A good agent will take the time up front to learn about your specific needs and then use his expertise to narrow the search so that you don't waste day after day looking at what you don't want.

If you are new to the area, we will invest time with you up front obtain a general sense of what you are looking for, then stop discussing property for a while. Why? Because you need to become familiar with the area and we need to know what you feel comfortable with. Jumping right into looking at property can be a waste of your time if you are new to the area. We take great care early on to understand your needs and wants so we don't waste time with substandard properties that don't fit your criteria. The most important first element is an understanding of the neighborhoods. I you don't feel comfortable with that, your home will never feel right to you. We believe that buying property should be a relaxed process that becomes more effective as we understand more about you.

If you are already familiar with certain neighborhoods and know exactly what you want, we can work with you too. A serious buyer may know what he or she wants and we will be happy to find and show property that meets specific criteria. Just ask and we'll print you a list from the MLS.

Ultimately, 541 Realty seeks to build an endearing working relationship with our patrons. If you are considering purchasing property, please contact us for an introductory meeting. Visit our offices and let's see if we feel comfortable working together.

ABOUT FORECLOSURES, SHORT SALES AND BANK-OWNED PROPERTIES

541 Realty does not take listings from banks or relocation companies. These entities and even Fannie Mae, (the federally-owned entity that owns and liquidates property it insures) have embarked on questionable practices, some of which are illegal under state and federal laws. We believe that it is unethical to take these listings and we consistently refuse them.

We will help buyers interested in purchasing properties being liquidated. Since we refuse to list with the banks, we can be a trusted partner for a buyer seeking representation and assistance navigating a complicated system that places great liability on the buyer.

541 Realty has gone on record publicly and filed complaints against financial institutions and others using practices that contradict the foundations of development of real estate law, procedures and ethical conduct developed over the past 50 years. The state governments, federal government, and the National Association of Realtors have so far refused to address the mounting problems. Short sales seldom work because the banks don't really want to liquidate the properties. Think about it: they can write off the perceived loss, take TARP money, and hold the property until the market improves selling for large profit. Short sales rarely work because the banks only go through the motions of selling in order to make it appear they are trying to unload so-called toxic assets.

There are no "toxic assets." The real estate market downturn was created largely by the malfeasance of financial institutions throughout the foreclosure and liquidation process. The methods are so diabolical, many buyers won't take the risk to purchase one of their properties, which drives the market down further by decreasing demand. Properties for sale for long periods of time bring down neighboring values. They say they can't afford to sell their properties under established transaction rules. So they outsource to an "asset manager" which may outsource to a "liquidator." They force buyers to use their escrow rather than the buyer's choice, which is a a federal violation under RESPA. Federal agencies are violating this! The escrow agents are typically not professional escrow companies, but lawyers hired to defend the rights of the bank to the detriment of the buyer. It seems ironic that banks have always made ample staff available to take money and write loans, forcing others to behave legally when they are involved. But suddenly they don't have enough staff to do what every homeowner can do when they list a property for sale? If bank business is so far down, shouldn't there be extra staff available to help? Of course. This is just a political and media shell game for the mega-banks and holders of paper to extort more money from taxpayers.

Bribery has been winning. Most national real estate franchises take these listings and follow the edicts handed down by the banks. 541 Realty does not, and we're not about to tell buyers everything is fine and smooth. We push the envelope and can get a little bit more in terms of rights for buyers who still want to buy property under these circumstances. We maintain integrity in this insane world. Who would you rather work with?