Question: Libby, I found a home rental that’s really cheap. Should I take it? Answered by Libby Guthrie

Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Libby Guthrie with Keller Williams Realty in Northern California. I’m going to talk today about rental scams and for what you need to be on the lookout for in case you’re looking for a rental. Please make sure that when you are looking for a rental, you go to a reputable place and you check and fact check exactly what they’re offering you.

So for example, I had a listing that we had for sale and someone had put it on an internet site for rent and it was well below what the market rent would have been. So they got people interested in it. And a couple of people did investigate and found out that, the home was for sale and questioned that person that was, offering it for rent.

And that person told them that just to ignore the for sale sign in the yard. That it is for rent and that he or she was not very happy with their real estate agent. And so they wanted to rent it out. So, but this particular one and they were offering it for rent for $1,400 a month and the normal rent in that area would have run about $2000 to $2,300 a month.

They were also asking for a $900 security deposit and a $35 application fee. The security deposits in that area normally would run about $2000 to $3000. So one particular person did contact me, found out and I confirmed that it was for sale. It wasn’t for rent.

And, then another person contacted me and unfortunately, they had already sent that rental scammer a security deposit by wire. So please make sure that you fact check and make sure that the home is not for sale. And that, that person is the true owner of that property. So what we ended up having to do on the people did contact the police department and the Attorney General’s, Office, I’m sorry, District Attorney’s Office and, wanted to make sure that that was reported.

So just be careful out there. Again, if you do suspect something, contact the agent that is the home listed for sale and confirm whether or not it is actually for rent. So, if you can please use a professional to help you find a rental and, contact, a brokerage that does do rentals and, or a property management company.

So be careful out there. And if you have any real estate needs or questions, feel free to contact me at (925) 628-2436. Thanks.