How To Become A Real Estate Agent In Canada

How To Become A Real Estate Agent In Canada

A real estate agent is a fun and lucrative job with many opportunities to advance one's career. To become a real estate agent, one must be at least eighteen years of age and have a Canadian High School Diploma or equivalent, and speak English. Each province in Canada is responsible for licensing real estate representatives in that province. However, there is a three-step process common to most, with a Board exam unique to each province. British Columbia will not grant a license to anyone with summary convictions until two years after restitution is made. Quebec will not issue a license to someone with a criminal offense in the prior five years. Check with your province of residence for specific local requirements. They can be found in most cases under the provincial Real Estate Commission or Council.
The first step is to complete the requirements for the Initial License. This must be completed within eighteen months. The program is available by correspondence or on-line. Phase one covers the benefits and limitations of a career in real estate, an outline of the requirements for registration as a real estate representative, an overview of the mathematics skills needed, and an indication of the specialties and career options. Phase two introduces the technical aspects of the profession and covers the statutory laws, rules and regulations governing transactions in real estate. Phase three gives a choice of two aspects of real estate; Residential and Industrial Commercial Investment (ICI).

The residential course is completed during eighty hours of classroom time. Practical aspects of real estate are presented through workshops covering the topics of acquiring listings, marketing, qualifying buyers, preparing and presenting offers. The ICI course requires eighty hours of classroom time. A wide variety of workshops cover topics including office, retail, industrial, multi-unit and vacant land practices.

The next step in becoming licensed is to complete a two-year articling period with a licensed broker. During these two years, one must complete three additional courses. Real Property Law is a mandatory course, with optional courses including Principals of Appraisal, Principals of Mortgage Finance, Principals of Property Management, or Real Estate Investment Analysis. There is also a mandatory Phase 3 course. One may renew a license after completing the articling stage and completing these courses.

To maintain a license, one must complete twenty-four hours of Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) every two years. Other opportunities to advance one's career are available in Continuing Education Units (CEU). CEU courses offered include: Agency courses, Practical Approach to Agency, Agency for Profit, Agency for Practice, Dealing with Purchaser Agency in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, Disclosure of the Real Estate Profession, The Broker's Toolkit: Standards and Compliance, Conflict Resolution Skills, Valuing Diversity; Increase Profits with Multi-cultural Clients, Housing Technology, and Technology for Profit.

If one wishes to become designated in a specialty, the Real Estate Institute of Canada offers several professional certification programs. These include certifications for property management, condominium management, appraisal specialist, and land planning and development.

Real Estate is a large and varied profession with many opportunities for specialization and advancement.

How Do You Find a Real Estate Agent?

How Do You Find a Real Estate Agent?

Don't let the job of finding a real estate agent discourage you from hiring one. Realtors are ready, willing and able to help you. They have the information you will need about preparing, pricing, listing, advertising, showing, and selling your property. Many offices will have multiple agents to choose from.
Agents that advertise are no doubt successful. Most agents are contractors and spend their own money to promote themselves. There are many different realtors to choose from, but where do you look for their advertising? The Internet, newspapers, referrals, or simply walking into any real estate office will work. Let's examine how each one of these ways can be highly effective.

Internet

Chance are if you have access to the Internet, that will be the first place you look to find a realtor of your choice. This is probably the easiest way to find a realtor. There are several websites you can visit, such as Realtor.com. You might prefer a specific real estate agency. All you have to do is visit one of these websites and you will be taken step-by-step on how to find the realtor for you.

Some agents even have their own websites. These sites can great sources for information about financing, buying and selling, trends, and real estate news. Often the websites are now linked with multiple listing services and you can browse properties for sale in your area.

Referrals

If someone you know worked with a particular realtor in the past and has nothing but great things to say about the experience, you should consider that referral. If that person was pleased with the service the realtor provided, there is a good chance you will be too. Referrals can come from anyone you know such as a friend, family member, or business associate. Another great source for a referral is neighbors. A real estate agent that has worked in your neighborhood will already be familiar with comparable sales, codes, and maybe even buyers. You can even check out real estate agents with listings in your area.

Newspapers or Magazines

Many times you might notice a realtor's ad in newspaper or magazine. Depending on how the ad stands out, this might attract you to call that particular agent. If you see an agent is aggressively advertising and selling properties you might want to jump aboard their program.

