Luis D. Ortiz, the Keller Williams NYC broker and star of Bravo TV’s “Million Dollar Listing New York,” is under investigation for doctoring listing photos of a Greenwich Village townhouse, the New York Post reported.
On an episode of the popular reality show that aired in May, Ortiz was shown Photoshopping hardwood floors, marble countertops, a new oven and bookshelves into promotional pictures of the home, on the market for $7.4 million.
His excuse to viewers was that the Downing Street home’s interior was so rundown he had to get creative with the listing.
“If I put the real photos out there, nobody would come inside,” he said during the show. “A little white lie isn’t going to kill anybody!”
Although Ortiz apologized for the stunt on the reality show’s blog on May 22, the New York Department of State, which has oversight of the real estate industry, launched an investigation into the broker and his business practices six days later.
Ortiz said he sent the fake photos in an email blast to brokers but never used them on actual listings. [NYP] —James Comtois