Estate Agents As "Legal Advisers"?

OPINION by Tim O'Dwyer M.A., LL.B Solicitor Consumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au Harcourts real estate agent, Lester Drew, in a recent letter to the editor of Queensland's Courier Mail criticised an earlier column in that newspaper about selling real estate. Drew pointed out in his letter (as published) that columnist Scott Pape was a financial advisor, was not a �registered member� of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland and was �not professionally qualified as deemed by the State...(read more)

Read More...

[Source: Australian Real Estate Blog]

REIV - Bad Investment Advice On Buyers' Advocates

OPINION by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd As an investment adviser Enzo Raimondo, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria is the last person a property purchaser should listen to. In his most recent article " Buyer's agent a sound investment " in the Domain section of The Age newspaper Saturday 17 January, 2009, Raimondo is quite dishonest with readers as he misstates the law on purchaser advocacy and...(read more)

Read More...

[Source: Australian Real Estate Blog]

Licensed Conveyancers - PI Insurance Problems

OPINION by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd Professional indemnity insurance for licensed conveyancers is a high-risk problem. The licensing of conveyancers under the Victorian Conveyancers Act 2006 was expected to safeguard consumers by requiring all licensed conveyancers to have professional indemnity insurance cover. However, the requirement for professional indemnity insurance has had the reverse effect...(read more)

Read More...

[Source: Australian Real Estate Blog]