Realtors want new business and are eager to help you. That is the reason why the realtor's ad is in the newspaper or magazine in the first place. Knowing this information will motivate you to consider choosing a realtor with this method.

Walk-in

Real estate offices in your area are waiting for you to walk in. If you happen see a real estate office, don't hesitate to drop by. Talking to a realtor face-to-face can be highly effective. You can tell much about a person on the first meeting. Ask them for references and any information you need to choose an agent.

So what are you waiting for? Get going!

Frank Hendrickson is a real estate investor based in Texas. He is a former estate agent and writes widely about issues related to real estate and finance. His current interests currently span both the US and UK market especially the buy and rent back market and how it applies to the downturn in the real estate market.

Choosing a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home

Choosing a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home

Can you really save big bucks selling your home by owner or should you go with a real estate agent?
Question Number One: Do you have the time sell it yourself. There are those other obligations you have to deal with such as work, children, family or school. Because of these time restraints alone, choosing a realtor to aid in the process of selling your home might be the best option for you.

Question Number Two: Do you have the knowledge to sell your home? There are appraisals, contracts, inspections, restrictions about what you can and cannot say to prospective buyers and a mine field of other legal issues. Do you know everything you need to know to price your home correctly and handle the transaction?

Question Number Three: Are you really saving money? You will need to advertise, answer calls, set appointments, show your home, meet with prospective buyers and entertain contracts. Advertising costs money and what is your time worth to you?

Question Number Four: Do you need a sale sooner than later? Realtors have one thing for sure that you probably do not. Contacts with many other real estate agents and access to many potential buyers. In most cases you increase the chances of a sale with an agent and the time your property on the market is less.

Let's examine some more reasons why choosing a realtor for the sale of your home can be rewarding. Realtors can consult with you on how to get your home sold in top-selling condition. Ask your realtor what you can do to make your home better than competing properties. Your realtor will be more than willing to make some suggestions.

A realtor can also give you a current market analysis on what is happening in your area or marketplace. Current market information from the realtor also helps to strategize the sale of your property. The current market analysis consists of information on other properties in your neighborhood that have sold in the last six months as well as active properties on the market. The properties that are used for the analysis are from the same area as your property.

Realtors can also market your home to other real estate agents on the Multiple Listing Service. This is a website specifically for realtors to advertise homes. Only realtors who have paid for the use of this website are allowed to have access. This website provides other realtors access to homes for sale. Other agents might have a buyer who would be interested in your home. The Multiple Listing Service advertises to those agents.

When working with a realtor, you don't even have to worry about negotiating every buyer's offer. Your realtor will handle all negotiating on your behalf. This means you might never have to talk with or see a potential buyer. This is especially beneficial if your time is limited to deal with buyers.

Closing the sale of your home is the most important thing. The paperwork can be overwhelming and unexpected problems sometimes occur during closing. Therefore, having a realtor present with you at closing is a good idea. The realtor can explain all the terminology and forms involved in the sale.

Frank Hendrickson is a real estate investor based in Texas. He is a former estate agent and writes widely about issues related to real estate and finance. His current interests currently span both the US and UK market especially the sell to rent back market and how it applies to the downturn in the real estate market.

How do Real Estate Agent Commissions Work?

How do Real Estate Agent Commissions Work?

