Estate Agents Should NEVER Conduct Inspections

OPINION by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd When unknown visitors rummage through children's clothes during a property inspection it can give rise to all sorts of fears and concerns. It is now well known that theft and "snooping trauma" are common occurrences during real estate inspections conducted by real estate agents. Real estate vendors are advised that they should never allow a real estate agent to conduct...(read more)

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[Source: Australian Real Estate Blog]

Video Recording of Real Estate Auctions

OPINION by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd It's time for consumers to get serious about the tricks and criminal conduct associated with real estate auctions. As most of the criminal conduct associated with auctions takes place when the auction is in progress, the logical solution is to make a record of the proceedings. The video recording of every real estate auction would greatly assist in keeping real estate...(read more)

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[Source: Australian Real Estate Blog]

Official Disinterest In A Forgery Of "Convenience Only"

OPINION by Tim O'Dwyer M.A., LL.B Solicitor Consumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au A Logan City (Queensland) couple, Jose and Maria, heard glowing reports from a Filipino friend of his negatively-geared property investments. After Jose and Maria showed some interest in making such investment themselves their friend helpfully arranged some introductions for them. Before long this pair of novice property investors found themselves signing contracts through an estate agent and financial adviser...(read more)

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[Source: Australian Real Estate Blog]

Off-The-Plan Unit Contracts At Risk

OPINION by Tim O'Dwyer M.A., LL.B Solicitor Consumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au Conveyancing solicitors across Queensland have been anxiously scurrying to their filing cabinets to check settled and unsettled off-the-plan unit contracts following a surprise court decision. Serious repercussions could flow far and wide from this decision - not only for the state�s legal profession, but also for the local property development industry and the government. Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Mackenzie�s...(read more)

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[Source: Australian Real Estate Blog]

The Myth of the Real Estate Agent Negotiator

OPINION by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd A real estate sale negotiator requires a thorough knowledge of the laws and regulations affecting real estate, drafting expertise to convert ideas into a written document that will give legal effect to the agreement reached, and the ability to recognise threats to the legality of the sale (and to be able to deal with them if they arise). Only a qualified property lawyer...(read more)

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[Source: Australian Real Estate Blog]