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Staying Out of Jail

By
Real Estate Agent with Real Living Realty Professionals

I love this business.   Wouldn't want to do a single other thing - well, maybe except for being the locker-room towel girl for the New England Patriots.   (do you really think you have to tell me that there's no such thing as a locker-room towel girl?  I know that!)   And yes, I still feel that way even after the Superbowl.  They're still my guys.

but seriously, this business we call real estate, which defined more clearly from my perspective is:  "helping people buy and sell homes" has some of the most interesting challenges.  One of them is, as my manager puts it, "staying out of jail".  

In what other profession, and maybe I'll get a lot of response from people in other profession's experiencing the same interesting dilemma - but bear with me a moment - in what other profession is one asked to Sell - as in cause a person to want to buy - while at the same time be vehemently cautioned against things like this: sharing with a buyer that a specific house has a "private" backyard?  theoretically at least, we can't say that.   Or what about the fact that we would be performing an unlawful act by telling a potential buyer that one neighborhood is exceptional while another one could make them wish they were never born once they've closed on a house in it.  We all know those areas exist?  Get it?   Two examples...two of many examples.  And if I weren't out of time, I'd go further.  But it's late and I'm late for dinner and my growling stomach won't let me forget it, so here's to the VERY FIRST BLOG ENTRY of Deborah Deschamps of DeborahSellsHouses.com.

I think this is going to be fun!   I can't go to jail for this  ...can I?

John Walters
Frank Rubi Real Estate - Slidell, LA
Licensed in Louisiana
I don't tell them where to buy.  I don't walk in their shoes either.
Feb 07, 2008 10:13 AM
Sean Allen
International Financing Solutions - Fort Myers, FL
International Financing Solutions

Yepper ... The mortgage business is very similar. Always in fear of getting a fance gray anklet or a brief stay in the Gray Bar Hotel. At least it keeps life interesting.

Sean Allen

Feb 07, 2008 10:17 AM
Deborah Deschamps
Real Living Realty Professionals - Ware, MA

Hi John - well that's good news - not telling them where to buy will definitely help you "stay out of jail".    Not walking in their shoes?  Well, I'm not too sure about the wisdom of that.... I've always done a better job of helping someone when I tried to see things from where they stand.  

 But I respect your thoughts.  Thank you.

Deborah

Feb 08, 2008 05:00 AM
Deborah Deschamps
Real Living Realty Professionals - Ware, MA

Sean Allen and Pilar Lorenzo -   thanks for the chuckle and I know that you have your inherent challenges also within the mortgage industry. 

But with every respect, and I do mean that genuinely, for the people who are ethical and honest in your industry, I've got about 300 bank-owned properties in my direct market area that points to the possibility that a lot of mortgage brokers were not ethical and probably took advantage of some very trusting people.   I don't know how many of those brokers went to jail, but I'd guess not many, if any.  

But we're not really talking literally about going to jail anyway, right?  We're really talking about losing licenses to practice, pay fines, make retribution, etc. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on any or all of that.

 Deborah

Feb 08, 2008 05:10 AM