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Scumbag
REALTORS strike again!
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Should
State Real Estate Licensees have to disclose their own foreclosure status Michael Kornitzer In recent months I have discovered that many licensed real estate agents are actually in foreclosure themselves. I remember a phone conversation with an agent in my neighborhood about five years ago: "buy up everything you can around here, I am!" Sure enough he did buy a bunch of property that he's stuck with. Short sale or foreclosure is his mantra now. I laugh when I see him trying to hawk those same properties on craigslist. Property after property at half what he paid for them. He's probably so bright that he is negotiating his own short sales. In recent months I had two really big issues with state real estate licensee's, both were also members of the National Association of Realtors allowing them to use the very prestigeous REALTOR designation. The first one listed a short sale property as a straight sale. I brought the buyer and three days before closing we were informed that the lien on the property was an extra $200,000. The agent knew all along that it was a short sale and never disclosed it. We are suing him right now for our commission and the money the buyer spent on inspections and appraisal. IS IT ANY SURPRISE TO FIND OUT THAT HIS PRIMARY RESIDENCE WAS IN FORECLOSURE. In another case, here in my beautiful Fishhawk Ranch development, a prominent local agent blows a deal for his buyer. In the middle of the transaction this agent started making decisions for the buyer without consulting him. At issue was $1,500 that the buyer had already agreed to pay after we got him a huge discount from the sellers lender. Without consulting the buyer the agent sent an email that the buyer was not paying the $1,500. I immediately sent a cancellation of the contract and put the house back on the market. The next morning the buyer was at my office at 8:15 waiting for me. I worked directly with the buyer, put the deal back together and closed quickly. The deal was advantageous to the buyer and seller, everyone was happy, especially the agent who got paid for blowing the deal. IS IT ANY SURPRISE TO FIND OUT THAT HE TOO IS IN FORECLOSURE. He must really be working the system because on 2/11/2011 he applied for a pool permit for his new home, while in foreclosure on his old home. The details are public information and available below as of 8-2-2011: Case # 10-CA-020055 Clerk of the Circuit Court of Hillsborough County http://www.hillsclerk.com/publicweb/home.aspx Lets keep in mind that for most of us a home purchase is the most expensive and most important financial decision of our lives. That we count on the state and National Association of Realtors to set the experience and education requirements high enough that we get sound advice from licensees and REALTORS. Can an agent who himself is in foreclosure or worse an agent working the system buying a new house while letting another go to foreclosure, offer sound real estate advice? The answer is clear to a hard working moron like myself. We will all share the burden of this agents personal financial decisions. As individuals and as a country, we will foot the bill for this guys manipulation of the system. It makes me very angry, but more so, I feel for the customers and clients who count on this guy and his wife for advice. The home page of his website contains this quote: "If you are having difficulty making your mortgage payments, give XXXXX a call to learn what options you may have." JUST SHAMEFULL! I tried for hours to come up with some analogies that wouldn't be so over the top as to discredit this article or myself. I couldn't tame it back so here's how strongly I feel about this issue. A REALTOR in foreclosure who buys a new house, is installing a new pool at his new house and is giving other people real estate advice, IS LIKE: A CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER
TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL GYM Don't laugh too hard, here are a few excerpts from: Code of
Ethics and Standards of Practice of the "While the Code of Ethics
establishes obligations that may be higher than those mandated by law" " They identify and take steps, through enforcement of this Code of Ethics and by assisting appropriate regulatory bodies, to eliminate practices which may damage the public or which might discredit or bring dishonor to the real estate profession." "The duties imposed by the Code of Ethics encompass all real estate-related activities and transactions whether conducted in person, electronically, or through any other means." "The term REALTORŪ has come to connote competency, fairness, and high integrity resulting from adherence to a lofty ideal of moral conduct in business relations." Golden Rule, "Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them." VERY FUNNY DON'T YOU THINK? |
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