Saturday, August 7, 2010

Scam "Homebuyer"

Steven Breed
From THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: 8/7/2010

By TARYN LUNA / The Dallas Morning News


tluna@dallasnews.com
A former Frisco schoolteacher and minister was arrested by Collin County sheriff's deputies Thursday in the latest in a slew of run-ins with authorities.
Steven Breed, 53, is being held in the Collin County Jail without bail after he was picked up on a probation violation charge, authorities said.
In mid-July, Breed had posted $1,500 bail and was released after he was arrested on allegations that he posed as a potential homebuyer and stole $1,500 in jewelry as a real estate agent gave him a tour of a Frisco home.
In April, he was sentenced to five years' probation for a 2009 felony credit card abuse charge in Collin County.
Most of Breed's charges stem from incidents north of the Dallas-Collin county line, but he's also notorious among real estate agents who show upscale homes in Highland Park and Preston Hollow.
Loryn Lamonte, a Realtor with Dave Perry-Miller and Associates at Preston Center, said she was shocked when she saw Breed's picture in an e-mail warning from a co-worker in her Highland Park office in May.
"I opened it up because I was sending the warning out to all of my associates, too, and I thought, 'Oh my, I just showed him a house,' " she said.
Lamonte and another agent had shown Breed the same North Dallas home three times that month. The e-mail told agents to watch out for Breed because his criminal calling card was to steal from homes when left unattended.
"He kept coming back for that reason, acting like he really wanted the house and saying it was perfect for him," she said.
Lamonte said she never picked up on anything particularly strange or off-putting about Breed, but that she never lets anyone wander in a house alone.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Breed was the main suspect in an April case in Highland Park where $20,000 in jewelry was stolen. He was also been suspected of crimes in Fort Worth, Plano, Allen, Frisco and Melissa, according to the Star-Telegram.

Open House in University Park

I'm holding an Open House tomorrow 8/8/2010 at 2824 Dyer St. in University Park. It goes from 1pm to 3pm. Come by and look at a great piece of property in an ideal location! If this isn't the home you're looking for... of course... I bet I can find you a home that will be the perfect fit!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Pregnancy can keep you from getting a home

Just read an article in today's Dallas Morning News. Maternity leave can keep couples from landing a mortgage according to an expert. Mortgage lenders are taking a harder look at prospective  whose income has temporarily fallen while they are on leave, including new parents at home taking care of a baby. Even if a parent plans on returning to work within weeks, som lenders are balking at approving the loans.

Real Estate rebounding in Dallas Area

According to The Dallas Morning News, home sales and prices were up in the first half of the year.
The biggest gains were in the Oak Cliff and Westlake areas. The homebuyer tax credit is being attributed to some of the gains. But take a look at the interest rates now. The have been holding around 4.56%... that's the lowest they've been in 50 years. That's great news if you're looking to buy!








                                                                                 For all of your real estate needs, contact me at:
                                                                                 (405) 740-1493
                                                                                 charles.bassett@cbdfw.com