Whether they are working for a client to sell or buy a home, real estate agents earn their fee through commission which is based on the amount received from the sale. Before enlisting the services of a real estate agent it is important to understand how the commissions work. Real Estate Agents will work for a real estate broker. The real estate broker pays a real estate commission to the real estate agent. Commission fees can range from a minimum 30% and more of the total commission received by the brokerage. Experienced and top selling agents may receive 100% and pay the broker a desk fee. For listing a client's property and acquiring a buyer, the seller will pay a commission to the broker of which the real estate agent will get a percentage. This is normally a percentage of the sales price. The clients will sign an agreement with the broker. The commission for a real estate deal is paid from the seller's funds at closing, and calculated as a percentage of the total sales price. The below example shows how a real estate agent acquires their commission: Total sale price of the home: $500,000 Real estate broker's fee (10%): $50, 000 Your commission fee of broker's fee (50%): $25,000 The commission a real estate agent makes depends on the total price of home, the real estate broker's percentage fee of the sale, and what the real estate agent agreed would be his or her commission fee from the real estate broker's fee. There are a number of real estate offices agencies that receive commissions on a sliding percentage scale. This allows the agency to increase the amount of money they can receive with the more sales they bring to the agency. Commissions among real estate agencies can vary according to geographic location. The commission percentage for commercial properties tends to be higher then residential properties. Because of the negotiations that take place when selling/buying homes, the real estate agent does not always go for the highest amount possible for the sale. It may seem like a lot of money to spend on commissions for a real estate agent but the value you get makes it well worth the expense. They perform a wide number of duties such as arranging and listing the property, arranging for showings, help with contracts, negotiations, inspections, and closing processes, and have all of the pertinent information about the property, home, community, and neighborhood. The agent will also know the value of the nearby homes, and where all of the amenities such as parks, schools, malls...etc are located in proximity to the property. The agent will also know if an offer for a property is fair. Because the process of selling or property can be complicated, real estate agents are a valuable tool to making the process run smoother and helping one get a fair price for a home or property. Before you list a home or property, you should consider enlisting the professional services of a real estate agent.

Finding a Real Estate Agent

Finding a Real Estate Agent

Locating a real estate agent can be tough but this guide will give you some tips on how to locate the perfect real estate professional to help you buy or sell a home.


Places to Discover a Real Estate Agent?



There are several different strategies to locating a real estate agent, but not all are equally beneficial. Here are the best five locations to find an agent:



1. Phone book
2. Recommendation from friend
3. Open houses
4. Contacting sale ads/from signs directly
5. Online real estate agent directory


The most universal way to locate an agent is to flip through the phone book and phone the first few names that you find. There are a few problems with this approach including dealing with a total stranger and also the fact that you don't know if the real estate agent you are calling knows about your area.



Referrals are an easy way to locate a professional that can help out your situation and if you are getting their name from a friend or relative that has experience it ought to put your mind at ease.



Real estate open houses are an alternative method of finding a prospective real estate agent to work with. You can talk with them directly and see if they could possibly be a match for your needs. Open houses may not be the best place to strike up a discussion with an agent as they are most likely more interested in selling the residence they are showing rather than developing new clients, but it's worth a try.



You can flip through the newspaper ads or cruise around your neighborhood and get numbers immediately from for sale signs in your area. This can be an advantage because the professional that is selling your neighbors home probably has some knowledge of the area and knows comps and market worth. You may want to chat to your neighbor and see what kind of experience they are having to start with.



The final option that we listed and the one that we feel is the best is searching an online real estate agent directory. This is the easiest and most effective way to locate a local agent that might be attracted to working with you. You can quickly search by area and view the specialties of agents that are listed.



What to Expect Once a Real Estate Agent Is Chosen?



You never know if the person you have decided to work with is going to be aggressive at buying or selling a house for you until you see them in action. Especially when selling a home, some real estate agents are true professionals and will figure out what it takes to sell a property and get the job done. Others are content to just put the house for sell on the MLS and let other agents come along and show the house to potential buyers. You want to work with someone that is assertive and is vigorous in showing the house.



Never be fearful to boot the real estate agent to the curb if they are not doing their duty the way you would like. Sometimes there will be character conflicts that are just too much to conquer or a difference in opinion on how to market or find a property. The good news is that if your first choice for a real estate agent does not work out, there are plenty of others out there so keep trying until you find what you are looking for!

Finding The Right Real Estate Agent

Finding The Right Real Estate Agent

Even if you think you can save some money by not hiring a real estate agent, think again. Many people in Australia make this mistake, then have a very hard time. By selecting the right agent, your experience will be smooth and pain free.
Look For A Proven Track Record -

Any agent who is worth your while will have a proven and demonstrable track record that they can back up with testimonials from previous, satisfied customers. You should consider using an alternative agent if the one you are considering fails to provide you with references which prove their ability to service their clients adequately. While experience doesn't matter in some things, hiring a fresh, brand new agent to help you find a new home can result in disaster - and in a lot of wasted time.

