This is quite fascinating:
The Orange County Association of Realtors has filed a grievance against an Irvine real estate broker who writes a blog that takes critical looks at the housing crash, homebuyers and real estate agents.
Larry Roberts, who writes the IrvineHousingBlog.com, freely admits going “over the top” in his posts, which are particularly harsh on homeowners who default on loans. He frequently shows MLS photos of properties that have gone into foreclosure. He also has accused real estate agents, in general, of being dishonest.
The grievance says Roberts and two other people have violated a code of ethics rule stating that “Realtors must not knowingly lie about competitors” as well as a general set of regulations governing how MLS information is used on the Internet.
Roberts says OCAR is trying to impinge on his freedom of speech, and that the organization has no standing to keep him from posting on his blog. He has a broker’s license, he says, but he doesn’t run a brokerage or sell real estate, and he is not a Realtor or a member of OCAR.
Wait — Real Estate agents lie? Now you’ve gone and punctured my fantasies of them (said the RE Agent’s son!) . . .
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Sources:
Realtors go after blogger who says they lie
Marilyn Kalfus
Orange County Register June 6th
http://irvinehomes.ocregister.com/2011/06/06/realtors-complain-about-blogger-who-says-they-lie/18073/
OC realtors seek to silence free speech by accusing IrvineRenter of lying
Larry Roberts
Irvine Housing Blog, June 7th, 2011
http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/blog/comments/oc-realtors-seek-to-silence-free-speech-by-accusing-irvinerenter-of-lying/
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