The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "real estate deals" ...
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Gilbert's Pricey Land Deal
In early 2009, Gilbert paid $300,000 per acre for 142.5 acres of undeveloped farmland intended for the development of two municipal parks. The transaction cause local real-estate experts to scratch their heads at the above-market price that Gilbert paid for the land. Leavitt's investigation found that the town bought the land without first seeking an appraisal to help determine its value.
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Land Flips Sting Taxpayers
The Gwinett County school district is not only Georgia's largest, but arguably its most highly regarded after winning a prestigious award as the nation's top urban district. However, while the district celebrated its national acclaim, the Journal-Constitution began scrutinizing its unusually secretive land-purchasing program. After analyzing all the district's land purchases over the past 12 years, the Journal-Constitution focused on 11 mullti-million dollar transactions, many of them involving prominent and politically connected real estate developers.
Tags: Gwinett County; Georgia; School District; Land Purchasing; Sweetheart Deals
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Foreclosure Rescue
Many homeowners are facing the threat of foreclosure and losing their homes. A new industry, mortgage modification, is taking advantage of these homeowners. These companies promise to work with the banks to get the homeowners a better deal so they can keep their houses. The homeowners must pay an up-front fee of “several thousand dollars”. After the company has the money, they don’t fulfill their duty and leave the homeowners without the little money they had left.
Tags: housing; finances; mortgage; real estate; property; People's First; Better Business Bureau; assistance
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Sweetheart Deals
This investigation looked at "county-owned land deals in Prince George's County. They found that most of the deals - worth millions of dollars - went to people with close ties to County Executive Jack B. Johnson, including a business partner, golfing buddy, a former business partner and campaign contributors. Many of the deals were not put out to bid."
Tags: housing market; real estate; corruption; preferential treatment; favoritism; graft; sweetheart deals
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Palm Beach County's Culture of Corruption
"Dubocq uncovered a series of complicated real estate transactions that secretly benefited two Palm Beach County commissioners. The commissioners voted on matters that enhanced the deals without disclosing their private interests." The reporters filed more than four dozen state FOIA requests to tell this story.
Tags: state government; county government; FOIA; real estate; development
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Boom for McMillin, Bust for City
"A four-month investigation into the redevelopment of a 235-acre Navy boot camp in the heart of San Diego revealed a lopsided deal that put cash in the pockets of developer Corky McMillin Cos. executives and left taxpayers footing the bill. The City of San Diego probably won't see any money from a promised 50-50 profits split, the investigation showed."
Tags: development; investments; land acquisitions; redevelopment; insider deal; contract; real estate; homeowners;
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Rep. Weller's Land Deal
Illinois Rep. Jerry Weller failed to disclose the extent and the true cost of his property investments in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, an apparent violation of House ethics rules. Weller's misstatements about his real estate activity were particularly extensive in 2005, when he served as a key Congressional advocate of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
Tags: federal government; foreign investments; CAFTA; South America; real estate
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An Inconvenient truth: Investigative Stories by Andy Meek
This is a collection of investigative pieces reporter Andy Meek did for the Daily News (Memphis, TN) during the last half of 2006. His election story summarized "the inability of local elected officials to prepare properly for the longest ballot in Shelby County history." "Major Hollywood Studio Eyes Memphis" broke the news that Memphis was being considered as a production hub. Also included is a story on property tax overpayments and three stories that provided "exclusive details about a real estate deal that figured prominently in the arrest of two Memphis City Council members."
Tags: elections; film production; property taxes; Diebold electronic voting machines; Tennessee Board of Equalization; reappraisal; Village Roadshow; political corruption scandals; digital billboards; outdoor advertising
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Baker Resigns
"The series documents the fall of a once-promising local politician, Long Beach City Councilman Dan Baker, who chose to end his career after the Press-Telegram reported that he had entered into a $7.5 million investment deal with the head of the city's police union."
Tags: real estate; conflict of interest; partnership; Steve James; Ray Grabinski
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A Rapid Rise
This investigation examined dozens of unusual real estate deals in working-class neighborhoods in which buyers made low-ball offers to desperate sellers. The recorded sales prices, however, were tens of thousands of dollars more. These deals happened during a precipitous decline in Florida’s housing boom. In each transaction, the buyers borrowed close to the full amount from lenders. The investigations showed that the money between the price paid to the sellers and the recorded sales prices was paid to a third party. This was not always disclosed to the lenders, which is against state and federal law. All the deals involved the same real estate agent, the same title company and the same group of buyers. The same appraiser was used in many of the cases, and the appraisals reflected the higher price. As a result of the inflated prices, property values were artificially raised for the rest of the neighborhoods, resulting in higher taxes.
Tags: real estate; property; taxes; public property;