Seek Out A Full Fledged Team -

One of the best ways to simplify the home buying or selling experience is by seeking out a "one stop shop" in terms of real estate agents. This means that if possible, it is best to select an agent who is teamed up with local conveyancing solicitors, for example Gold Coast Conveyancing and Gold Coast mortgage brokers. This way, you aren't getting your wires crossed constantly, and it is much easier to know where you stand and what needs to get done. By having a Gold Coast conveyancing solicitor and other professionals in the loop, costly mistakes are much less likely to happen.

Find Someone Local -

It is always smart to select a real estate agent who is local - not to where you currently live, but where you plan on relocating. Having an agent who is familiar with the area that you want to buy a new home in can be supremely beneficial. Better yet, try to find assistance from a company that has been in the area for a long time; they should have the best connections within the area and are most likely to know the market well.

Choose An Agent Who You Trust -

The final advice may sound a little vague, the agent you select should inspire trust and confidence in you. If you meet personally with a real estate agent and leave feeling less than sure about their philosophy and ability, then you should move on. Your agent should be a slam dunk all around, and there should be no doubt in your mind about their ability to help you.

To Use Or Not to Use a Real Estate Agent?

To Use Or Not to Use a Real Estate Agent?

With the current state of the economy and the wild growth of the Internet, many home owners are considering selling their homes themselves. Many think that selling a home is a simple process however, real estate agents do earn their commission. A real estate agent will provide information and expertise on the market and how the sale process works. Your agent will help sell your house faster by advertising it widely and he will also assist in negotiating the best possible price and ensure the closing of the sale is done smoothly. However, a 5% commission rate may seem steep to some home owners. 5% of $300,000 is still $15,000 and many owners find the prospect of parting with that money unbearable. Here are a few things to consider when choosing where to sell your home by yourself or enlist the help of a real estate agent. One of the most important aspect of selling any home is market knowledge. To sell your home rapidly and for a profit you must know what it's worth. Listing your home even 1% above its market value may damage your chances of a quick sale and you may end up with a lower final sale price than the house should have fetched. This is where a real estate agent comes in handy. Your agent will provide with a list of comparable properties that have sold recently in your area and will help you determine a reasonable selling price for your home. However, with the current wealth of information available on the Internet nowadays, for sale by owner (FSBO) are becoming more and more popular. If you know how to access this type of real estate information, going the FSBO route may be an option for you. A real estate agent will place your property in a database MLS, a Multiple Listing Service. This database is accessible only to registered real estate agents. This is where an agent will find current properties and market information as well as an archive or all past sales. Using the MLS is only one of the steps in your agent's arsenal to advertise your property to potential buyers. Advertising, websites, open houses are some of the other tools available to your agent. Some may argue that a home owner can do all this himself, except for the MLS listing. Just keep in mind that the advertising, open houses, etc are included in your agent's commission whereas you would need to pay for these yourself in a FSBO situation. Next comes the negotiations and closing process. Some individuals are natural negotiators and enjoy the process while others may find the whole process highly unpleasant. You need to determine if this is something you think you will be able and enjoy doing. The final step of the real estate transaction is the closing. Each state and country has a complicated set of laws outlining how a real estate transaction should be performed. Deposits must be made at the right time and in the correct amount in an escrow account. Property title must be investigated. There are a number of details that must be addressed before a transfer of ownership can be completed. Your real estate agent can assist you throughout the whole process. On the other hand, there are many books available, Internet sites, and low-cost 'seller assistance' businesses that can help demystify the home selling process. The question is, do you feel confident that you can handle all the aspect of the real estate transaction yourself or would you be more comfortable enlisting the help of an experienced real estate agent.

The Qualifications Of A Good Real Estate Agent

The Qualifications Of A Good Real Estate Agent

One of the most important things to remember when you want to have success in the real estate market is that you must choose the right real estate agent, someone who will represent your best interest with the utmost zeal and ability. This is especially important if you know very little about the entire real estate market.

Having a good real estate agent can make sure that you are getting the most out of your real estate experience. Unfortunately, not all real estate agents out there have the qualifications that you may need or may be seeking. In order to find the best and right real estate agent that will suit your needs in the real estate market, you must take a few factors into consideration before you choose a real estate that would represent you.

Before anything else, you should always remember that a real estate agent is just like a salesperson in a way that he or she is trying to sell someone a house. The agent could be working for either a buyer or a seller, depending on what purpose he or she was hired for. Nonetheless, their main mission is still to sell. It is important that you look for real estate agents that have the capability to sell any real estate property. This will help put you at ease knowing that the real estate agent that you have chosen can do his or her job well, thereby increasing the amount of confidence and trust that you have for him or her.

