Carl Medford

Lara:

Ironically, it's not the seller who determines the course in most short sales - it's the seller's Realtor in conjunction with the bank (and any third party negotiator that may be involved). More often than not, it is not even the seller who determines the winning offer.

IF the facts as you’ve presented them are true, then there is complicity here for the seller’s agent. I’m guessing that a lot of what you know is hearsay since you were not directly involved in the conversations and actions on the other side. Since we don’t have the absolute facts, it is very hard to know for sure what exactly did happen AND it is very hard to absolutely determine whether or not there was actual fraud. Without the facts, it is hard to give objective advice.

I would, however, suggest one thing.

I would ask for a meeting with the listing agent’s broker to explain the facts as you know them. If there is any wrong doing on the part of the listing agent, then at least there would be an opportunity for correction of some kind. Also, there may be important facts that you do not have – this would be the time for everything to be placed on the table.

It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.

As for trying to bribe a seller in any short sale situation, that is absolutely fraud and any agent with integrity would not allow his client to participate in scheme like that. - A few hours ago