What are the red flags that a buyer, seller, and agent should look out for in avoiding real estate fraud?

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Rainmaker
5,584,078

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I never look for trouble.... I stay out of it....all I want to do is make the phone ring....

Nov 04, 2016 02:41 AM

Upvote

4

Inna Ivchenko

Encino, CA
Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT
Mary Yonkers

Erie, PA
Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Rainmaker
1,713,576

Joe Pryor

The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK

REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

If it is too to be true it probably isn't true.

Nov 04, 2016 02:56 AM

Upvote

3

Tony and Suzanne Marri...

Scottsdale, AZ
Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT
Mary Yonkers

Erie, PA

Rainmaker
1,529,664

Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA

https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA

Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

If it's too good to be true. If they need to season money first. If they want to avoid title & escrow.

Nov 04, 2016 05:41 AM

Upvote

2

Annette Lawrence , Pal...

Palm Harbor, FL
Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
4,273,325

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS

Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA

South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Any time someone tells you something, to good to be true, and will not put it in writing; BEWARE!

Nov 04, 2016 03:42 AM

Upvote

2

Annette Lawrence , Pal...

Palm Harbor, FL
Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
1,231,853

Mary Yonkers

Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA

Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Ditto Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041

Best of luck in pre-license classes.

Nov 04, 2016 03:22 AM

Upvote

2

Annette Lawrence , Pal...

Palm Harbor, FL
Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
4,689,032

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Dear Industry Observer - Agent Professor Heather, ahh, this often repeated question reminds me that a new crop of students is here. Bring on riparian water rights, unrecorded easements, fraud and more....

So are you the instructor???

Nov 04, 2016 02:54 AM

Upvote

2

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT
Mary Yonkers

Erie, PA

Rainmaker
921,504

Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041

ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL

Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Communicate through my attorney in Morocco.

Please submit $2,500 to set up your account. Get it back at closing.

'Or assigns'

"Deposit this check," in an amount above anticipated expenses

Move in before closing

Unconfirmed buyer.

Too many names representing seller.

Seller out of country, communicate via email/text only.

The list is endless. The scoundrels work up new schemes every day.

Nov 04, 2016 02:42 AM

Upvote

2

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT
Mary Yonkers

Erie, PA

Ambassador
3,762,439

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

I've come across very little fraud, and that might be because most of my clients come from my sphere of influence.

Nov 06, 2016 12:06 PM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
5,959,926

Joan Cox

House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO

Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Document everything!

Nov 06, 2016 07:57 AM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
781,969

Tony Lewis

Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA

Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

too good to be true

Nov 05, 2016 11:22 AM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
1,618,024

Harry F. D'Elia III

WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ

Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

Again just follow the rules when doing deals

Nov 05, 2016 01:18 AM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
3,073,909

Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers

Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ

Coldwell Banker Realty

Joe Pryor nailed this one!

Nov 04, 2016 11:39 PM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainer
274,109

Curtis Evans

Cabin Realty LLC/ USA, Licensed in Louisiana - Golden Meadow, LA

Actual property ownership.

Nov 04, 2016 09:00 PM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
1,157,841

FN LN

Toronto, ON

Have you referred to my previous answers on this topic?

Nov 04, 2016 04:33 PM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
4,321,670

Praful Thakkar

LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA

Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Heather Zollinger - you got pretty good answers. Anything that sounds too good to be true, just be careful.

Nov 04, 2016 04:29 PM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
1,257,383

Sam Shueh

(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA

mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Something that does not make sense....

Nov 04, 2016 01:23 PM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
3,988,138

Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties

Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN

The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Look and listen for anything that doesn't seem right or sounds too good to be true.

Nov 04, 2016 01:05 PM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
2,234,761

Debbie Laity

CinaJones Real Estate - Cedaredge, CO

Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County

It it's too good to be true...it probably is.

Nov 04, 2016 12:48 PM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Ambassador
2,699,066

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate

Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL

Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Bounced deposit check

Nov 04, 2016 12:05 PM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
1,642,807

Inna Ivchenko

Barcode Properties - Encino, CA

Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC • Short Sale • Probate

If you are not sure or something does not look right, consult your broker or call legal hot line. Always consult your broker or mentor if you are a new agent.

Nov 04, 2016 10:14 AM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
2,826,355

Richie Alan Naggar

people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA

agent & author

I take issue with poor communication, lack of documents, double talk and scarce transparency

Nov 04, 2016 05:30 AM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
1,466,257

Michael Setunsky

Woodbridge, VA

Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Heather Zollinger Bait and switch.

Nov 04, 2016 05:02 AM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
4,800,282

Gabe Sanders

Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL

Stuart Florida Real Estate

If it sounds too good to be true, it could be fraud.

Nov 04, 2016 04:33 AM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
5,059,368

Richard Weeks

Dallas, TX

REALTOR®, Broker

Soft seconds, offers much higher than list price, the buyer leaving closing with cash.

Nov 04, 2016 03:22 AM

Upvote

1

Heather Zollinger

St. George, UT

Rainmaker
2,071,135

Evelina Tsigelnitskaya

SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Great answers.

Jul 08, 2019 08:57 PM

Upvote

Rainmaker
1,598,552

Valeria Mola

SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

Be a pro and do no harm!

Jul 08, 2019 03:26 PM

Upvote

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I never look for trouble.... I stay out of it....all I want to do is make the phone ring....
If it's too good to be true. If they need to season money first. If they want to avoid title & escrow.
Any time someone tells you something, to good to be true, and will not put it in writing; BEWARE!
Ditto Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041

Best of luck in pre-license classes.
Dear Industry Observer - Agent Professor Heather, ahh, this often repeated question reminds me that a new crop of students is here. Bring on riparian water rights, unrecorded easements, fraud and more....

So are you the instructor???
Communicate through my attorney in Morocco.

Please submit $2,500 to set up your account. Get it back at closing.

'Or assigns'

"Deposit this check," in an amount above anticipated expenses

Move in before closing

Unconfirmed buyer.

Too many names representing seller.

Seller out of country, communicate via email/text only.

The list is endless. The scoundrels work up new schemes every day.
I've come across very little fraud, and that might be because most of my clients come from my sphere of influence.
Heather Zollinger - you got pretty good answers. Anything that sounds too good to be true, just be careful.
Look and listen for anything that doesn't seem right or sounds too good to be true.
If you are not sure or something does not look right, consult your broker or call legal hot line. Always consult your broker or mentor if you are a new agent.
I take issue with poor communication, lack of documents, double talk and scarce transparency
Soft seconds, offers much higher than list price, the buyer leaving closing with cash.