I just listed a nice rural property close to town. It has an old torn up trailer on the back of the property that needed to be hauled off.

 found somebody who was willing to haul it off for free. The next morning  I met him overthere and he asked me where it was. I told him it was on the back side of the property.

When we got there it looked like a bulldozer had run over it.

All the aluminum skin had been removed and the thetrailer had been lifted off its frame.

Left over was a big pile of junk.

I guess there are people desperate enough to steal the metal of a trailer nowadays. I was amazed how they did it but of course it is too sad for words that people do this. Why not call me and ask if they could have it?

Lesson learned? If you have anything metal on a vacant property then someone might take it

People always ask me: you must be one of those new limited service discount companies or something.

I laugh and say yes and no. I am certainly not a limited service company. The last thing I wanted to do was providing less service to my clients. Actually i wanted to bump that up a notch.

Most people like the idea of paying less but they do not want to leave the comfort zone of having a Realtor who takes care of everything for them.

                                                   The traditional  Realtor           flat fee realtor           3 Percent Realty

Charges                                        6-7% commission                  $2000-$2500            3% +$500

commission offered to                    3%                                      nothing unless it        3%

other realtors(co-broke fee)                                                        is no flat fee

Marketing                                      25% of realtors                     marginal                  100% of realtors

how much money spent and where?    ask them                           marginal                   min $500 in 3 months

In MLS?                                           Yes                                   not for $2500            yes!

Ok the flat fee realtor gives you options and so does 3 Percent Realty. Our options and how it all works you can find on our web site www.only3percent.com.

The system of the flat fee realtor I will explain.

The typical flat fee realtor charges a flat fee which gives you a sign in the yard, they will handle your paperwork, give a brochure box, put you on their website and give you a little printed advertising.

You are not in MLS because they cannot afford to pay a co broke fee out of the fee (lets say $2000 in this example) they receive from you. On a $100000 home the typical cobroke fee would be 3% or $3000 .

If you wish to be in mls the $2000 will change into a 4.5-5% commission. They offer 3% to a co- broker and take the rest themselves. If they sell it themselves their fee is still only $2000. In general their marketing efforts stay pretty much the same. Doesn't sound too bad does it.

Will they try to sell your house? I will let you be the judge.

If they sell the home in our example they get their $2000.

If they sell buyers another home that is $100,000 they will receive 3% from the buyers agent more than likely. which is $3000.

Which house will they more likely sell? The higher dollar the home the bigger the difference!

I wrote this to explain the difference between a flat fee realtor and 3 Percent Realty.

We are more similare to a traditional type realtor but are willing to take a lot more risk and take our chances.

Ok why I am saying is not exactly science but rational thinking.

You hear about it on TV. You read about it in the paper and on the internet.The economy is doing not so great and real estate is in a down fall. What bothers me about that is that those "experts" speak for the whole United States, but California vs. Missouri is as different as Sweden is to France.

If I had bought my home 2 years ago in California I would be sweating right now, unless you stay in the same market. Same thing for Missouri. Sure we all know that the market is not what it used to be but if you look at history, homes have always gone up over time but as we found out it is not always a steady line.

Most people that are in the market to buy a home are 1st time buyers, people that need or want a bigger home and of course there is the investor. For all of you this is good news.

Are you thinking about downsizing? For you it might be better to wait a while if you can till all of this over.

OK, what is the good news?

Of course the interest rates and for the investor the lower home prices. If you are finacially capable of buying it is a great time. Buy, rent it out and sell for profit in a few years. Being a landlord is not that hard to do. I have done it for 5 years and the rewards have been great

Are you a 1st time home buyer?. Great! Use the lower home prices and the excellent interest rates to your benefit.

Are you upsizing? More great news. Sure you might not as much for your $100,000 home as 2 years ago, but so is the home owner who is selling you that $200,000 home. Combine that with the excellent interest rates that we are getting, you can get a bargain out there!

Big question, will the market go down some more? sure it could. we can get another ice storm too. I am convinced that this had a large effect on our economy last year.

 Any questions about all of this or give your opinion on the real estate market? You know where to find  me

A few weeks ago I decided to post a few rentals of mine on craigslist. A very good free way of advertising, but this time some one responded with not such good intentions.

I posted the ad and got the following email:

Hey there,
I just read ur Ad abt ya APT u wanna rent out on CL and will like to know if
its still availabe for rent and possibly signing a lease of 1 or 1.5 year.I hope to kindly hear from you asap
Regards
Dr Manhoff

I told him the home was available and asked him to call me.

 Response:

Hi There,

      Thanks for your mail and details on this unit,i am indeed serious about
renting this unit and will be willing to offer you 1 month rent plus the
security deposit in order to secure this unit prior to our arrival.
 Could you be kind enough to let me know what the Utilies cost
would be?as i will really need to have this unit to myself. You can send me
the lease application , to enable be review it ahead of time.i would
eventually have it signed physically when i arrive.In my opinion, appending
signatories should be done properly and at best physically.Please , send me a
picture view of the living room and bed rooms.

This is an international situation .With this arrangement, my financier in the
states,will be effecting your payment deposit to you.I believe we can work
together and ensure every arrangements that we shall both execute in line with
my taking up the tenancy should be done accordingly to ensure we have a proper
understanding.

In view of my work schedule, i would want us to finalise basic arrangements.
I will arrive the united states by End of 4th Week of January, with my wife and
10 yrs old daughter.

If you require any specific information, you can call me on my number

So I wrote him again.

