Beware...This can happen to you!!!!

Could this happen to you???

Agent # 1 has customers who do not speak English thus creating some major language barriers. All paperwork and communications go through another couple who do speak English, they act as the interpreters/representatives...and they interpret all the information for the actual buyers. The Agent works with the buyers and their representatives whose names are Amil and Leticia Brooks...communications were very difficult but she provided them with the required agency disclosures and buyer agency agreements.

She also gave them blank copies of a Purchase and Sales agreement so they could get familiar with the terms of the contract that they would be using.

They viewed many homes together over a 2 month period but for one reason or another no paperwork, agency disclosure or BA agreement was ever signed by the buyers or their interpreters. Although the agent insists that she verbally explained it to them and gave them the paperwork to read so they could take their time and understand what they were signing.

The language barrier proved difficult but the Interpreter's Mr or Mrs Brooks, accompanied the buyers on every showing, seemed to understand everything, did all the talking and made all the decisions. The agent continued to work with them even though she had never received the legally required signed disclosures back.

During this period of time they saw one house 3 times and there seemed to be a strong interest in it. They had a lot of questions for the listing agent who was present during one of the showings.

Even though there was interest in the property the Interpreters instructed the agent to keep on searching for the perfect property. A month or so goes by and they continue to communicate with each other via e-mail and phone messages but because the buyers were sick and then the interpreter's were sick... no actual showings took place during that time frame. She continued to send listings and e-mails back and forth, the buyers were still looking at everything on the net but hadn't made any appointments to look at any more homes with the agent.

Meanwhile....back up 3 weeks....

The listing agent (agent #2) of the home shown 3 times by agent #1 gets a call from a co broker... we'll call him agent # 3 who tells her he will be faxing an offer on one of her listings. She does not recognize the co-brokers name or even that he showed the property.
She asks if he showed the house?
He... "No"
She... "Have the buyers seen it?"
He... "No but they have been watching it and know people in the neighborhood"
She... "Are they buying it sight unseen?"
He... "Yes"

The offer comes in and after negotiating a bit the home finally goes under agreement. The accepted offer is lower than the seller had hoped for and with a $23,000 dollar credit to the buyers for closing costs. Everything is signed and all parties go forward.

At the Home inspection the listing Agent(# 2) meets the inspector at the property and both the co-broker(#3) and the buyers fail to show up. The inspector states that this is unlike Leticia as she always shows up. Bells go off in the listing agents head...something sounds familiar.

Agent # 2...thought the name Leticia sounded familiar...and when she went back to her office she checked the Purchase and Sales Agreement to see if the one of the buyers was named Leticia. They were not.

Still puzzled about the name Leticia she looks through her co-broke showing records and remembers once accompanying a co-broker who had showed the the home 3 times with a group of people and the name Leticia stood out because all the other names were hard to understand.

She tracks down that agents information, phone number and calls her. She asks her (agent # 1) what ever happened to her customers that she had showed this home to 3 times??? Agent #1 responds " Oh they are still looking, we haven't physically been out in a while because they've been sick but I'm sending them tons of listings" and she tells her what her customers name are and the names of Leticia and Amil Brooks who are the buyers interpreters.

Shocked they realize that the buyers are the very same buyers that are named on the purchase agreement and the co-broker is a Amalle Brooks...not Amil Brooks...could this be the same person? How odd the names are so close and the name Leticia that the inspector mentioned??? What in the world was happening here???

Can you guess what happened here??

A&L Realty is not licensed to practice real estate in the State of New Hampshire or anywhere else for that matter. Amil or Amalle Brooks does not hold a real estate license. Leticia Brooks is not licensed in the state of New Hampshire.

The scam artists stoop to a new level...These people committed fraud...Think twice before you give out blank copies of contacts to anyone.

Don't recognize the Co-broker your dealing with? Call the real estate commission and find out if they are licensed to practice Real Estate.

This could happen to anyone of us and our clients...Beware the scam artists!!!

Monika McGillicuddy

Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County

Monika McGillicuddy Real Estate Training Website

NH Real Estate Blogs

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH Real Estate

603-548-7728