Realtor Says HUD Fails to Maximize Results on REO Sales.(Department of Housing and Urban Development handling of real-estate-owned sales)

Would you list a property for sale but not put a sign in the front yard?

Would you try to sell a house you've taken back in foreclosure without putting a lock box on the front door so realty agents can take potential buyers inside?

Would you turn off the water, electricity and gas so would-be purchasers cannot look around at night, or check to make sure the appliances work properly?

A seasoned real estate-owned specialist might not. But according to Mike Potier of Boardwalk Properties here, the Department of Housing and Urban Development does all these things - and then some.

And that has Mr. Potier so upset that he took it upon himself last month to send out an unauthorized press release under the California Association of Realtor's banner.

That, of course, didn't sit well with CAR's board of directors, which had just approved a resolution directing staffers to work with the National Association of Realtors to pursue improvements in HUD's real estate-owned sales process.

"Our members have a variety of different business models and our members' opinions may vary as to the effectiveness of each," said spokesman Mark Giberson.