A
manda Zachman, the self-proclaimed villain of Big Brother Season 15, traded in her reality TV fame for a career in real estate, founding MV Realty. However, controversy from her time on the show has followed her into her professional life. MV Realty's Homeowner Benefit Program offers homeowners up to $5,000 in exchange for signing an exclusive agreement, but this comes with strings attached.

    Homeowners who sign the agreement may be locked into a contract that can last up to 40 years and even pass down to their heirs. Those who try to exit the agreement could face significant termination fees. MV Realty has also been accused of filing memoranda against properties, which can obstruct refinancing or sale. These documents are not technically liens but can still cause problems for homeowners.

    A review of public records suggests that MV Realty has filed over 500 memoranda in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and more than 1,200 across Texas. Tanya Shaw is one homeowner who signed a contract with MV Realty after being offered $1,000. However, when she needed to refinance her home due to a family emergency, she discovered the memorandum filed against her property. She was required to pay MV Realty $11,000 in addition to real estate agent fees.

    MV Realty has faced lawsuits in 11 states and is facing scrutiny from state lawmakers. Colorado banned these agreements earlier this year, calling them "predatory." Over two years, more than 22 states have passed similar laws. In Texas, however, bills aimed at banning the agreements did not make it into legislation, and the state's attorney general has yet to take action.