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economist gjunjrimjfjejapjtll 2 1986 reu purchasers should beware of laud swindlers hundreds of ontario residents have been snared by swindlers in recent years when buying cottages and retreat lots many of these unfortunate people spent their life savings on worthless property and government officials fear the number of victims will continue to grow unless buyers become more wary families out hunting for country re treats this spring should be on the alert for crooked sellers says dave mitchell of the ontario ministry of consumer and commercial relations mccr the swindlers use many methods to trap buyers but there are just as many things you can do to avoid getting caught the con artists have used every trick in the book from simply disappearing with buyers downpayments to selling swampland and inaccessible property mr mitchell says purchasers are often shown a picturesque piece of land then sold a useless lot nearby in other scams families planning to build cottages have been sold land that cannot be developed because of local zoning restrictions or environmental concerns some people are even pressured into buying land without seeing it mitchell says if youre going to buy a vacation spot be prepared to do some leg work get out there and look the place over even if it is just a vacant lot at the mo ment do some digging into property lines ownership and zoning talk to the neighbors talk to the township most importantly talk to your lawyer according to mitchell sound legal advice provides the best protection against a scam show all documents to a lawyer before signing anything hiring a lawyer in the area where you are buying can save money but regardless of who you choose be sure the firm is not con nected in any way with the person or company selling the property most land scam victims are initially hooked through newspaper advertise ments describing beautiful country properties for sale at low pries the old adage if it sounds to good to be true it probably is seems particularly appropriate to land scams be im mediately wary and prepare to do a thor ough investigation of any land sold at bargainbasement prices property descriptions in rural areas can be confusing making it difficult to be sure you are being shown the right lot neighbors may be able to help by show ing you surveys of their own properties or ask a clerk at the local municipal office to try to pinpoint the location of the land town officials may also be able to verify claims about yearround access zoning regulations and other important attributes of the property do any of the trees on the lot belong to the crown effectively stopping you from cutting them down to build your country refuge are there any restric tions on access to the waterfront once satisified the deal is sound an offer to purchase should be drawn up by your lawyer assuming he too is con vinced the sale is legitimate you will be required to make a deposit on the prop erty but keep it as small as possible always mark the deposit cheque in trust especially if its made out direct ly to the vendor it is best to make it payable to the sellers lawyer or real estate agent never hand over the de posit in cash if the vendor turned out to be a crook you might never recover the money investigations by the ministry and police led to the convictions of three men last year in connection with a million dollar vacation property swindle in volving at least 30 victims about 25 com panies and individuals are still under in vestigation for suspected involvement in similar scams consumers who feel they have been swindled in a land deal should contact local police or the nearest consumer advistory branch of mccr mu experience competence performance serving markhamunionville stouffville uxbridge and surrounding areas quiet crescent immaculate home near schools and park main floor family room premium lot gorgeous fall possession laura wilsonlouie biondolillo 4716600 res 4416833 remax markville realty ltd rltr loads of room 4 bdrm quality greenpark fabu lous finished bsmt main floor family room skylight laura wilsonlouie biondolillo 471- 6600 res 4715287 remax markville realty ltd rltr decorators delight gorgeous greenpark with plush broadloom beautiful kitchen with ceramic floor neutral decor and huge lot wont last laura wilsonlouie biondolillo 471- 6600 res 4715287 remax markville realty ltd rltr affordable beautifully appointed 4 bdrm home double garage quality built priced to sell 135900 laura wilsonlouie biondolillo 4716600 res 4715287 remax markville realty ltd rltr less than 90000 newly renovated 2 storey 3 bed- room home backs to open country and pond good financ ing bob newman 2945817 6404960 remax executive realty inc rltr markham village 2 yrs new child safe court with 83 ft across fully fenced rear pool size lot neutral immaculate bright spacious gorgeous european white kitchen with ceramic floor 2 walkouts luxury master with reading area walkin closet 4 pc ensuite central air more wont last 179900 mary jane swanson 4716600 remax markville realty ltd realtor stouffville commercial 4 bedroom home main floor family room 4 pc bath plus roughed in 3 pee c1 zoning per mits many uses derek thorn ton s4900 6404960 remax executive realty inc rltr reduced to sell one of markhams best pre served homes 2000 sq ft 4 br lots of extras now 245000 hank degroot 6403948 640- 4960 remax executive realty inc rltr retail office space stouffville 2800 sq ft owner will divide ample paved parking main street location bill shields 6404960 remax executive realty inc rltr 1 acre country rustic setting view of lake and beach rights bright liv rm with stone fireplace 4 bdrms sepa rate din rm family kit den 142500 mary jean sider 640- 4960 remax executive realty inc rltr ever popular greenpark only 129900 features gorgeous fireplace in living room huge fenced treed back yard 3 large bedrooms perfect basement for finishing with roughed in washroom paved drive interlocking walk try your downpayment mary jane swanson 4716600 re max markville realty ltd realtor stouffville a home for the growing family inground pool family rm with fireplace finished rec rm sauna upgraded features throughout 147900 mary jean sider 6404960 remax ex ecutive realty inc rltr building lot 175 acres in new development close to aurora side rd permits available 72900 mary jean sider 6404960 remax execu tive realty inc rltr super clean bungalow on 5 dry ac just north of mt albert 6 stall barn driveshed paddocks trees unbeatable value 124900 hank degroot 6403948 6404960 remax ex ecutive realty inc rltr what a yard 53 x 131 beautiful 3 bedroom semi detached freshly decorated close to shopping and bus a gardeners delight bob new man 2945817 6404960 re max executive realty inc rltr thinking about country living how about 10 ac with a 10 stall barn and a 4 br bungalow 20 min from markham 145900 hank degroot 6403948 640- 4960 remax executive realty inc rltr cozy appeal 115000 wellmaintained 3 bedroom brick home on large lot in bal- lantrae franklin fireplace washer dryer included 2 car garage anne powell 6406755 res 18525285 remax scu- gog realty ltd rltr markhamunionville 4716600 remax markville realty ltd rltr stouffville 6404960 remax executive realty ltd rltr uxbridge 6406758 8526143 remax icam realty limited rltr tt