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manda Zachman, a former reality TV personality, has seen her business venture, MV Realty, face unexpected challenges. After gaining fame on "Big Brother" in 2013, Zachman founded the Florida-based real estate brokerage, which introduced a unique Homeowner Benefit Program. The program offers upfront payments to property owners in exchange for exclusive listing rights, but its implementation has led to complications and legal actions across 11 states.

    The program's contracts, lasting up to 40 years, can be transferred to heirs upon a homeowner's death and come with termination fees equivalent to 3% of the home's value. Real estate attorney Jennifer Nachtigal describes these agreements as "exclusive listing agreements that bind you to pay these people whether or not they do any services for you."

    MV Realty has filed over 500 memoranda in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, creating obstacles for homeowners trying to refinance or sell their properties. The company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in September 2023 listed all active Homeowner Benefit Agreements as assets.

    Several property owners have shared their experiences with the program, including Tanya Shaw, who accepted $1,000 from MV Realty but was later unable to refinance due to a memorandum filed against her property. Colorado homeowner Jonathan Mead received $1,245 under the agreement but questioned it after seeing media coverage and discovered that the bankruptcy notice wouldn't void the contract.

    State legislators have responded to these concerns, with 22 states passing laws against similar real estate fee agreements over the past two years. Colorado banned such agreements earlier this year, calling them "predatory." Texas legislators introduced bills addressing the issue, but they did not advance beyond committee stage.