Rosemary Sauter

just the other day i was thinking, that i hope nothing has befallen her, all this time with no word. it's disturbing.

it is very disturbing, especially seeing as though she has a large family and has so many community ties. we've been gone from stt for a few years, but still think of her and hope this gets sorted out soon. hope her kids are hanging in there...

I think it's strange that the press appears to have dropped this ball. A realtor on STX who knows her said her friends feared for her life. Payback for the trial testimony that convicted those two cops.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. In fact, that scenario seems more plausible to me than that she woke up one day and decided to take off to Costa Rica with a couple mil.

Wonder if the Feds asked the local media to hush up about it. I can't imaging the VI cops are heading this investigation.

Iris,
My sentiments, exactly.

sadly, i agree with you both. any idea where her twins are living? still on island?

Since I posted just a little while earlier, I have read today's Daily News article regarding the illegal house raffle Rosemary ran last spring. After reading that account, I'm not so sure anymore. She sure sounds quilty. I don't know her well, but I have been a supporter of innocent until proven guilty because I just have found it so hard to believe. Who knows, huh??

Realistically there is no news to report until (a) the escrow account is audited and verification of missing funds is made or (b) Rosemary is arrested. Not much news in reporting there is now news.

Pamela

Here is the Daily News article: http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17643852 No wonder this guy has been so vocal on his blog. And if anyone has information, I am sure that the Daily News reporters would love a tip...

I still think there is more to this....

Rosie loves poker....she walked away many a night with fist full of cash....

fyi gambling is an addiction

Everybody plays poker down here. Or Trivia. Or joins a book club. Or a cooking club. Cuz there's not much else to do. That's hardly vindication of a gambling addiction.

All this time and still no word? Nothing in the papers for over a month? With all the money that allegedly disappeared, the connection to the police corruption case, and the seemingly long list of alleged victims, it is surprising that no journalists have been reporting this.

Is ReMax open or still closed up ?

Rosmary's office is closed. Sign has been removed. I am sure others are still open.

Interesting that there is no news about auditing the "escrow" account or anything at all!

Pamela

We lease a house from ReMax and the agent we worked with (who has nothing to do with the missing $$) told us to write our rent checks out to "Blue Moon Realty" from now on. We are going to have our lease amended to reflect that.

All of the agents have gone on to A) Strike out on there own B) Join another already established Realtor C) Start up an office.

Blue Moon was started by 3 former agents of ReMax which would fall under C above.

I've been told ReMax pulled the franchise here on St. Thomas.

I still see some ReMax for sale signs on the island, and I see some new ones too from that A) decided to strike out on their own.

As for Rosie no word that I'm aware of.

Question: Is Remax liable for the theft?

Question: Is Remax liable for the theft?

NO!

Question: Is Remax liable for the theft?

NO!

You bring up a very interesting legal question. What liability does a real estate company really have? I doubt that any of us fully understand who is responsible and who has liability. I'm sure the lawyers and the courts will spend a lot of money trying to figure it out.

I'm not n this field but I believe most realtors hold franchises and are private contractors. I doubt ReMax or Coldwell Banker etc, have any liability. Of course, anyone can sue for anything.

For Starters, not all Licensed Real Estate Brokers are Realtors. Realtors is a Trade Name of a National Association that has a code of ethics that its members subscribe to on a voluntary/fee basis. Also the National Association of Realtors provides educational courses and designations such as ABR,CRS, CPM etc. In order to be a Realtor one must be a licensed Real Estate Broker and all Real Estate Sales People must be licensed by the State or Territory. ( A Sales Person can not be licensed without a sponsor Broker).

RE/MAX Offices (Franchise) are independently owned and operated by the Licensed Real Estate Broker (Broker of Record). Trust accounts/ monies are controlled by the Broker of Record according to the requirements of the State the Office is located. All Franchise agreements have a Hold Harmless Clause.

Not all Coldwell Banker Offices are Franchised.

For Starters, not all Licensed Real Estate Brokers are Realtors. Realtors is a Trade Name of a National Association that has a code of ethics that its members subscribe to on a voluntary/fee basis. Also the National Association of Realtors provides educational courses and designations such as ABR,CRS, CPM etc. In order to be a Realtor one must be a licensed Real Estate Broker and all Real Estate Sales People must be licensed by the State or Territory. ( A Sales Person can not be licensed without a sponsor Broker).

RE/MAX Offices (Franchise) are independently owned and operated by the Licensed Real Estate Broker (Broker of Record). Trust accounts/ monies are controlled by the Broker of Record according to the requirements of the State the Office is located. All Franchise agreements have a Hold Harmless Clause.

Not all Coldwell Banker Offices are Franchised.

Interesting follow up in the daily news http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17644660

It looks like Re/Max corporate is trying to wash it's hands and run and hide from this problem. Too bad they won't step up and take responsibility.

The real problem is our local control. We need to demand that our local government set up a real estate escrow system that will help protect people from unscrupulous real estate agents. We need to complain loud and long to our governor.

Interesting follow up in the daily news http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17644660

It looks like Re/Max corporate is trying to wash it's hands and run and hide from this problem. Too bad they won't step up and take responsibility.

That's the "independently owned and operated" part that Lizard mentioned. Those agents paid to use the RE/MAX name. For that payment, they get the benefits of being associated with a national brand, but RE/MAX corporate isn't responsible when one of those independents steals -- it's in the contract. It may be unfortunate, but it's standard in the business.

What really alarmed me from the article was this:

St. Thomas Board of Realtors President Kerstin McConnell said that when reports of botched closings started coming in, she turned to the National Association of Realtors. They told her she needed to report the problems to the Virgin Islands Real Estate Commission, McConnell said.

"They're there to police the Realtors," McConnell said. "In the states, Realtors live in fear of the Real Estate Commission."

But all commission members' terms expired years ago, according to veteran member Peggy Simmonds. The commission still meets, infrequently. Simmonds and Real Estate Commission Chairman Fred Violet have been out of the territory seeking treatment for medical conditions. Commission member Lauritz Schuster said that the last time he could remember meeting in person was in early 2009. Since then, they have had teleconference meetings to approve real estate license applications, Schuster said. V.I. law requires Real Estate Commission approval before permanent licenses are issued.

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Am I reading that right? We don't have a legal real estate commission available in the USVI, but this is the body that should be addressing such issues? Wow.

Don't know how this procedure operates in the USVI, but in the states people appointed to boards and commissions can serve until their replacement is appointed and confirmed. Wonder why this board was never reappointed/new people appointed.