secure permanent financing.

She said the family is settling in nicely.