Real Estate Investment Fraud

Utah Retirees Files $500K Investor Fraud Claim Over GPB & REIT Losses After Working With Triad Advisors & Broker Michael Payne

Published on: January 11, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Triad Advisors and its Ex-Florida-Based Broker Placed Claimants Funds In Too Risky GPB Capital & REIT Investments

Two Utah retirees have filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Triad Advisors, Inc. over losses they suffered from investing in GPB private placements and privately traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), including American Realty Capital Trust. Now they are seeking up to $500K in damages.

The couple worked with former Triad Advisors broker Michael Payne, who is now a broker with Proequities, Inc. in Longwood, Florida. He also is a financial representative with Payne Financial Group in Winter Springs, Florida.

Brokers May Have Unsuitably Recommended ARC NYC REIT To Retail Investors

Published on: December 2, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

After American Realty Capital New York City Real Estate Investment Trust Went Public, Share Price Plunged

If you are a retail investor whose broker recommended that you invest in American Realty Capital (ARC) New York City Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), you may have grounds for an unsuitable investment recommendation claim.

ARC NYC REIT is a risky, speculative investment and definitely shouldn’t have been marketed to inexperienced investors, conservative investors, seniors, or retirees. Although initially a non-traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT), and also an illiquid investment, ARC NYC REIT went public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in August.

Not All Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT Investors May Have Been Apprised of Risks

Published on: November 19, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT and REIT II Shares Reportedly Trading Under NAV Price

With shares in Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT and Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II reportedly trading privately at lower prices than their net asset value (NAV), some investors may be wondering why they were never fully apprised of all the risks.

The news of the lower than NAV trading prices comes several months after both non-traded real estate investment trusts announced they were partially suspending share redemptions amidst their plans to merge with Resource Apartment REIT III, Inc.

Another Customer Files REIT Losses Claim Against Frank Briseno III of FSC Securities and Nettworth Financial

Published on: October 26, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Metairie, LA Broker Allegedly Made Unsuitable Recommendations to Retirees

If you suffered serious investment losses from working with FSC Securities Corp. stockbroker and Nettworth Financial investment advisor, Frank Briseno III, you may have grounds for a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim to recover your losses.

Briseno, who is a Metairie, Louisiana broker, also co-ran Nettworth Financial Group with another FSC Securities broker. The New Orleans investment advisory firm, which may no longer be in operation, has been accused by more than two dozen retirees of unsuitably selling them real estate investment trusts (REITs) while generating high commissions.

Investors Have Lost Money in RW Holdings NNN Real Estate Investment Trust

Published on: October 19, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Unsuitable Investment Recommendation May Be a Factor in Brokerage Firm Customers’ Losses

Investors in RW Holdings NNN REIT, Inc., a non-traded real estate investment trust formerly called the Rich Uncles NNN REIT, have suffered significant losses this year.

Not only did RW Holdings NNN REIT announce in May 2020 that it was suspending its offering and plans to revise its net asset value (NAV)/share, but also, any NAV and distribution rate would likely be lower in the wake of the impact that COVID-19 is having on the markets. The company pointed to its inability to collect 100% of all contractual rents because of the pandemic as a reason for re-evaluating its distribution rate.

Ex-Kalos Capital Broker Curtis Whipple Accused of Unsuitability & Misrepresentation Involving UDF IV

Published on: September 28, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Latest FINRA Arbitration Claim Allege REIT Losses

A number of investors recently filed a customer complaint against former Kalos Capital broker, Curtis Leroy Whipple, who was with the firm out of Plymouth, Michigan until this year. He faces allegations of unsuitability, misrepresentations, and lack of due diligence related to the claimants’ United Development Funding IV (UDF IV) losses.

UDF IV is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that mostly invests in secured loans for acquiring and developing land into single-family home lots, as well as to construct homes and model homes. UDF IV and the other UDF non-traded REITs have been accused in recent years of being part of a $1B Ponzi scam. United Development Funding is based out of Dallas, Texas.

Brokers Unsuitably Recommended NorthStar Healthcare Income Non-traded REIT To Many Retail Investors

Published on: September 3, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

NorthStar Healthcare Investors Should Explore Legal Options to Recover Losses

Eighteen months after NorthStar Healthcare REIT suspended distributions, investors are still grappling with the losses they’ve sustained. Now, the non-traded real estate investment trust’s (non-traded REITs) share price appears to have lost most, if not all, of its value.

If you are a Northstar Healthcare investors, our non-traded REIT fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) would like to help you explore your legal options. You very well may have grounds for a broker negligence claim to recover your losses and damages.

Why Should Many San Francisco Investors Avoid Non-Traded REITs?

Published on: July 8, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Non-Traded Real Estate Investment Trusts Are Risky, Illiquid

If you are a retail investor in San Francisco whose broker is recommending that you invest in non-traded real estate investment trusts (non-traded REITs), you should strongly reconsider.

While often touted as a security that allows investors to make money without having to worry about market volatility – this type of investment is actually still high risk, illiquid, and not suitable for many customers including retail investors, retirees, and other conservative investors with low-risk tolerance levels.

Brokers May Have Sold Granite Point Mortgage Trust REITs Even When Unsuitable for Investors

Published on: June 29, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

COVID-19 Causes This Mortgage REIT to Drop in Value

If you lost money from investing in Granite Point Mortgage Trust (GPMT), you may be able to file a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against the broker and their brokerage firm that sold this real estate investment trust (REIT) to you. Unfortunately, shares of Granite Point Mortgage Trust plunged in March in the wake of COVID-19 and continued to drop.

Our REIT fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK) are speaking with GPMT investors to help them explore whether they have grounds for a broker negligence case.

Investing In Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): What Are They and What Risks Are Involved?

Published on: May 12, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

For thirty years, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) has worked with investors seeking to recover losses they suffered because a broker and their broker-dealer sold them real estate investment trusts (REITs) that were too high risk for their portfolios. The unsuitability of REITs for many investors has come even clearer in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and its impact on many investments.

REITs are not for every kind of investor and a stockbroker should only recommend them if the customer can handle the risks involved and these investments can help fulfill, rather than derail, the client’s goals. Contact our REIT fraud law firm today if you have suffered substantial losses involving your real estate investment trust that you suspect may have been caused by broker fraud or negligence.

What Are REITs?