I've also read other forums where people say that it IS in fact illegal, but like all discussion on the internet, details are absent as are citations to actual law. http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/19981008_tablefunding.htmThanks!

Its amazing how much info peope give away for free.In Fort Bend county you can find traffic tickets and minor citations if you lknow where to look.DPS criminal and sex offender registry.Google and Bing them with combinations of their name, employer, city and any other clues you get from facebook or talking with them.Divorces, lawsuits filed, been sued, ANYTHING I can find that shows habits, instability or that they lied.

Hi Rob,Ask the knuckleheads at your local REIC to cite the specific citation in the specific state law that says a tenant/buyer has an equity position. 

@Georges Arnaout I agree with @Steve Candor 's citations an interpretation of an "application" fee.  

When I run a potential tenant through the clerk of the court and they have 6 citations in 3 years...speeding...running stop sign...no insurance card etc...to me that indicates a failure to obey the law and follow the rules and I think they would do that as a tenant also...my property manager disagrees and says we all do it...I do not have 1 citation on the clerk's site !

You have to factor in vandalism, squatter, eviction, market trend, foreclosure, local authority citation, legal & HOA expenses to make it work.For too often, I see people bid up the property due to emotion instead of reality.

If they hem you in, over time, with ever-broadened regulations, you'll end up wearing gov-issued underwear and feeling content to be compliant with the new underwear regulation b/c you're a law-abiding citizen.As for speeding tickets, perhaps you might better see my point if I compare these overreaching H&H infractions to a citation for going 56mph in a 55 zone.

A broker, at least theoretically, is supposed to supervise you (there are many citations by state RE agencies of a lack of supervision with wayward agents) and can have serious problems if they don't.

I was told by another business partner that I could charge for damages incurred because of gross lack of cleanliness during the showings, but I don't have a legal citation for that and I don't want to screw up on legal matters, which is why I asked here.

Get them to make an emotional investment by identifying with stories in your letters.I would rather create my list and drill down to a small handful of people who have a "perfect storm" of problems: foreclosure, marital problems, adult children problems, big health issues, financial pressure, code enforcement citations; as many as you can find at one time.