The most common lie in real estate

Three letters: ABR.

The letters stand, of course, for Accredited Buyer’s Representative, a designation sanctioned by the National Association of Realtors.

If you’re considering working with a buyer’s agent – and most of you ought to be if you’re buying a home – you can check whether an agent who claims to be an ABR in fact holds that designation. I have a habit of checking when I see the ABR after an agent’s name, and at least half the time the agent misstated his / her qualifications.

The Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council Web site makes it easy to check whether an agent is an ABR.

And now, let’s hear your nominations for the most common lie in real estate.