Hello,   I tried calling a few times but the line appeared to be busy. Since you are from England things will have to be done a little different I guess. First step will be filling out the application.(both adults). Please include a copy of your passport and work permit.   After review of your application form and approval, please sign the final lease agreement (attached is a blank copy for you to review) and as soon as money ($500 down payment and $750 rent) is received(or proof that it is on its way) the home is guaranteed to you.   You also requested room sizes: Living room 16x12 2nd living room or formal dining16x10 kitchen/dining 16x12 bedrooms 1. 12x11                  2 .   12x11      3     .11x7   Garage is oversized 2 car.   Home comes with all floorcoverings, stove and dishwasher You will need a fridge and washer an dryer. Call if you have any questions

His reply:

Thanks for your mail,i appreciate your wanting to help us in our
situation.I am a Pharmacist here in the united kingdom and i am
currently working with  QueensGate Pharmacy , Woodstock, OX20 1TF,
United Kingdom. I will be in the united states of America for the next
one year with my wife
and daughter and during my stay i will be working with John Bruce DG
of Honeywell  Inc.We have a financier that is based in
the states and he will be handling the rent deposit payment on our
behalf,we will instruct him to send you the check for this as soon as
you give us the go ahead
to make payment to you.
 Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival,we are making
arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home with
furniture,so we will need you to provide us with the measurements of
the living room and bedroom so that we can send it to the furniture
company so that they can supply the unit with furniture that will fit
in well.
 As regards the lease agreement,i want you to send it to me for my
review,i will eventually have it filled and signed on my arrival in
your place as i am of the opinion that such documents are best filled
and signed physically.We can start the lease by the 1st of January and
we will be doing a one year lease although we will not be arriving
until the  4th week of January You can prepare the lease in my Name..
 Let us know how to move ahead as we intend to complete this deal
before we move in by the end of the month,we will let you know the
exact date as soon as we get a booking on a flight to the states.  

Thanks and sincere regards from me and my family. Regards

He says he will do all this and that a check is sent by ups overnight.

Love ad behold there is a check in the mail but for almost $6000  and not $1250 which was the rent and deposit.

However still no paperwork and I mail him back

Hello I did get the UPS package. My wife had taken it and was not home when I got home. I can not do anything with the money orders yet since it is my policy that I have to have a filled application back from you and your wife, INCLUDING copies of passports and workpermit. Since you are from England I can not do a regular credit check you see. Please send this to me asap.

I am very suspicious now and decide to fax copies of the check (which look very real) to the bank and sure enough they are fake.

At this point I decide to play the game and see what happens.Itell him there is nothing I can do yet since he did not provide me with paperwork.

He writes back and says he likes to sign in person otherwise he is not interested and sends the next email

Ok am sorry then i wont be able to do that then cuz i believe all should be done in person... Well i wish u might rent this since u said its not possible so Kindly cash the processed Money Orders sent to you and get the funds in the amount of $5990 via MoneyGram at any Walmart Store sent to this info below:     Name: DAVID BUDD
City: OAKFIELD
State: NY
Zip Code: 14125   And  get back to me with infos like Sender Name (As Written on MG receipt)
REF # (REFERENCE NUMBER On MONEYGRAM Receipt)
Actual Amount Sent ( After deduction of MG fees)   Pls get this done today and get back to me asap with info needed.... Regards

So he thinks that I will do that? Sure but only a little different than he thinks. My next email(lol)

Sorry I will not use moneygram or western union. I do not trust that. Since you gave me the responsibility to handle a lot of money I did not ask for, it will be UPS or Fedex  to send back. Other option will be picking up in person since you will be here in a couple of weeks any way. Let me know what you prefer

So he calls and emails. His calls I do not answer and his emails get the same reply.... UPS only

The following emails show him going from asking, then being nice, then demanding and finally threatening.

see here how it ends.

email1

Pls Mark... Am pleading as a friend to kindly help me and get the money sent via MG at any walmart store near you .. i dont mind you deducting $50 as gas fees but help me get it sent today ...Western Union Or MoneyGram whichever is nearer to you and get back to me with Info Needed On The receipt after u have send it... Pls ok...I will await Info from you asap Regards

email2

Listen as long as u get the funds sent via MG or WU ... and given info .. U wont have liabilty for whatever happen ... Ok... So lets stop arguing abt this cuz its my money and thats how i want it .... So i await info and Pls no more Objection... Thanks

email3

Well i appriciate you been honest ....  but i understand that fact .. My financier incured the money for the Furniture to the checks thinking u will be around when delivering the arrangement of the furnitures when they deliver it .. but Pls Mark .. Am Pleading again Send it via WU or MG needed and i await info asap this afternoon.. Thanks

email4 it gets hostile now

Well i will be forced to contact the issuing bank of the money orders discreditng the money from ur bank and in return the bank revoke the  money from your account ... Cuz u re pushing me too far on this fucking mind game u playing with me and i will be telling you to avoid this..Get my fucking money sent via WU or MG near you to the info i provided ....Once and For all

So my final email to him since I realized that he will not give me an address.

"Dr Von Manhoff"   I will not be able to return the check to you simply because I had already contacted the issuing bank myself and found out the checks are false. Therefore I have forwarded the checks and all our email conversations to the attorney general of the state of Missouri and the FBI. If you want your checks back you may want to contact them. I'd be happy to supply you their phone numbers.

All was quiet after that

Reason I wrote this all down is that it is pretty upsetting that these things are happening. Everybody gets the mass mailings from some one in afrika has who has millions that they want to invest in the usa.

However this was a personal attack on me and my family. I want to warn you all out there that it can happen to you. So do not send money to strangers who voluntarily send this to you, especially if they are from a different country.

If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is.

Luckily the story has a good ending. The home is rented out.

Mark