Evil Gains Entry

When we open our doors to strangers, we can never be certain what malice an outsider might bring in. Police officers tell us to keep our doors locked with good reason. Yet, every day in this country, thousands of naive citizens, aspiring to market their homes-without paying a brokerage fee-place themselves at considerable risk.

With fierce crime on an increase, eager For Sale By Owners, are often slack in their judgment of just how dangerous such a thrift venture is. Husbands become homicides, wives are ravaged, families forever devastated, all because invincible men are anxious to sell homes themselves to people who-they only want to believe-are qualified buyers.

What would For Sale By Owners do if they knew they were really buying trouble?

As a retired real estate broker, I feel qualified to shed some light on this, all too often, evaded area of concern. Most agents are reluctant to tell people just how dangerous it is to open their door to strangers. Understandably, people who must sell homes would, if they can avoid it, rather not pay sales commission fees. Of course, it is absolutely within a consensual couple's rights to sell their home themselves.

But all too often, the man saying, "We can sell it ourselves, Honey," pops a FOR SALE BY OWNER sign in the yard, and goes off to work. His complacent companion places an ad in the local newspaper, fields the phone, and sets appointments for supposedly interested buyers to come see their home. The danger is cloaked in ignorance.

I've had women, former clients, tell me they had prayed that no one would call, and after peeking out the curtains, then refused to answer the door. In their efforts to be professional, most agents do not wish to alarm or alienate sellers who might list with them later. I am retired and have no such vested interest.

Even Realtors® recognize they are placing themselves at risk when showing houses. Every year, many are abducted, robbed, murdered, or raped in this country. NAR®, the National Association of Realtors, cautions agents to be vigilant, wary with whom they work. Often well-informed agents will no longer do "Open Houses" because it is simply too hazardous. The commission reward of marketing a home in this manner is disproportional to the risk.

Evil is discouraged entry when we bar the door.

Russ Miles is the author of the novel, For Sale By Owners:FSBO. Seasoned Real Estate NAR® Broker Disabled by Multiple Sclerosis, FOR SALE BY OWNERS:FSBO ISBN 0-595-28703-4,in trade paperback,is available by phone or Internet:1-800-Authors to order direct!Very HOT-LINK Adobe e-book & hard cover editions also availableFSBO at Amazon.com at Barnes and Noble and other fine booksellers.Comments: MilesRuss@Gmail.com. Russ provides personal referrals to his publisher.

More than 40 states signed onto a proposed $25-billion deal with major mortgage servicers over faulty foreclosure practices. New York, Nevada and Delaware joined California in holding out for better terms.

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California has until Monday to share in a multi-state deal with banks to obtain mortgage relief and reforms. Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, who walked away from talks last year, says the door remains open.

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Do you fit any of these descriptions?

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L.A. Clipper Chris Paul may be quick down the court, but he moves pretty fast when it comes to buying multimillion-dollar real estate too.