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Police seek agent help controlling drinking parties
     (MELBOURNE, Australia) – Police are seeking the help of real estate agents to control underage drinking parties, asking that eviction clauses be placed in rental agreements involving families with teenagers.
     The call for cooperation came after a teenager issued an open invitation via the Internet to anyone who wanted to come to a party at the home his parents were renting. Hundreds of revelers showed up, many drunk, and trashed the home and much of the surrounding neighborhood.
     The real estate community has not indicated whether it will cooperate with the police.

Agents trained to spot marijuana grow houses
     (ADELAIDE, Australia) – Local police have begun holding training seminars for real estate agents to help them spot drug laboratories and those who are likely to operate them.
     The training is organized by the Real Estate Institute of South Australia.
     "Property managers won't be expected to be drug detectives, but they want to be more aware of what to look for, to ensure that they pick the right tenant and look after the property the best for their landlord," said REI’s Emma Slape.
     Agents are being taught to recognize marijuana plants and the type of equipment needed to grow marijuana. Training includes noticing odors, mold and high intensity lighting.

Rival South African real estate agent groups merge
     (JOHANNESBURG, South Africa) – The National Association of Real Estate Agencies (NAREA) and the Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa (IEASA) have announced they are merging into a single group under the umbrella of the IEASA.
     IEASA has been in existence for almost 70 years in South Africa . The NAREA was formed about two years ago.
     The two groups had been rivals in representing real estate agents before the government.

Police search for killer of young agent, Seattle agents warned
     (SAANICH, B.C.) – Police are searching for the killer of a 24-year-old real estate agent whose body was found in a luxury home in Saanich, directly across Puget Sound from Bellamy, Wash.
     In nearby Seattle, police announced more than 15 blonde real estate agents had been contacted by a man wanting to meet them at listings. Northwest MLS has issued a warning to all agents urging them to be cautious.
     Colleagues of Vancouver agent Lindsay Buziak said she had received a call from someone asking to see the $964,900 listing in Saanich. Those colleagues say the woman may have been specifically targeted by the killer because none of the other listing agents involved in the home received calls.

Golf course homes Web site features homes in UAE
     ( DUBAI , United Arab Emirates ) – A new Web site has opened up extolling the beauty and luxury of golf course living in the UAE.
     The Web site. http://GolfHomesDubai.com , notes that a number of new courses have opened up and many more are scheduled over the next 15 years. Most have luxury homes built around them.
     In 2009, the European professional golf tour will finish at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai with a grand prize of $10 million.

Landlord sues dead tenant for lost rent
     (TRARALGON, Australia ) – A landlord has filed a lawsuit against the estate of a dead tenant, saying the man’s death cost him at least $600 in rent.
     Landlord Antony Lee said tenant Michael Ward had several months remaining on his lease, but he is only suing for loss of income for the month it took Ward’s relatives to clean out the apartment.
     Lee’s comment to a local newspaper that, “A tenant has died. Is that my problem,” has caused him to be labeled “the most heartless landlord” in the country.

Site names top Latin American real estate markets
     ( NEW YORK ) – The real estate investment site NuWireInvestor.org is recommending that U.S. vacation home buyers, retirement buyers and investors look at five Central and South American cities as top real estate markets.
     According to the site, Latin American governments are becoming increasingly stable and are adopting policies that are pro-investment.
     Named as the top markets for Americans were:
     1. Chile .
     2. Brazil .
     3. Uruguay .
     4. Peru .
     5. Nicaragua .