Pubdate: Fri, 08 Dec 2006 Source: Observer, The (CN ON) Page: A1 - Front Pate Copyright: 2006, OSPREY Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.theobserver.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1676 Author: Brian Bolt Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada) GROW-OP REGISTRY SOUGHT Home buyers can purchase a home today without having any knowledge that it was previously used for a marijuana grow operation. Even the realtor doesn't necessarily know about the home's history. The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) is lobbying the province to establish a central registry with a list of addresses of seized grow operations in the province, says Sarnia-Lambton Real Estate Board president Michelle Timmers. She recently attended a lobbying session at Queen's Park where OREA representatives urged provincial legislators to establish a registry. Timmers said she knows of a couple of former grow-op homes that have been sold in Sarnia-Lambton, and hasn't heard about any problems. But she said there can be lingering issues with such homes, such as mould, structural or electrical wiring problems, and possible difficulty getting insurance. People would rather know the facts up front than hear about it from neighbours after they buy the home, she said. "From a buying standpoint, it's to everyone's benefit to have full disclosure," she said. "People should know what they're getting into before they put their money down." The proposed central registry could provide the public with a complete address of a grow house operation, the date the municipality was notified of its existence by police, the number of plants discovered at the location, and the date on which the property was inspected by the municipality. "As a realtor it would provide me with access to information that may affect my buyer's decision on whether or not they would be interested in purchasing the property," said Timmers. "And certainly as a listing agent, it's information which I would want to know should I list the property for sale." The issue is still being studied provincially with a report expected in January. The realtors also lobbied provincial legislators in support of Bill 152, which is intended to prevent legitimate home owners from losing their properties by fraudulent means. Timmers said this is a growing problem that includes identity theft, in which homes are sold right out from under the legitimate owners, or fraudulent mortgages in which the culprit pockets the mortgage money and the property owner is saddled with a mortgage they didn't know about and can't afford to pay. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake