(Lack of) Truth in Advertising

I clicked on one of the ads for real estate development while reading Addustour online. So I scanned the company’s web page for information on the project and also the company itself.

The link to the Project Photos offers the following information (I am providing rough translation for those of you who can’t read Arabic):

Site:
The site was selected in Shafa Badran for this area enjoys unique and beautiful features:

• Easy access through Jordan Street
• It has two universities and a number of private and public schools
• It has commercial, entertainment, and service outlets
• Quiet and low population density
• High elevation of site and nice view
• Clean environment
  

Now these are fantastic claims, however, they are barely supported from the project pictures. Figure-1 is a print out of the company’s web page on Project Pictures, with a listing of the site attributes which I have translated above.

Figure-1 Project Pictures

Enlarging the first photo shows the land plot for the project (Figure-2). Is it just me or does the location sit lower than the surrounding properties???

Figure-2 Enlarged photo of project site

OK, never mind the project location. Let’s learn a bit about the company (About Us: About the Director and About the Company). Here is the translation for the About the Director information:

Company Director:
The director and partner in the xyz company for real estate investments is John Doe who has the following degrees and qualifications:

• Holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering since 1987 from xyz University
• Worked at Engineering Company as a Design and Project Engineer...
• Invested in real estate and founded Engineering Company for General Contracting...
• Invested in hotel suites and founded xyz Furnished Suites in...then returned to Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
• Invested in furnished apartment sector targeting students in...
• Has been investing in real estate in Jordan since 1991
• Participated in several workshops specializing in the following areas:
  - Business management
  - Self growth
  - Psychology
  - Natural medicine (or Alternative medicine?)
  - He carries a diploma in “Diagnosis through the Iris of the Eye” from the University of Natural Medicine in California

Figure-3 About the Company Director

I understand his interest in psychology, but natural medicine? And worse yet diagnosis through the Iris of the Eye?! I am speechless. What does this have to do with me buying a house in this project?????