Houston Area Realtor Claims "Area Specialist" ... GETS SUED.

In my opinion...with no real estate experience except that of a home stager and no law background, except that of a billing clerk for a law practice...

there are so many people throwing around terms like "specialist" and I'm so sick of it.  I would love to see the agent in your story held responsible, and believe she should have known what was happening in that neighborhood. Probably highly unlikely though that a case like that would win.

That's a very good question, Greg. In general I don't like all that "advertising" such as million dollar producer, neighborhood specialist, etc.

I used the term "local realtor" not "specialist."  I farm an area that I live in and walk every night with my dogs.  I'm always talking to people in the neighborhood.  I would never take that idea to an area in which I had no personal connection.  

I'm assuming Betty was from out of the area, and if so, may have deserved to be sued.

If you are going to promote yourself as the local specialist, then you should be on top of all that is going on, including the highway expansion

Setting unreal expectations is a good way to disappoint anyone when you can't deliver regardless of whether you are sued. Betty should try to over deliver, not over promise.

A good lawyer can make a case for anything. I don't happen to think road construction, especially when an agent doens't know about it and nobody else seems to know, is grounds for a lawsuit. It seems outside the realm of what an agent is responsible to know.

Being a Specialist doesn't mean you're also a Soothsayer.  I can tell you about my neighborhood as it exists today, and yesterday, but not tomorrow.

It's good to be up on the latest developments, however, an agent cannot possibly "know it all". So, your point is well taken--best to not say you are the "area specialist" or try to practice law on the contract...

I would have to say that most people with a brain will hear of an expansion of that type coming down the road (literally). If 1/2 the subdivision is going to be condemned under eminent domain then she should have known because she 'is' the area specialist right? It means you know what is going on. You infer that you know what is going on except when you look stupid. Take responsibility for your stupid moniker. Maybe it should just be 'agent' instead of know it all?

I see our fellow agents have no love for this agent.  However, just because one claims to be a specialist, doesn't mean that they claim to know it all.  There are doctors that call themselves "specialist".  But we already know that this is not alwasy the case.  She may know a lot about the area, But she didn't claim to know EVERYTHING.  A specialist doesn't mean one is a encyclopedia.  This country will sue for just about anything and that should be more concerning here.  Why didn't he do his own due dilligence.  Some people want to push the blame on everyone but themselves these days.