DALTX Real EstateDALTX Real EstateDALTX Real Estate
  • Home
  • Guest Post
  • Agents
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise With Us
Reading: How to Spot a Scam: The Price on This Forest Hills Midcentury Modern Was Too Good to be True
Share
Font ResizerAa
DALTX Real EstateDALTX Real Estate
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Guest Post
  • Agents
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise With Us
  • Home
  • Guest Post
  • Agents
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise With Us
Follow US
© DALTX. All Rights Reserved.
DALTX Real Estate > Real Estate Scammers > How to Spot a Scam: The Price on This Forest Hills Midcentury Modern Was Too Good to be True
Real Estate Scammers

How to Spot a Scam: The Price on This Forest Hills Midcentury Modern Was Too Good to be True

3 Min Read
SHARE

Screen-shot-2015-09-28-at-2.09.20-PM

At first, my eternal optimism and wishful thinking had me fooled when I saw this amazing deal on Zillow. Heck, who wouldn’t want to sprint for their checkbook after seeing this gorgeous four-bedroom, three-bath renovated midcentury modern for sale at the bargain basement price of $300K.

*record scratches*

Wait, that house looks familiar … wasn’t it on the market last year for more than twice that?

As it turns out, this was a bogus listing. I had stumbled upon a real estate scam.

After doing a little digging, I was able to track down the phone number of the homeowner. After one very awkward call, he confirmed that his house was absolutely not for sale and that he had no clue that someone was trying to sell it on Zillow. On the website, the home was listed as “for sale by owner.” There was no Realtor to follow up on, so it only had to pass muster with Zillow, but even Zillow’s own records show it was sold Oct. 8, 2014, for $685,000 …

Of course, I tried to see how far I would get by contacting the seller through Zillow’s agent contact form, and was connected with RE/MAX Realtor Shaun Walding, who was kind and apologetic and said he’d follow-up on the listing.

(UPDATE: Walding says he drove by the home and there wasn’t a sign in the yard or any indication that the home was for sale. He’s heard of people doing similar scams on Craigslist, posting pictures of already occupied properties and claiming that they are for lease, and then running off with the deposit and first month’s rent, leaving the would-be tenant without a place to hang their hat. This, however, was a first for him.”

Since then, the listing has been taken down, but I haven’t heard back from Zillow or the homeowner about the resolution. Will Zillow take action against the fraudulent seller? Will they report them to the police?

And that wasn’t the only strange FSBO I was sent today: 613 Aqua Dr. was on Zillow for $113,000 when it was sold in Oct. of last year for $195,000. Weird, right?

613-Aqua

Have you ever dealt with a bogus listing on Zillow or one of the other MLS hubs?

One-on-One With Candy: Rogers Healy on the Strength of The DFW Market
What Makes the Dallas-Fort Worth Area So Attractive to Apartment Developers?
Meet Gracie Morrow. Speaks Fluent Mandarin and Hails From The Down Under
Pushing The Envelope: Stephan Sardone Uses Unusual Techniques to Build Style and Substance
Don’t Ponder, Pounce On This Northwest Dallas Find
TAGGED:Dallas real estate newsDallas Real Estate Scamfor sale by ownerReal Estate ScamZillow
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Max Anderson is Leaving the DMA and Listing His Wilderness Court Estate
Next Article Tuesday Two Hundred: Lakewood Midcentury Priced for Quick Sale
Popular News
Development

The Battle for Roy Creek Canyon: Balancing Development and Conservation in Mirasol Springs

Realtor Commission Splits: Who Gets How Much?
Modern Luxury Dallas Real Estate Awards: Who Rocked The 2020 Market?
Three Things to Know About How The Media Exaggerates News on The Real Estate Market
More South Edgefield Neighbors Join Fight to Keep Disabled Resident in His Family Home
about us

DaltxRealEstate.com is the largest real estate blog and the only one in North Texas.

Links

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact Us
  • Paid Guest Post Submission

Categories

  • Wednesday WTF
  • East Dallas
  • Monday Morning Millionaire
  • Upon Closer Inspection

Get Involved

  • Advertise With Us
  • Write for Us: Submit Guest Post

Find Us on Socials

© DALTX. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?