It also helps if you can determine what the real estate agent’s area of expertise is. Since some real estate agents are more specialized and have more knowledge about certain areas, you need to make sure that the real estate agent that you are choosing is knowledgeable and skilled enough in the particular area that you may need him or her for. If an agent has been living in the area that where your real estate property is located, then it can greatly help in how he or she markets and sells the property to other potential buyers since he or she is already familiar with the area, and knows a little something about it.

A good real estate agent is also very accessible and should always be readily available to his or her client. In this way, the agent can make sure that he or she is able to address any queries or problems that the client may have regarding the real estate properties that he or she is planning on selling or buying. There is nothing worse than a real estate agent that is very inaccessible. Any good real estate agent should always be there for his or her client, just so he or she can make sure that the client gets the best result from the whole real estate experience.

Any good real estate agent should also be experienced, but should also be educated. This will help make sure that your real estate agent is able to handle your account without problems and with high competence. You would rather have your account be handled by someone who has a college degree and has a lot of experience in the whole real estate process, as opposed to a high school drop out who has little to no sales yet. You need your real estate agent to take control of the whole process, which is why he or she needs to be very competent and skilled in the matter in order to make sure that your best interest is not overlooked.
Vanessa Arellano Doctor

Ask Your Real Estate Agent These Questions

Ask Your Real Estate Agent These Questions

A real estate agent is a person licensed by a state to represent a buyer or seller in a real estate transaction in exchange for a commission. They work in association with a real estate broker or a brokerage company. Smart customers always want an agent who will help and guide them to find a suitable home that meets their needs and can get them through closing without any hassle. On the other hand, a good real estate agent should know how to counsel you, how to give answers to your queries to better serve you. Therefore, interviewing a potential real estate agent is a sensible idea before deciding on him/her.

There are certain key issues you should discuss with your agent before considering.

How much experience do you have in this business -This does not mean that new agents are not valuable. What matters most is their training. In fact, freshly licensed agents have more time for you to concentrate.

What will be your strategy for my needs-Buyers should expect their agent to have a plan to help them find their right house within a stipulated period. They expect their agent to have good information about each property and every thing related to it like professionals who will be helpful in inspection and financing. Sellers, on the other hand, expect their agents to sell their house in a good price.

Can you provide any references-Before deciding on any agent, you must ask to provide references. Even new agents have references from the previous employers.

Do you have enough time to devote for me-If the agent is working with several buyers at a time, it will be difficult for him/her to devote much time for you. The success of your transaction depends on regular communication.

How will you help me getting other professionals-Your agent should be able to provide professionals like mortgage brokers, lenders, and home inspectors.

What will be your price-Generally, real estate agents charge a percentage from either the seller or buyer, they represent. A listing agent may charge more.

What happens if I am not satisfied with your services-If, after a certain period, I realise you are not good enough for my needs, will you cancel the agreement? What is your company’s policy about cancelled agreements?

Last, but not the least, why you think I am going to choose you-A good agent will not hesitate to answer this. Most customers want their agents to be good communicators, honest, punctual and friendly.

Once you have found the right real estate agent to represent you, help him get you the best deal.

Why a Real Estate Agent Career is a Good Life Choice

Why a Real Estate Agent Career is a Good Life Choice

A real estate career is not only a great career move, but a great life choice. You have the potential to earn great amounts of money through real estate, above and beyond your salary, through commission. You also have the opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives when you find them the home they have dreamed of. It is certainly a fantastic feeling making your clients happy whilst getting paid well for it.

Another nice aspect of a job as a realtor is that you can practically set your own hours. You will have clients and will need to work around their schedules, but for the most part you can decide when you want to work. And you get to decide how much you want to work. Of course, the more showings you are willing to go on and the more work you put into marketing yourself, the more you will make. But if you just want to work as a realtor part time, you may be more able to do so then with many other careers.

Most real estate agents work for an agency amongst other agents. Many agencies have targets you must strive to meet, whilst others are more relaxed. It will generally depend on what sort of market you are working in and how high pressure it is there. Every real estate market is different so choosing where to work once you are qualified is an important decision. Do you enjoy the high pressure and fast pace of an inner city real estate agency or would you prefer the slow paced country towns? These are decisions you will need to make when you are ready to seek employment as a real estate agent.

