Australian Real Estate Blog

Consumer Affairs Victoria - The Reason We Need A Corruption Commission!

Peter Mericka — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 02:27:00 GMT

by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd Eight long years ago an over-zealous clerk at Consumer Affairs Victoria told me that I must either shut down Lawyers Real Estate...(read more)

Sugar-Daddy Sought Security for His Largess

Peter Mericka — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:46:00 GMT

OPINION by Tim O'Dwyer M.A., LL.B Solicitor Consumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au If a good Samaritan wants to buy you a property, watch out for any equitable strings attached ! After Charles Irvine and Soozie Cooper met through an internet...(read more)

You Can't Always Rely On Your Lawyer's Signature

Peter Mericka — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:29:00 GMT

OPINION by Tim O'Dwyer M.A., LL.B Solicitor Consumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au Several months after contracting to buy six beach resort units, as well as the resort’s management and letting rights, Fred Sutton had second thoughts about his...(read more)

Fairness From NSW Office of Fair Trading? It's Problematic!

Peter Mericka — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 01:45:00 GMT

by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd After experiencing first hand the legal knowledge and reasoning of Mr. Robert Guthrie, Acting Manager, Licensing for the New...(read more)

Lawyers Real Estate Well Received

Peter Mericka — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:58:00 GMT

by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd We have been overwhelmed with emails, texts and telephone calls from well-wishers. There were plenty of consumers interested...(read more)

Real Estate Bidding Online - It Costs Nothing To Bid

Peter Mericka — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:58:00 GMT

Lawyers Real Estate is a law firm that sells real estate for its clients without involving any real estate agents. To make the selling and buying of real estate quick, simple and transparent, the SLOD! real estate bidding facility has been established....(read more)

Two Tales of Estate Agents' Wilful Silence

Peter Mericka — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:04:00 GMT

OPINION by Tim O'Dwyer M.A., LL.B Solicitor Consumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au Agents might heed the Appeal Panel’s general warning to be “especially careful” that buyers are informed of material matters not discoverable through “undertaking...(read more)

Can flood-prone Queensland homes be sold without sellers or agents volunteering the soggy truth? Yes!

Peter Mericka — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:41:00 GMT

OPINION by Tim O'Dwyer M.A., LL.B Solicitor Consumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au What if sellers don’t ‘fess up if there’s no record of council inspections? They can sell regardless! What if a seller’s carport, garage or deck was built illegally?...(read more)

REIV Provides Misleading Auction Advice

Peter Mericka — Sun, 09 May 2010 02:17:00 GMT

OPINION by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd In his regular propaganda column in the Domain section of The Age newspaper, the CEO of the Real Estate Institute of...(read more)

SLOD! Another Sale by Lawyers Real Estate

Peter Mericka — Sat, 01 May 2010 01:21:00 GMT

No, SLOD! is not a typographical error, it's the name of the website Lawyers Real Estate uses to sell properties for its clients. Lawyers Real Estate is a law firm that sells real estate for its clients for a single fixed-fee, without involving real estate...(read more)

Questions & Answers On Our Facebook Page!

Peter Mericka — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:16:00 GMT

We are now using Facebook to provide answers to consumers' questions about real estate related matters. If you have a question, comment or complaint about the real estate industry or those involved in it, the Lawyers Real Estate Facebook Page is the place...(read more)

Real Estate Agents - Refusal To Divulge Visitor Details

Peter Mericka — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:11:00 GMT

What do you do when your property has been listed for sale and your agent refuses, on the basis of the Privacy Act, to give you the names of prospective buyers introduced to your property? Well, you stick it right up your agent as clients of mine recently...(read more)

Who is Bruce Atkinson and what's his problem?

Peter Mericka — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:16:00 GMT

Hon. Bruce Atkinson MLC is the Deputy President of the Legislative Council of Victoria. Atkinson's problem is that he has been used by the real estate industry to further its cause at the expense of real estate consumers. It is sad to see a person in...(read more)

REIV Hypocrisy - Cut Stamp Duty While Commissions Increase

Peter Mericka — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:04:00 GMT

OPINION by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd The hypocrisy is astounding. Enzo Raimondo told the Herald Sun newspaper "If stamp duty rates are not reduced then anyone...(read more)

Underquoting Problem? NO! It's A Stupidity Problem!

Peter Mericka — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:20:00 GMT

OPINION by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B Real Estate Lawyer Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd When stupidity reaches the front page of The Age newspaper, something has to be said. Today’s Age screams, “ Push to...(read more)