Real Estate

1. My home was FSBO and I had little luck. Could not beat em, so joined em.

2. I got pretty good at writing internet ads and displaying beautiful photos etc on the web. I’m curious to know if I can or should continue writing my own ads on the web, but refer any propsective buyers to the listing agent. My agent does not use cragslist, but it gets a tone of results. Can I write my own ad, letting viewers know I wrote the ad, but refer them to the listing agent?

3. How often will a good realtor agent communicate with his clients who have homes listed with him? How often should I hear from my agent about feedback etc?

4. Can an agent network with other associates to get my home shown? So far mine threw it in the MLS and that is it. I want the other brokers and agents brought in here. How can I politely ask him to do this? How can I teel him to do a broker’s open house?

He offered to list my home at 5% should I offer 6% if he agrees to get off his behind and do more, or what?

Brokers/agents don’t hold open houses to sell houses, they use them to get more clients. So there may not be any reason for him to hold an open house.

The frequency of communication depends upon numerous variables. If you have questions, you should call him. You should ask him about comparables to make sure your house is not overpriced.

Ask him to increase the selling agent’s split of the commission. If the current split of the 5% is 2% to your broker (the listing broker) and 3% to the selling broker (the buyer’s agent) you could offer 4% or 5% to the selling broker. This gives other brokers incentive to show your house to their clients.

A little confused here. I’m a novice real estate agent and I need to find the right realtor to work for.
There’s thousands of companies out there, so what method do I use to find the right company…
What questions should I be asking prospective employers? Should I go for a smaller company or a larger one? Any articles worth reading or advice would be greatly appreciated…

I recommend you to go to www.realtor.org and search for those topics. There are lots of helpful articles and tips for new agents.
Good luck

Real estate agents normally would not list these places as there is no commission in the property until it actually is sold. That could be 2-3 years down the road based on the contract written. You might would find one, but that is a long shot, unless it is their property.

In order to find this type real estate situation you would have to find a person that is renting, or selling their own property. You would have to broach them about a possible rent, lease to own or owner finance.

Look through the local real estate ads in your local paper or on the internet for those that are selling their own property to find such a potential person that would do this type of real estate transaction.

This is not and will not be an easy chore as you be trying to have someone change their mind about an right rent or sale that every one know and understand to a lease or rent to own that might be foreign to this person.

I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck.

"FIGHT ON"

Also, what is the difference between a real estate agent, realtor, buyers agent, and listing agent?? Cant a real estate agent and realtor be a listing agent and buyers agent? I am SOOO confused?

yes you are right on all of the above.

while your standing in the room of realtors that I answered a while ago, the one on your right can be a listing agent for the house your interested in. And if the agent on your left may be the one you found to get a house will be the selling agent. only if she got the deal form the buyer to list it. When the house is sold the two agents (the one on the right and the one on the left will split the commission) which is 6% that is unless the commission went up since the last time I bought a house. But what ever it is thy split it. Now for example you walk in the same office and contact the same agent who listed the house and then she sells the house to you. The agent keeps all the commission, but the broker whom she works for also makes a 6% commission.

I hope this answers your question

I am interested in making a new career out of selling houses, but I don’t really know what the differences are between these positions/titles, and what are all the steps to following through with it all? Does one make more money than another?

A real estate agent and a broker are about the same thing, someone who sells real estate. But a broker could also be a company or a group, a ‘brokerage’.

A realtor is a real estate agent who belongs to the National Association of Realtors, which is an industry group like the American Medical Association for doctors

It’s short sale. The bank verbally accepted my offer 7 weeks ago & I still don’t have a written acceptance. My realtor does email the listing agent for updates. But there is no urgency in my realtors emails & we get ‘fluff’ answers back. "Should be soon!"

It’s not that it’s "bad," you simply will not achieve anything. The listing agent doesn’t know what’s going on because the bank is not giving any information. It’s the bank saying "soon."
Keep in mind that 7 weeks is NOT a long time for a short sale. It may take 12 or 16 weeks or even longer.

Statistically, do realtors have generally ore expensive cars? I noticed that do you or is it just me?

It really depends on each agent. I assure you that there’s no standard. I live and work in a very hot housing market and I’ve seen realtors in BMW, Ferrari, 1970s Volvo, Ford Taurus, Honda Civic hatchback etc. It depends on how much the agent has in expendable income (many cars are leased!), what the goal is for driving that car, or if it’s just a regular car they’ve had and isn’t to be flashy.

I find that the agents that drive extremely fancy cars rarely make the type of money that their message is sending via the vehicle.

I am not planning on buying a home but I watch house hunters alot and they always have like a real estate agent with them through alot of the home buying process. Which made me think do you have to have one to buy a home for the first time? Any information is great. Please try to answer the question tho.

Do you have to have one to buy a home for the first time?

There is no LAW that says you have to have a real estate agent to buy your first home, your second, or your third!

But there are consequences to not having an agent working for you as a BUYER’S agent.

If you are buying a house For Sale By Owner (FSBO), there are no guarantees the seller is being up front with potential defects in the house. If earnest money is exchanged, it can be difficult to get it back if the deal sours.

If you call the agent who has a sign in the yard, he works for the seller first. It’s called limited agency here, but it basically means he/she has a conflict of interest. It’s impossible to get the BEST price for the seller, while at the same time getting the LOWEST price possible for the buyer.

Your best bet as a first time home buyer is to contact a few agents until you find one you are comfortable working with. As others have said, the seller signs a contract that pays agents to bring buyers. The seller pays the commission to YOUR agent – so why not get the benefit of that agent’s expertise helping you get the best house for you for the lowest price?

I’m planning on buying a house soon and was wondering…Do I hire a realtor or real estate agent? I don’t know the difference between the two. Also, is it wise to hire this person or do I really need one? Thanks

The difference between a realtor and a real estate agent is the licensing. A realtor is a part of the local real estate board and the National Association of Realtors. While a real estate agent is part of his/her local board but not the National Association of Realtors. What is so important about the National Association of Realtors is the Code of Ethics that all realtors must follow. I’m not saying that agents are not ethical, but they are not bound by the Code.

A realtor is a real estate agent, but a real estate agent might not be a realtor. I know it’s confusing to the general public.

How important is it? Do realtors make more money than regular real estate agents? Do realtors make more house sales (compared to agents) because they are a realtor?

In most areas you cannot join the local board of Realtors or have MLS access without being a Realtor, which is a member of the National Association of Realtors. If you decide against joining, you will likely make no money whatsoever, since to be an effective real estate agent, you must have MLS access. You will find that virtually all real estate agents, except perhaps those who work for builders or in very small towns, belong to the National, State, and Local Associations.