Before you can act as a real estate agent you must become licensed. A university degree is not required for this profession. You can attend college to obtain your real estate agent licence. You must pass the course and all exams to get your license. These courses often take less than two years and can be studied part time. Unlike many career choices, you will not go into work with a huge debt.

Another option for a real estate agent career is to undertake an apprenticeship. Although real estate apprenticeships are not as common as other apprenticeships they do exist in many areas. It is worth asking your local real estate agent if they would consider taking you on as an apprentice. They may appreciate the extra help and you can earn money while you study but more importantly, gain that vital industry experience.

A real estate agent must have excellent communication skills and sales ability. You will be selling people the most expensive item they will ever buy, so making them feel at ease and confident is part of your job. You must also be honest and seek to do the very best by your clients. Honest real estate agents gain an excellent reputation and generally end up earning the most as word of mouth leads them to gain more listings than other agents.

9 Tips For Becoming a Great Real Estate Agent

9 Tips For Becoming a Great Real Estate Agent

By: Kathy

Are you a new real estate agent, or are you considering becoming one? If so, you will probably want to hit the evidences running. After all, the more you sell, the more money you will do on a regular footing.

But the biggest problems new real estate agents have is that they do not cognize how to acquire start outed. They cognize the basics of the real estate industry, but since they do not have the experience they are a bit lost in the beginning phases.

Named below are several tips that new real estate agents should recall. These are all things that seasoned, effective agents are already familiar with.

1. Create a Financial Budget : Budgeting is critical given the up and down of this volatile market place.

2. Establish Sales Goals : Using your strategic plan, establish sales goals.

3. Although there is some flexibility working as a real estate agent you need to keep in mind that you are basically on call twenty-four hours a day.

4. As a new real estate agent you should cognize the industry inside and out. If there is something that you are not sure of, the best thing to do is fig it out before you travel on.

5. Make Managing Yourself : a Priority Building a business is not easy. You must learn how to manage yourself especially in the area of time management, ongoing real estate training (continuing education units) and personal life balance.

6. Remember it takes time to build up clientele. Promote yourself in the community as best as you can. Make sure your friends and family know that you are an agent. It may help build your client list and they may be able to refer new business to you.

7. Do not acquire queered with the industry if things do not move your mode at first. Think, the real estate industry sees a great deal of ups and down feathers.

8. Stay in touching with your clients as much as you can. As a new real estate agent you take to cognize what your clients are thinking and doing so that you are always in the grommet.

9. Find a Mentor or a Real Estate Coach: Take the time to find a mentor who can help you steer through some of the known obstacles and help you during the “peaks and valleys.”


These nine tips will move a long mode in making your life as a new real estate agent as easy as possible.

The Fate Of The Real Estate Agent

The Fate Of The Real Estate Agent

by Shaun Greer

It may have taken longer than with other industries, but realtors are starting to see the impact of the Internet on their incomes. While the Internet has provided easy access to much more information for realtors to do their job better, it has also given the same information to homeowners looking for ways to save while looking for a new home. Specifically, sites like HomeGain and Zillow are showing realtors that their industry will need to change or they will be reduced in numbers. Since these websites are giving away precious real estate information for free, commissions are dropping for realtors.

What is the main motivating factor to sign on with a realtor? In one word, information is the key reason why most homeowners will choose a realtor for their home buying and selling needs. After all, realtors have access to information the average person cannot obtain. However, with the appearance of HomeGain and Zillow on the marketplace, access to the information has now become public knowledge.

In the past, you simply could not buy or sell a home without the use of a realtor. Their access to the National Association of Realtors' multiple listing services was essential to buying or selling your home in an appropriate amount of time at a price that suited the homeowners. Only real estate agents knew what homes in the area were being sold for and they were only willing to share that information for a commission, the standard 6 percent.

Now, however, real estate information has become available online and become available for free. Any average homeowner can get a estimate on their homes value through RealEstateABC, Zillow and HomeGain. Or they can get an offer on their house from sites like ExpertHomeOffers. Should a homeowner want to put their home out there for public access, they can easily place their property information on ForSaleByOwner and other sites.

