Raffi Tal has been successfully executing short sales since the early 90's and currently oversees all files as the company’s EVP. Under Tal’s leadership, I Short Sale, Inc. has become one of the nation’s leading firms in short sale volume. As an authority in the field of loss mitigation, Tal has been a guest speaker on the issue in various conferences, seminars and for a variety of media outlets.This warning will help ensure you don’t become a victim of short sale fraud, as more and more cases of it are being documented nationwide.
LOS ANGELES - Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today joined the California Department of Real Estate and the State Bar of California to warn homeowners about an alarming rise in short sale fraud across
"While short sales can provide homeowners with a last-ditch alternative to foreclosure, this market is rife with scam artists," Brown said. "Homeowners and buyers, agents, and lenders should beware of short sale negotiators who operate without licenses, use straw buyers or charge illegal fees."
With so many homeowners now considering short sales, an entire industry of so-called short sale negotiators has emerged. These individuals solicit homeowners by promising to expedite the process and help coax lenders into taking part in the transaction.
The Department of Real Estate is investigating more than 40 complaints of short sale fraud, up from "virtually zero" cases only three months ago, a spokesman said. .
Before working with -- or paying -- any short sale negotiator, homeowners should consider the following red flags:
No license
With limited exceptions, only licensed real estate agents or attorneys can engage in short sale negotiations with a homeowner's lender.
Up-front fees
Licensed real estate agents wishing to collect up-front fees from homeowners for short sale transactions must first submit an advance fee contract to the Department of Real Estate and receive a no-objection letter.
Surcharges
With many distressed properties listed well below market value, negotiators and agents are charging potential buyers thousands of dollars in surcharges and hidden fees just to place an offer on a home. These illegal fees are frequently not disclosed and are paid outside escrow.
Straw buyers and house flipping
In this scheme, short sale negotiators misrepresent the market value of a property to a homeowner's lender by only submitting offers on the property from an affiliated straw buyer. After the home is purchased below market value, the fraudsters immediately flip it and pocket the difference.
If you are a homeowner who has been scammed, contact Brown's office at 1-800-952-5225 or file a complaint online at: www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general.php.
Homeowners can also learn more about avoiding mortgage and real estate fraud by visiting the Department of Real Estate website at: http://www.dre.ca.gov/cons_alerts.html. A complaint form can be accessed online at: http://www.dre.ca.gov/frm_consumer.html.
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