RENTAL SCAMS

Let's start with the old saying "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" and if you practice this, no need to read any further.

If not, here we go...

Rental Scam #1-Renting a soon-to-be-foreclosed or foreclosed home

Because of the foreclosure crisis, many renters have found themselves with “great deals”, and then are surprised when they are kicked out of their rentals because the bank is foreclosing on the home.

What's happening here is that the owner can no longer keep up with the payments and has decided to pocket the rent until someone catches them aka the bank.

The renter is then left "homeless" and stuck with the expense of trying to find a place to rent and move all their belongings ASAP. Sure, you can try to take them to small claims court but how much money and time are you going to spend attempting to collect $1K at most...remember these folks are probably claiming bankruptcy too.

So how do you avoid this? Get a realtor you trust, one that will look into the tax records and see if it bank owned.

Rental Scam #2-Cheap rentals on Craigslist

There are people who "pirate" a listing and "Claim it" as their own. Then once claimed they make several notable changes.

First and foremost is PRICE, they change it to some ridiculous number that reflects what it would have rented at before the advent of running water and or electricity.

Second, they change the contact info to their brand new email address (see below).

Third, they sit back and wait for you to call/email.

BUT how can they do this you say?

Simple as A, B, C...and even D.

A. They go on public records (very easy to do) and get the owners name.

B. They open an email address such as, I want all of your money@ cuz you are very dumb. com

C. They pose as said owners with a variation of this story; "I am an astronaut and have been transferred to the moon, I need to rent my  home ASAP."

D. They get you to send them dough for keys and the lease (they really are not on the moon).
Or just use the ole bait and switch, telling you, "That house in no longer available, however I can help you find something else..."

How can I avoid such scams, you ask?

Well the obvious answer is hire a Realtor!

Have more questions? Drop me a note at javiergonzalezpa@bellsouth.net or call me at 305.582.5085