Home > Blogs > Cindy Ledbetter > Cindy Ledbetter's (c21cindy) Blog

Creative or special buyer incentatives ? What should and should not be allowed?

By Cindy Ledbetter

Real Estate Agent with Century 21 The Pinnacle Group

April 10, 2009 05:06 AM

I personally have seen many creative ways to advertise properties for sale. What is appropriate and what is not? The real estate laws are different for each state and I assume rules for advertising are as well.

Some of the ads I have saw of course offer closing costs for buyers or bonuses for buyers agents. These are typical I understand. How do you feel about some of the other offers out there. For instance, a few years ago in one of our neighboring counties there was a Realtor who offered: BUY THIS HOME and Get THIS JEEP FOR FREE...he had a lot of showings. Also in a lake community...BUY THIS HOME AND GET THIS BOAT FREE and the use of boat slip free for one year.Or this one.... BUY FROM ME and USE MY MOVING VAN FOR FREE.(with a picture of a van advertising the real estate company).

I am sure there are plenty more creative ads out there,however are these appropriate, legal, or considered a form of Branding.

I am not a real estate attorney and am not quite sure if any of these ads I mentioned are legal or not. I love creative ways to sell my customers properties,however I personally only want to use the legal ways.

I am interested in hearing from all of you and questionable or interesting ads from your locations?

Thank You

Re-Blog

Comments(6)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Steve Chaisson

Keller Williams - Nashville, TN

Even though these items would be listed on a bill of sale separately from the transaction, they would be considered valuable consideration and I would get a legal opinion on the appropriate required disclosures to the lender or on the HUD-1 statement.

Apr 10, 2009 05:10 AM

Dinah Lee Griffey

Windermere Peninsula Properties - Allyn, WA

Managing Broker Windermere Peninsula Properties

I am not a fan of this approach. I sell homes. It is not my job to bribe people into the purchase. Dinah Lee

Apr 10, 2009 05:21 AM

Cindy Ledbetter

Century 21 The Pinnacle Group - Marion, NC

I personally agree, I feel in NC some of these may be bordering illegal. I had rather incentatives go towards closing the deal for the buyers and sellers. Thank You for your comment.Cindy

Apr 10, 2009 05:30 AM

Connie Lou Barnett

Real Living/Home Realty - Owensboro, KY

GRI,CRS,CRB,SRMM,ARA,PRS,SFR,QSC

I have seen the seller offer the buyer a week's vacation, and one seller offered a large screen TV. These incentives were from the seller not the Realtor. Again it depends on what state you are in.

Apr 10, 2009 06:08 AM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

The best incentive...always...is a price reduction. The second best incentive is really special financing.

Apr 10, 2009 09:35 AM

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate

Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL

Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

We invite you back to ActiveRain in 2016!

    Much has changed since your last visit to ActiveRain. I encourage you to take another look at the website.

    Surf some blogs, leave some comments. Better yet, post a Blog.

    Best to you!

Mar 15, 2016 12:10 PM

Comments(6)

Cindy Ledbetter

Recent Posts