Highland, Illinois Real Estate

Warning, rant ahead.

I've been blackballed by the Highland, Illinois realtors! I've been doing the deeds for a local title company. It was a nice bit of business for my firm, and the title company enjoyed working with us because we provided the deeds and other work to them much more quickly then the attorney who used to do the work -- resulting in fewer cancelled closings and happier customers.

However, once the local realtors found out I was doing the deeds, they went to the title company and said (allegedly), "If Matt Homann continues to do the deeds, we'll use a different title company." The reason? Because I've told people that, if they have a willing buyer, I can do their real estate sales documents and advise them through the closing for far less than the 6% commission our local realtors charge. Apparently not happy with their commission on 99% of the real estate transactions in a growing real estate market that happen here without any lawyers at all, the realtors are threatened by me helping my home-selling clients (who already have a buyer!) with their transaction.

The funny thing is that the realtors could build so much more good will by encouraging sellers with willing buyers to bypass the real estate system and see an attorney! If a realtor told me how to save thousands of dollars on my transaction, I'd recommend that realtor to everyone I knew. And if a realtor referred clients to me, I'd reciprocate, and send a lot of business their way.

I've not decided how to respond, if at all, to the realtors. Some friends and collegues have urged me to sue, but I don't think I'm up for that. However, I do know this, when I sell my house soon, don't look for a realtor's sign in the front yard.