My team members and I field calls and emails on a daily basis from prospective renters wondering if we as real estate professionals can help them. Answer - YES, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK OUR REPRESENTATION!!!
Scam artists are everywhere and often find ways to benefit from grim circumstances. Although the following short video is from California, it does a great job of capturing what is happening in EVERY state, and is why it is great advice to have a real estate professional, even when renting. In addition to this, legal landlords are renting out their homes, collecting rent, not paying the mortgage, and tenants are being left literally out-in-the cold...
Underwriting guidelines have tightened such that many are finding it difficult to secure financing. Many of these folks are gainfully employed, with money in the bank, yet can not secure the funds necessary to purchase.