Houston Craigslist Scam Busted

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Houston Craigslist Scam Busted

• Authorities have arrested a Spring woman, her
  husband and her mother in connection with a
  sophisticated Craigslist home leasing scam.
  Police say at least six families in Houston,
  Pasadena and north Harris County fell victim to
  the crime.
• Investigators said Ariel Sustaita, 23, posted
  rental ads on Craigslist for homes she didnt
  own, and then secured keys to the houses from the
  inspection company where she used to work. Some
  of the victims even moved in and paid her for
  several months rent.
• Deputies also arrested Sustaita's mother, Flora
  Sustaita, 39, and Ariel Sustaita's husband,
  Gabriel Jimenez, 20. They say additional arrests
  are likely.
• Assistant Chief Mark Herman, with Harris County
  Constable Precinct 4, said Ariel Sustaita was
  able to change the locks on a majority of the
  houses, placing her own lockboxes on the doors.
• The scheme unraveled when one victim called
  investigators and they set up a sting. He agreed
  to meet Sustaita at a coffee shop to pay rent.
  When she arrived, constables arrested her and
  charged her with felony theft. She is being held
  on 20,000 bond.

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Weekly HAR Market Stat
So far this summer, housing has achieved a soft,
warm glow. If healing growth in the economy and
labor markets persists, housing will be more than
ready to weather tapering Fed activity
regardless of when it comes. Both local and
national market indicators can't yet contradict
any confidence in rising home prices or dwindling
inventory supplies. Heres whats happening in
Houston In the Houston region, for the
week ending August 18 New Listings increased
14.9 to 2,145 Pending Sales increased 30.4 to
1,835 Closed Sales increased 7.7 to 1,647
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Broker Responsibility The purpose of this course
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Date Friday, September 6 Time 830 a.m.
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Register at www.har.com/edu