Accuracy, however, is the drawback for these websites and currently, the saving point for realtors who might worry about the future of their careers in the face of these daunting information sites. Currently, Zillow can be slightly off on homes in neighborhoods where fewer properties sell. These sites will be more accurate in neighborhoods who have had a number of sales recently to better gauge comparables in the area.

However, a realtor will have a similar problem in a neighborhood that rarely sells properties and websites like Zillow have an advantage they are not biased. Whereas an overzealous realtor might inflate home estimates to win over prospective clients, Zillow and other similar websites tell it exactly like it is, for better or worse.

Another down side of not using a real estate agent in a new home purchase or to sell a home is that a real estate agent can protect your best interests. Home owners rarely buy or sell real estate and most need help through the process. It can be complicated and if you make a mistake it can cost you thousands.

However, if you need to sell your house fast you would be much better off selling to a local home buyer in your area. They exist in every major city in the nation and they buy multiple homes each month. They mostly deal with people who are facing foreclosure, moving out of state or recently inherited a home, but their service is free.

The change in the real estate market mirrors what happened with traditional stock brokers whose monopoly on trading information was threatened with the advent of investing websites. Just as these stock brokers had to change their offerings and lower their fees, so too will realtors have to change in order to be a viable and important part of the real estate market. Rather than fight these informational websites, realtors will have to find ways to make their services invaluable for the homeowners who will need their marketing skills and experience in the real estate market.

Choosing a Real Estate Agent in Fairfield County CT

Choosing a Real Estate Agent in Fairfield County CT

by Scott Jenkins

When you're looking to purchase real estate in Fairfield County, chances are you're looking for an amazing real estate agent. Buying a new home can be exciting, frightening and much more. What should you look for when you want to purchase real estate through finding the best real estate agent ever? Here area few tips to help you do just that.
In Fairfield County alone, there are over seven hundred real estate agents, all waiting to try and help you purchase the home that you are dreaming of. Unfortunately, from those seven hundred or so, 85% usually make the sales. This is important to know because you want to purchase your Connecticut home quickly and get back to living your life. When you're talking to a real estate agent, ask for references and use them! If you're not sure about something, speak up. You do not want to let them take control of the situation. You're the one who is going to purchase the home. Be sure that all of your questions have been answered and that you feel comfortable with the answers.

One question that is worth asking is how many homes that real estate agent has listed and sold in the last year. This is a perfectly valid question and if your potential real estate agent doesn't want to answer questions or hesitates, you should probably work on another real estate agent. You want them to be like an open book and very honest and forthcoming with you. Another question you may want to ask is if you can call some references. When you're purchasing real estate or working with a real estate agent in Fairfield County CT, you want to know what kind of experiences others have had with them. This is a very important thing. Most people who have had excellent experience with a real estate agent will not hesitate to tell you and if they have had bad experience with a real estate agent, they will want to tell you even more so! This is something that you should not neglect. Find out who you are going to be potentially working with.

Use your intuition. How do you feel as you are having a conversation with the real estate agent? Are you comfortable with them? Do you feel as if they are trying to rush you so that they can get on with their lives? Are you able to speak with them without reserve and feel comfortable to do so? Each one of these things should affect your choice for a Fairfield County Real Estate Agent. Then, you can find a great one that is all you expected in a real estate agent. Those who do their homework will be much more satisfied with the real estate agent they end up with.

Take Your Time When Choosing A Real Estate Agent In Chicago

Take Your Time When Choosing A Real Estate Agent In Chicago

by Mark Shellby

Your initial venture into buying a house may be tension filled and thrilling at the same time. It is a big step to buy a house you may keep forever. Just think about how you can customize it to make it reflect you and your style. With the wealth of properties out there, you really need to employ the services of an experienced agent as you scour the market for the place of your dreams.
In Chicago, there are hundreds of homes for sale in all parts of the city and surrounding suburbs. Chicago real estate can be a very confusing place, so it is vital to choose the right agent to help you. It is important for you to know to some extent what you are looking for. Walking into real estate agents in Chicago with no ideas at all can be frustrating to you and to the agent.

There is such a wealth of realtors in Chicago from which to pick. Acquaintances and family members in the region might have useful referrals to give you, so you should discuss your quest with them. If that doesn't help, you can always do some internet research yourself. Type "real estate agents in Chicago" into one of the popular search engines and hundreds of links will appear on your screen.

