I think the most important piece at the very beginning of your research is finding out the regulatory environment for where you want to purchase.

Believe it or not, this is still one of the most horrific and unscrupulous businesses in existence and sh*t like this happens constantly....the regulatory agencies that oversee agents are full-time slammed with complaints and hearings about stuff like this.That said, there may be more to the story...did she simply ask you to pay her more?

I can't speak to regulatory requirements, but obviously getting your ducks in a row there is a good idea.

I agree with other folks here (before you buy) regards to investigating regulatory climate in the Cities you're interested in: 1) Do you need a permit?

There are curative planning opportunities in this area, the most basic of which is for a non-resident alien (as it relates to the US) to hold their interest in US real estate through a US LLC that has made the election to be taxed as a C Corp.Investing across international borders creates regulatory and tax compliance obligations that should one should not attempt to DIY. 

The state has inadvertently created a situation where they don't own the land, or the building, but they do have ownership of something pretty valuable (a regulatory controlled access to housing that they can sell to you, if you're willing to pay).

@Zantiago Zurita, If you're looking for an attorney to do some work on your real estate transaction that includes a 1031 in MD then certainly a MD attorney will be needed.But if you're simply looking  to perform a 1031 exchange you're looking for a Qualified Intermediary to act as the unrelated 3rd party who documents the exchange, holds the proceeds, and acts as your guide through the regulatory maize. 

They could get into big trouble if any regulatory body were to find this out.  

I would recommend you apply some macroeconomic and regulatory criteria as part of your location selection.

I looked into why this is and it boils down to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission being staffed by ex employees and board members of Indiana Power and Light, Citizens Gas and other utility providers, and over time the commission has approved numerous small rate hikes for “minimum cost of utilities.”