dishonest rental brokers by craigslist postings

add them to some spam lists.

Send them to Craig and have them Banned from using the site But you need proof

These are basically bait and switch brokers that will get you to call about one place that isnt available or real and then they show you another POS place. When you call them out they only know to threaten as yes they are a bunch of thugs, morons, and basic hustlers that gave up sellings drugs and knock-off goods to pursue a career in renting apartments. I posted an earlier thread about brokers that drag people to no-fee buildings, have building agents do all the work, then ask the client for a months fee bc they showed them the apartmen. Anyone else have stories?

here is another one (open the links to to see how 'different' these apartments are):

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/abo/1715743311.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/abo/1715742816.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/abo/1715739321.html

LOVE this thread, as I am an actual owner who still posts by no fee apts there, and have to deal with these low lives invading space that is not for them

Here is a good rule of thumb for now. I will try and a dd a few more later:
Do not trust "brokers" operating with a gmail account. They could very well not even have a LICENSE!!!

Renting is not a natural state. So in an unnatural environment, you have scammers who take advantage. How many people gew up in a home that their parents owned, only to move to New York City and attempt to rent. And then you hear the complaints, about the brokers, about the landlords, about the neighbors, about the building.

I agree. I am looing for an apartment to rent and find this incredibly annoying, and also completely dishonest. I am quite happy to rent via a broker, but the mere fact that a broker has deliberately posted in the 'by owner' section (and it is deliberate) is enough to put me off. They should be barred from craigslist, not just personally but their companies too.
How can we find legitimate owners who want to rent directly to tenants?

"How can we find legitimate owners who want to rent directly to tenants?"

nybits.com

how about avoid someone who gives you an @gmail address? at least it's a start....

You should check these guys for references ... www.rateyourbroker.com is a good choice

Frazier's Realty and onemonthfees.com do this

read it

http://www.inman.com/news/2010/07/13/craigslist-best-practices

look for a broker that has an actual physical address or an actual website. It's okay if the listings are a little outdated, it's been a very busy few months, but they should have someplace for you to look.

I don't really care if someone posts by owner and they are a broker because who wants to pad Craig's pocket when he spends so little time improving his site... poor writing, poor site construction and poor communication are the responsibility of the person posting and should not be tolerated.

here's a post that helps weed out real listings from bs ones on craigslist (along with an explanation of why things have evolved to this point)

http://theapplepeeled.com/renters/have-new-yorkers-outgrown-craigslist/

Craig do not charge owners for posting on CL, and guess who makes all the money - of course owners. Brokers have to pay $10 per ad even for no fee apartments. Even prostitutes pay $5 per ad now, and who do you think makes more $$$ in this non-stable market? Brokers or prostitutes? And look at the prices of apartments? Did the rent actually went down - raise your hand if you think so.

There is absolutely no regulation in advertising beyond what the brokerage self-imposes.

With the bar so low for entry into real estate, is it any wonder it attracts the lowest of the low who are just looking to make a quick buck? Requiring a green card or a work visa would shake out a good number of dishonest agents. Admittedly some decent folk would take a hit too but the business would be better for it overall, and that's the point.

Since we're talking Craigslist, I want to caution that I have received several phone calls now from out-of-towners looking to rent, and they saw an apartment of mine (that is, a listing, I'm a broker) on CL and tracked me down and called me.

There's just one little problem.......I don't have any rental postings on CL. At all. Not one.

What's happening is, scammers are taking sales listing info and turning it into a rental listing by owner, grabbing photos and all, and then posting it. But it's not for rent, it's for sale.

My most recent caller told me about a new wrinkle: When he called about the rental apartment, he was given another phone number to call and a security code to recite "to prove he (the rental seeker) was legitimate" (!) He even went ahead and did all that, but for some reason got suspicious during that call, Googled the address and found me.

In all cases the rents in the ads are below market, sometimes much below market. So a local might know it was a little spooky but an out-of-towner might not.

Also, there's usually some elaborate story about how the owner actually lives overseas, and travels a lot, and therefore can't show it right away, etc. etc.

And yes, you can and should definitely report this to CL, but it might pop right back up again.

And Roro and OP, if I may comment: Actually, there IS regulation of advertising by brokers.

Running blind ads is strictly prohibited, it's a test question on the state exam. Brokers (salespersons) must give their full name, the fact that they're brokers, AND (most important of all) the name of their firm in every ad. Unfortunately I too see a lot of blind ads, I always complain to the culprit.

Karla Harby
Charles Rutenberg Realty
kharby@crrnyc.com

Karla, sure, on paper it's illegal. The fact that there is zero enforcement is the problem. And it's not just blind ads, it's also ads being posted by agents representing themselves and their broker in the ad, and simply lying.

@ somewhere else, regarding your comment, "add them to some spam lists": What do you refer to? Adding them to one's email spam blockers?
Thanks!

More of these directory type listings should occur across many business segments.It would be a great source of data and reference point for consumers. Of course the evidence would need to be verified and endorsed!

Regards,
Michael
http://www.cifgltd.com/