Timothy Wanamaker
Executive Director
Office of Strategic Planning

Kathleen Lynch, Esq.
Coordinator
Western NY Law Center

Senator William Stachowski
Co-Chair

Assemblymember Sam Hoyt
Co-Chair
 

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Monica Pellegrino (716) 852-2795 

MAYOR'S ANTI FLIPPING TASK FORCE HELD SECOND PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR
Focus Remains on Stopping Fraudulent Flippers

BUFFALO-The Mayor's Anti Flipping Task Force held its second professional seminar, "Flipping and Fraudulent Flipping of Real Estate - Do You Know the Difference?" on December 13, 2006 at the ECC City Campus. This seminar's goal was to educate participants in real estate transactions and about the dangers of unethical and potentially fraudulent transactions.

"Continuing education is one of the weapons the Anti-Flipping Task Force possesses," said Mayor Byron W. Brown. "This seminar focused on the professionals who will now be armed with the facts to prevent the practice of fraudulent flipping. We are continuing to build on the momentum of the past 12 months."

"The seminar was a tremendous success. It is with a collaborative effort that we will end the scourge of fraudulent property flipping that has destroyed the fabric of our neighborhoods", said Kathleen Lynch, Esq., Coordinator of the AFTF.

The seminar focused on instructing participants how to avoid unintentional participation in unethical or illegal real estate transactions. Over 100 real estate professionals, including real estate brokers, appraisers, and lawyers, attended the seminar. This seminar was an encore performance of the first seminar on April 5, 2006, which resulted in positive reviews from participants and was a great success. A DVD of the seminar is available for viewing, and has also been shown on the City of Buffalo's Government Access Channel 22.

The event was organized through a collaborative effort between the City of Buffalo AFTF, Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors, Bar Association of Erie County, Upstate NY Chapter of the Appraisal Institute and ECC Workforce Development. The Mayor's Anti-Flipping Task Force (AFTF) combats the real estate practices of unethical and fraudulent property flipping that contribute to neighborhood destabilization and community disinvestment. The AFTF is a collaborative effort, headed by Mayor Byron Brown, Co-Chaired by Senator William Stachowski and Assemblymember Sam Hoyt, and Coordinated by Kathleen Lynch, Esq. from the Western New York Law Center.

Additional information on the Mayor's Anti Flipping Task Force and fraudulent property flipping can be obtained at www.buffaloflipping.com.