in this issue…
Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995™
• ABoR/TREPAC VIP Screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" • Parade of Homes "Raise the Roof" Street Party Preview • ABoR PAC Spelling Bee Hunt • and much, much more!
Changing the rules!
Associates in Progress
page 19
page 25
TM
AUGUST 2012 • VOLUME 17 • ISSUE 4
Back to school: innovative classes in real estate worth their salt By Marilyn McCray
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ever before has the real estate industry experienced so much change. Now real estate professionals can choose from a widerange of classes and programs to increase their skills, proficiency and knowledge. The courses range from initial licensing and brokers classes to continuing education, professional and personal development. They focus on the basics as well as current
topics and trends in real estate. Courses are available in a traditional classroom setting, online and by home study/correspondence. Some organizations even offer private or one-on-one classes. Here is a brief overview of the more innovative offerings currently available in Central Texas. Technology has changed real estate. Many classes are devoted to teaching REALTORS to navigate the technology from discovering the most popular apps to social media. Tools like smart phones or the iPad have made it
possible for REALTORS to spend less time behind a desk—making it feasible to be more productive as a mobile agent. Here are just some of the classes that cover the tips and tricks of utilizing technology to enhance productivity. Check out iPad for Real Estate from Independence Title Company, iReal Estate at Gracy Title, Technology 101 from the Austin Board of REALTORS, Top 20 Tech Tools from the Williamson County
Front Page: Continued on page 26
Special Report: real estate fraud and identity theft on Craigslist revealed By Stacy Hale
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or two weeks, Austin area REALTORS Wayne and Kim Gayer were knocked out of commission. Business came to a screeching halt and almost every marketing communication outlet they had was suddenly untrustworthy. The cause? Two back-to-back incidents of real estate fraud and identity theft. Recently, a rash of Craigslist scams have cropped up in the real estate world across the U.S., affecting real estate agents, homeowners and renters. In many cases, con artists post a fictitious real estate listing for a rental or for sale property with unbelievably low rates. The listings include photos from actual properties on the market. The goal is to con the first and last months’ rent out of the victim before they even see the property or sign a contract, often under the premise that the listing agent or owner needs to make a quick sale. In the Gayers’ case, the several fraudulent ads stated that Kim was a widow and needed money right away. Even though the e-mail address listed on the ads sent inquiries directly to the scam artist, Kim’s phone number was still
included. Over a 36-hour period, she received over 500 texts and phone calls from interested parties who saw the ad and decided to call for more details. “I’d be showing a property and my phone would lock up with all the constant calls and texts,” Kim says. At first the Gayer’s suspected a prank, but after the fifth call they knew they’d been the victims of fraud. Wayne blocked the ads on Craigslist (reporting it as fraudulent through the Craigslist system), but the listings would appear again days later under a new dummy account, each time resulting in a flood of calls and texts with inquiries about properties, vehicles for sale, and some concerned friends who wanted to make sure the Gayers were okay. He then contacted the Austin Police Department. Nine days later, an investigator followed up with the Gayers stating that they were unable to investigate ads that had been blocked or were no longer active. Wayne also contacted the FBI, but because of the millions of similar complaints the bureau simply did not have the
Scam: Continued on page 34
Upcoming Events Thursday, August 23 HBA Speed Selling Event HBA Office - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ABoR PAC Wine Tasting Max's Wine Dive - 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, August 24 WCAoR Farm & Ranch Meeting WCAoR Office - 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 4 HBA Lakeway/Bee Cave Chapter Fore - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, September 6 Capital Title Lakeway Office Grand Opening - 2501 RR 620 South Time TBD as of press time Friday, September 7 HBA Networking Social BMC Select Showroom - 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 13 WCR Business Resource Meeting Cool River Café - 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. WCAoR TREPAC Cheesburgers in Paradise - WCAoR Office - 4 p.m. Wednesday, September 19 NAHREP Monthly Luncheon Cool River Café - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, September 20 WCAoR Pardner Up & Cowboy Cook Off WCAoR Office - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. NARI General Membership Meeting Dave & Busters - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. HBA 2012 Golf Extravaganza Forest Creek Golf Club - 12 to 6 p.m. CCIM Skeet Shoot & Horseshoe Tournament - Four-O Ranch - 1 to 7 p.m. More at www.myRealtyLine.com