| In any industry where there is a lot of money to be | | | | reputable Real Estate Agent? First make sure you |
| made there is always a certain amount of people that | | | | can see their Certificate of Registration and License to |
| will get involved who have no ethics or morality. These | | | | Sell from the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board |
| people will do anything to make a quick buck no | | | | (HLURB). Not a copy either. The original. Copies can be |
| matter who they hurt. | | | | manufactured. You can also check this through the |
| Con Artists and Scammers seem to infiltrate every | | | | HLURB office yourself. |
| industry. The overall result is that companies have to | | | | What about the title to the property, how do I know |
| spend more money to assure customers they are | | | | that is legitimate? If the title is in the Real Estate |
| actually one of the good guys. Worse, the consumer | | | | company's name, check with the Register of Deeds in |
| ends up having to eye everyone with suspicion and | | | | the county where the property is located and |
| spend time investigating companies they wish to do | | | | compare the copy you have seen to the original to |
| business with. | | | | make sure no one has removed liens or mortgages |
| This also hurts the economy as a whole. Consumer | | | | from the copy. |
| confidence means more than just the confidence to | | | | If the title is not in their name, make sure you check to |
| spend their money because they believe the economy | | | | see that the Real Estate Company actually has the |
| is good. It also means that the consumer has the | | | | right to represent the owner of the property, even if |
| confidence to buy from companies trying to sell | | | | you have to contact the owner directly. Find out |
| something to them. | | | | whether you are to pay the Real Estate Company or |
| The Real Estate business is not immune to having its | | | | the owner if you decide to buy. |
| share of scammers. Oversight of the Real Estate | | | | Make sure you know all of the terms of the sale. And |
| Industry is done by an understaffed agency that barely | | | | make sure you have everything in writing on the |
| has the time to file paperwork submitted by thousands | | | | company's letterhead, even the minor details the Real |
| of Real Estate Agents, let alone investigate | | | | Estate agent says are always included so you don't |
| unscrupulous ones. | | | | need to have them in writing. It's your money so you |
| Fake Deeds and other paperwork are used by some | | | | can dictate what you want in writing if they want to |
| scammers to make you believe they really own the | | | | sell you the property. |
| Real Estate they are trying to sell you. Ever hear the | | | | Do not let anyone rush you into a Real Estate deal! If |
| famous, "I have a bridge I'd like to sell you"? | | | | your agent or broker keeps pushing you that you have |
| But my Real Estate Agent is licensed, isn't that | | | | to do this right away or you will lose the deal, flags |
| enough? First you have to remember, they are on | | | | should go up. There are Real Estate deals where time |
| commission. They get paid to talk you into buying the | | | | is crucial, however if you do not take the time to |
| property that is listed, even if they are totally legitimate. | | | | check things out you could be the big loser in the deal. |
| A Real Estate license does not mean that they are | | | | I'd rather miss out on one opportunity than to be |
| required to have the buyer's best interest at heart. | | | | burned by one. |
| What can you do to be sure you are dealing with a | | | | |