Ideally, responsible, risk-based subprime lenders provide access to credit for prospective home owners with poor credit scores. However, lenders are considered predatory when their practices, although legal, are not in the best interest of the borrowers.

Customers look to you for expert advice, but play it smart and give advice that doesn’t create liabilities for you.

In a free market, anything can happen. But if something seems too good to be true, it may be fraud. Not recognizing the signs of fraud can kill a sale and embroil you and your client in legal action if a fraudulent sale closes.

Emily Doskow, a part time small claims court judge and a legal editor at Nolo (www.nolo.com), shares these tips for making your day in court a happy one.