Real estate agents busted by the law
If you haven’t heard about these, you’re going to want to keep reading.
Hamptons Bay real estate agent, Melanie Williams, was charged with three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and three counts of first-degree scheme to defraud.
What did she do? According to police, Williams took the deposits of the prospective tenants and then when the move-in day approached told them the rental was still not available. Police are asking for any others who may have been a victim of Williams scam to contact Southhampton Town Police Department.
If that case wasn’t enough, this case from Missouri City, Texas will certainly leave you shaking your head. The police are investigating claims that the Halls family hired a Realtor who, get this, took ownership and started leasing out the property.
That’s right, this supposed Realtor placed an ad on Craigslist and tried to lease the property. According to KHOU 11 news, when they looked up the realtor’s name with Texas Real Estate Commission, no records were found.
Cresa settles sexual discrimination suit
Cresa has settled the sexual discrimination suit that was filed against them last summer.
Jamie Addeo, an office leasing broker, filed a lawsuit last year against the company claiming that she was harassed and denied opportunities to advance her career because of her gender and sexuality (bisexual).
Addeo, who now runs her own office leasing brokerage in Long Island City, referred to the work environment at Cresa as openly hostile toward women. She reported she had not been given equal pay and was not allowed to advance to the position of principle.
While the terms of the settlement are not public, it was reported that at least one of the principles named in the lawsuit will remain at the firm’s NYC office.
Brown Harris Stevens STILL won’t send listings to StreetEasy
It seems like the saying “water under the bridge” doesn’t apply here. According to Bess Freedman, co-president of Brown Harris Stevens, the brokerage will not be sending their listings to StreetEasy. Ever since it started to allow agents the ability to advertise on a competitor’s listings, many have followed in Freedman’s footsteps. She commented in an interview with CrainsNewYork.com, “We are not sending our listings to StreetEasy, and neither are Compass, Stribling or Warburg. I know because I’ve asked them.”
