This review is of a transaction where Ozstar De Jourday (formerly known as Oscar Bayetto) was the seller's agent and I was the buyer. When my wife and I first met Ozstar, our home-to-be was in escrow and I was on edge because I had recently learned that during our negotiation process Ozstar misrepresented a critical aspect of the real estate we were to buy.
Ozstar's disarming smile, charm and charisma put my wife and me at ease within minutes of meeting him. Ozstar is extremely likable; he is not only a skilled surfer, he possesses an commanding knowledge of the local area and can display a delightfully upbeat attitude. All of this allowed us to believe that Ozstar's earlier misrepresentation was simple oversight. We took at face value Ozstar's commitment to address his oversight in a timely manner. Even more, he went out of his way to answer our questions, tell us about out new neighborhood, etc., making us feel great.
At the end of the hour-long conversation, however, Ozstar attempted to dart off while simultaneously walking back all the promises that he had made 50 minutes earlier. I addressed this sharp contrast with Ozstar as he got into his car. Ozstar's response was a failed attempt to string together a coherent set of words.
To make a long story short, Ozstar's managing of the transaction in the following days proved challenging. At each turn, I consistently asked my agent, who was astonished by Ozstar's poor professional comportment, if she thought Ozstar was asking in good faith. She was never able to give me a yes answer.
This was underscored by one of Ozstar's efforts to pull a fast one one day before escrow was to close by attempting to modify the property's CC&R's -- in a way that would significantly reduce the value of the property my wife and I were to purchase.
Much to my family's chagrin, this shenanigan caused escrow to be pushed back a week and compelled us to retain our own legal counsel. Our counsel didn't hesitate to let me know that he flummoxed by Ozstar's lack of professionalism.
On the day that escrow finally closed we called the utility to learn that the home we had bought did not have its own water meter. We later learned that Ozstar was aware of the water meter, but elected not to disclose it. The seller was gracious enough to commit in writing to covering the costs related to the water meter's install. Though that's at least $14K that the seller probably would have liked to have spent on something else.
We later learned that the seller tasked Ozstar with having the water meter work performed, but over a month after escrow closed, Ozstar has yet to pull a permit or secure a contract with a plumber.
Currently Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Ozstar's firm, is conducting an investigation into Ozstar's conduct with this transaction. And, we are still working to verify the paperwork that proves he and the seller were compliant with critical health and safety aspects of the contract. Such an experience certainly tempers the excitement of buying a home.
All that said, this is only one experience with this broker, so read this review with a grain of salt. We write this in the hopes that if you are in or entertaining a transaction with this agent, you are aware of one family's experience with such a dynamic character. read more