Yes - its still there, is crooked unjust and fraud - it remains widespread, BUT, is most easily concealed when there's so much hype going on in the market generally - the -"you'll missout if you dont buy straight away- or - an opportunity not to be missed"....
so fortunately stagnant markets bring some reality checks to more people generally, with the largest property bubble in the world (in % terms)deflaTING at a faster rate, week by week, during the so called "spring RE carnival period" , that 'hype is going fast with it...
Your parents are not the only ones that were complicit in this highly illegal practice..., I have myself been approached, and I have first hand evidence of RE firms that still do it, I would however, recommend they not do it, as if connected, and proven to have known of the existance of the deceipt, legal issues may arise...
