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Buyers/Renter beware- Fraudulent Info on Rent to Own Websites.

By
Real Estate Agent with Raleigh Cary Realty

Because I have a 2 wonderful listings that the sellers are offering as "lease to purchase" as well as selling, I've been receiving many phone calls from potential clients looking for more information.

A few days ago a gentleman called and was asking about the homes, citing incorrect information that was "listed on the website".  I finally had to ask him where he got this information.

It was on a "rent to own" website. Well, I never posted it there,  So I had to explore and this is what I found:

wolverhampton Raleigh

 

 

Both of the homes I have listed on this street,are displayed with a banner saying Rent to Own.  Now technically there is a difference between "rent to own" and lease purchase.  With a lease/ purchase you have to write an Offer to Purchase on the home  and do all of your Due Diligence BEFORE you move into the home and "lease" it. And there is a definite time frame in which the leasee has to buy the home.

The website also lists each home as 3 1/2 baths, which they do not have. 

Notice the "details" button? Here's what you find when you click it:

wolverhampton Raleigh

 

Yes, not a lot of details, just a lot of requests to "join now for details".  You know what that means- they want money!

I clicked one link and it asked for your credit card number, and says you'll get a 7 day free trial, and only be charged 1$.  How much after that will be on your credit card bill though?

 

More misleading info:wolverhampton Raleigh

 

This paragraph is in front of EVERY home listed. Now, since this is my listing, it's obviously not being sold directly by it's owner.  The gentleman who called me thought I was the owner, not a real estate agent. He was asking me very personal questions about why "I" was moving, etc.

 

Here's the worst part, and what this gentleman who called me was talking about: 

They gave this Financial Info:

wolverhampton Raleigh

 

Except for the asking price, all of the other financial details are incorrect and misleading. This website does disclose this as saying "Potential" at the top, although most people reading this would assume that these were the correct amounts. However, none of the other payments are what the seller is looking for.

If you're looking for a legitimate home for sale, you should never have to "pay" for information. 

A Realtor will  give you any of this information for free!

Also, a Realtor will never disclose financial details such as these. It's against RESPA rules, as we don't know your particular situation.

 

Want to know details about any home for sale, or these homes that are lease/ purchase?  Go to www.nchomesfinder.com and click on Search. I'll just ask for your name and email address so that I can send you info on other homes.  If you don't want to give that to me, it's fine. You can still search for homes on your own. But I'll NEVER ask you for your credit card information or for money!

 

 

Posted by

 

 

  

 As your local specialist, Linda Jandura knows Apex and Cary!

Call me today at 919-621-1691.

 

About The Author

Linda Jandura is a North Carolina Residential Real Estate Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of homes in the Raleigh Cary Metro area, or any place else in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice.

 To find all available homes for sale in the Triangle area of North Carolina, please visit www.NCHomesFinder.com

Call me TODAY at 919-621-1691

Email me with your Raleigh Cary area questions 

Jeanne M. Gavish
Jeanne Gavish, Keller Williams Realty Elite Partners - Spring Hill, FL
Keller Williams Realty Elite Partners - CIPS,GRI,S

Unbelievable.  How distressing for you and your owners.  What can be done about this? I knew about Craig's List, but this is the worst I have seen.

Jun 17, 2011 02:35 AM
Dennis Puckett
Adams,Cameron & Co. - Deland, FL

So many tricks. You never know what will happen next. You have to keep your guard up.....

Jun 17, 2011 02:36 AM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

Scammers. One after the next. Bloodsuckers trying to take advantage of people who are already hurt.

"Liked." "Suggested."

Jun 17, 2011 02:54 AM
James Loftis
RealEstate911.com - West Palm Beach, FL
RealEstate911.com

Hello Linda,

Thanks for sharing this information with us.

Jun 17, 2011 03:05 AM
Linda Jandura
Raleigh Cary Realty - Apex, NC
Realtor, North Carolina Buyer & Seller Specialist

Jeanne- I called the NC Real Estate commission and they said that if a Realtor was running the site, they would have some contol. There's no way to find who is running the site, and the domain name is marked private.  So they can't do anything about it.

Dennis- yep, it's just one more thing to worry about.

Mike- thanks for like me! and suggesting. Yep, it's always something.

James- We need to pass the info around to our clients so they don't get taken in. Thanks for commenting.

Jun 17, 2011 05:18 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Linda, good expose' reporting... I notice one of our office listings on that site a few months ago- nope, the owner isn't selling it himself or renting it either ---

Jun 17, 2011 08:14 AM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

That web site should be reported to the Better Business Bureau.  They are scrubbing your listings and presenting false information.

Jun 18, 2011 01:04 AM
Linda Jandura
Raleigh Cary Realty - Apex, NC
Realtor, North Carolina Buyer & Seller Specialist

Mary- interesting that you had a listing on there too. Where do these people get the nerve?

Gabe- I actually called the Real Estate commission and they couldn't do anything about it. I don't think the BBB has any power to stop them either.

 

 

Jun 18, 2011 01:28 AM