"If you're trying to put in the claim for $10,000 of cash that you have stuffed in your mattress, there's probably a lot of ...

calls and letters taped to their properties offering to buy the land in cash. Nearly all lots sold have exceeded their asking prices, even if for less than the pre-fire value, real estate data shows.

A company called AIE Realty, short for Always In Escrow, told Lamb in a letter it was a local real estate team “working with a serious buyer” to pay cash for their lot - toxic debris and all.