I am now trying to find out if they are legitimate.

Is this enough miles to show legitimate need? 

Maybe some are legitimate, but when it sounds too good to be true - it usually is!

I am not a believer that this level of collusion is occurring for two reasons: 1) We've done hundreds of flat fee listings all over California and have not found that to ever be the case; buyer agents show properties that are offering a fair commission via the MLS (any legitimate property investor on here will tell you the same), and 2) how could you ever know this?

They also use a law firm/attorney name to try to 'legitimize' the transaction (including previously using our firm name). ​

I wasn’t trying to hijack this thread, I’ve just read too many people throwing out an expired list without a legitimate contact or success story.  

Wish there were more legitimate options but the only people I see making real money in Real Estate, year-in year-out, are hands-on professionals (realtors, developers,lenders, ect) who are working it every day.

However, if you want something a little bit more legitimate, I would pay an appraiser to come and provide you with an appraisal of the property. 

So much reckless money being thrown around is bound to attract the hyenas.Unfortunately, hardly anyone wants to acknowledge this, much less discuss it.I spoke to a colleague yesterday who just got scammed out of $1,500 in earnest money from dealing with an unscrupulous "investor" who probably makes more money from broken contracts than he does from legitimate property sales!

The venue we found "capped" our invite list.