Posted by Mainer on April 13, 2006 at 06:22:53:
I’m sorry - I forgot to mention that this home is on rented land, so the rules of the Maine Real Estate Commission do not apply. There is absolutely no entity to regulate or police these people. So I don’t think the “Dual agency” issue has any bearing.
The Town Board of Realtors has the authority to slap their wrist and impose a small fine, but they refuse to. People in this area stand up for one another no matter what, and I’m a (hated) outsider.
So in Maine, a realtor can put his sign on the lawn of any mobile home in a park, and then proceed to break any law they wish with full impunity.
The only people who appear to know this, are the Real Estate Commission, and the (many) dishonest realtors themselves.
The cost of litigation is generally more than any mobile home is worth, and the man who owns the park is the town’s biggest taxpayer —they say he also owns the whole town. (This area is known for its long time graft and corruption).
The first lawyer with whom I spoke just laughed and told me I was going to lose. And every local I ask tells me that no judge will rule in my favor, no matter what.
Maine is starting to become infamous for this sort of thing.
Mainer