REALTOR® Karen Robertson, president-elect of the Three Rivers Association of REALTORS®, is in the news with a cautionary tale of “scraping” rental scams. A good read for consumers and real estate professionals. Read more in the Chicago Sun-Times.

“We’re seeing to see more and more rental scams in the area,” said Robertson, a broker with Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell, in an accompanying video. But she added there are things consumers can do to educate themselves about a property including checking the status of a property with the local supervisor of assessments’ office and the county recorder, contacting a local REALTOR® and before you sign a rental agreement, consulting with an attorney.

One more tip: Renters should also be leery of situations where someone asks for money before showing the property.

In other headlines:

Making an irresistible home offer – Chicago Tribune

Home-buying frenzy: Strong demand collides with scarce inventory – Chicago Tribune (via Miami Herald)