Seller brokers, buyer’s agents, dual agents, exclusive seller agents, discount agents – real estate agents come in many different forms. The articles, columns, radio shows, blog posts and videos here help you navigate the new and complex world of hiring a real estate agent.
Choosing The Right Broker For Your Buying Needs
In some ways, finding the right broker or agent is tougher for a seller than for a buyer. Both buyers and sellers should find someone with who they feel comfortable, whose personality meshes with theirs. It's important to have someone who can listen to your concerns and can explain potential problems to you in a way you can understand.
Seller Attaches Lockbox To Property Allowing Real Estate Agents Access
Homeowners who are selling their home should attach a lockbox to their property to allow real estate agents to show your home to potential home buyers. The lockbox is a metal box attached to your property with a master key that allows real estate agents entrance to the home while the seller is gone. More sophisticated lockbox systems use electric key cards so several real estate agents can show the seller's home, increasing the chances of a home sale.
Real Estate Agent Promises To Find Job For Buyer
Be careful if a real estate agent promises to find you or your spouse a job in order to secure a home sale. If a real estate agent promises to find you a job, makes the sale and the job falls through or never existed, you may want to complain to the National Association of Realtors. A situation like this could lead to mortgage fraud, if inaccurate income is shown on a mortgage application.
Real Estate Agents And Brokers Are Similar
What's the difference between a real estate agent and a real estate broker? Training and experience. Both real estate agents and brokers take classes but brokers take additional classes and have likely worked in the industry longer. When you're buying or selling a home, it's likely that either a real estate agent or broker could help you.
How To Hire A Great Agent
Buyers and sellers alike always want to know how to hire a great real estate agent. In a tight real estate market, it can hard to find a right agent that will give you the time you need. You want to hire an agent who is extremely knowledgeable about the housing stock in your neighborhood.
Renting A Home Better For Short Term
When relocating to a new city, should you buy or rent? It depends on how long you will live in your new city. If you're relocating for only a short time, it's better to rent a home. Buying may make sense if you buy a fixer upper and repair it to increase its value.
Becoming A Real Estate Agent
A reader wonders how to get a real estate license. Ilyce writes about state licenses and class requirements.
Title And Mortgage Problems Add Up
A lot of newcomers have joined the title and mortgage industries in the past few years in order to make a fast buck with the recent real estate gold rush. But many don't know what they're doing and many more are overworked and that makes like difficult for buyers, sellers and agents.
Real Estate Agent, Attorney Can Help Buy Property
While you can look at real estate without a real estate agent, it's usually helpful to have one. You can work with either a buyer's agent or a seller's agent. And when you're ready to finalize your real estate purchase you should hire a real estate attorney as well. Learn about the benefits of hiring real estate professionals.