Скачать или смотреть I GOT SCAMMED! + Fake Listings + Is the MLS a Scam?Special guests Lucy Oliveira + Bill Fowler! Ep 14

Two real estate problems are exploding in 2026 — and most people are still pretending they’re not happening.
In this episode of The Clean Close, we’re pulling back the curtain on real estate scams (that are hitting agents and consumers right now) and the rapidly shifting future of the MLS, IDX, and AI.

Part 1 features Lucy Oliveira, Broker Associate at ACME 805 (Ventura), as we break down how scams are showing up in the real world — including a personal story about hiring a contractor who claimed they were “licensed, bonded, and insured”… until things went sideways.

Then in Part 2, I’m joined by Bill Fowler, one of the real estate industry’s leading technology advisors and business strategists, to tackle the bigger question:
Where are our blind spots — and at what point can we admit we’ve been scammed by the systems we pay into?

In This Episode, We Cover:
Part 1 — Real Estate Scams You Need to Watch For

-A real-world contractor scam story (and what I learned the hard way)
-Why “licensed, bonded, and insured” is NOT the protection people think it is
-The truth about contractor bonds (and why it may not cover your real loss)
-Vacant land scams are rising — and how they work
-The warning from the DRE: verifying property ownership before listing

Lucy Oliveira’s story from the field: what she’s seeing right now in Ventura + beyond

Part 2 — MLS, IDX & AI: Where the Industry Is Headed

Are agents being squeezed by the real estate machine?

The hidden cost stack agents pay to stay in business:
-NAR dues
-MLS fees
-Tech stacks
-Lead platforms
-Portals taking huge referral fees

A serious look at the question: Does the system protect agents and consumers… or monetize them?

Bill Fowler’s insight on:

Why MLS data licenses often don’t have expiration dates
-The future of IDX
-The future of the MLS
-What NAR decoupling could change
-How AI is pressuring legacy platforms and data models

Key Question of the Episode:

Where are your blind spots — and what do you do when you realize you trusted the wrong thing?

Because in 2026, scams aren’t just fake buyers and fake contractors.
Sometimes the “scam” is the slow squeeze: paying into systems that promise support… while extracting value from every transaction.

If You’re a Buyer, Seller, or Agent…

This episode is your reminder to stop assuming people’s incentives match your best interest — and start verifying everything.

The cons are getting smarter.
And honestly… I’m over it.

Guests Featured:

Lucy Oliveira — Broker Associate + Team Lead, ACME 805 (Ventura) https://www.lucytherealtor.com/
Bill Fowler — Real Estate Technology Advisor + Business Strategist, linkedin.com/in/jwfowler

Special thanks to our partner and sponsor, Matthew Fine of Blueprint Home Loans.
Instagram.com/mortgagemattt!
NMLS # 2678661
Office: 213-424-3706
Email: [email protected]

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And comment below: What’s the biggest “blind spot” you’ve seen in real estate lately?

Disclaimer

This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always verify ownership, identity, licensing, and wire instructions with trusted sources.