If you have the right agent he or she will make choosing you house a lot easier. The agent that you choice should honor your needs and not try to force you into any deal or intimidate you. You need to feel really comfortable and satisfied before you purchase a home. The agent is working for you and receiving a commission and should be very helpful to you. Make sure you have a good working relationship with the agent.

When you have finalized your selection for you from a pool of real estate agents in Chicago, you must make your specifications clear of what you are looking for in your new home. By providing these specifications you utilize your time and your agent's time most efficiently by eliminating those homes you are not interested in. Additionally by having a list of desired traits in your new home your agent can seek out only those homes which will meet all of those characteristics.

Buying a house is an enormous undertaking, and it can have lifelong effects. Today's market offers so many homes, particularly in a city like Chicago, so a professional realtor is almost a necessity. A good real estate agent can ease the pain and stress of locating your dream home. For this reason, it is vital to select an agent with whom you can see eye to eye.

Real Estate Agent Survival Guide: A Recipe for Lemonade

Real Estate Agent Survival Guide: A Recipe for Lemonade

by Cheri Alguire

Are you sick of all of the bad publicity you hear on the news about the Real Estate Industry?

Are you sitting on a bunch of listings yet not had a sale in months?

Are buyers running you all over the place and then too afraid to put in an offer?

Wondering if this industry is worth sticking it out for any longer?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then it may be time to make some lemonade.

* Yes, there has been more bad publicity about the bad real estate market than we can even keep up with.

* Yes, days on market are higher than they have been in a very long time in many markets across the country.

* Yes, buyers take more work and listings take more work and even after more work, many times nothing comes from it.

* Yes, there are a lot of lemons!

We all know what we are supposed to do when life (or the real estate market) gives us lemons. But do you want to make lemonade? Are you willing to stick it out? Are you willing to go through the messy process of making lemonade? It is not as easy buying that premade lemonade. It is not as convenient, it takes a lot longer, and it can be sticky. The first thing you need to do is to decide that yes, you are going to take these lemons and make lemonade. It can't be a half-hearted attempt, that won't do! If you don't want to make your own lemonade, don't really care for lemonade and aren't willing to go through the process and work, then it might be time to find another way to make a living.

Harsh? You bet! I will not sugar coat this or say that it will be easy.

Can it be done? You bet! And it can be wonderful.

The first thing you need to do, in order to make lemonade, is to commit!

Once you have decided to make lemonade, there are many recipes to making the sweet beverage. To make it in this kind of a market, there are many recipes an agent can follow.

Not sure where to start? Why not start with one of these ingredients: * Expired Listings * First Time Home Buyers * Investors * Short Sale Listings * Builders * Bank Owned Properties

Remember, there are many other ingredients that are common in today's market: * More agents are getting out or not even entering which means less competition * Sellers are not putting pressure on you to discount commissions * Interest rates are low * Both buyers and seller realize how valuable your services are in this type of a market and value you as a professional

So, are you going to make lemonade? Or are you considering something else until the market turns around? Or both?

Tips to Maximise your Real Estate Returns

Tips to Maximise your Real Estate Returns

by Peter Welsummer

1. Know your Market!

Market research is critical to maximising your real estate return. Many people sell their property based solely on personal timing, such as starting a job in another area or moving into a new house and choose to sell irrespective of what the local housing market is doing. The savvy investor however, will buy and sell property after analysing the local market conditions. Unlike the share market, knowing your local property market can reap big dividends for the investor. The share market is filled with savy professional investors who know how to read signals and respond in advance to any change in the market. This action is called a 'predictive response'. For example, a simple inflation figure can cause shares to tumble in value as the professionals know that this will lead to an interest rate rise. The residential property market, filled with non professionals, however, operates responsively, rather than predictively. Hence, when an interest rate rise is announced, only then do house prices go down. Reading the financial section of your newspaper, or purchasing money magazines, will guide you to when the next interest rate rise will occur. If you sell before the next rise hits, you can miss the drop in values. Reading your local newspaper will also indicate whether your local area is growing or shrinking. Headlines such as "Another Widget factory shuts it doors" should ring alarm bells that there is going to be a flood of houses about to come on to the market as people move out of the area in search of work. This will lead to deflated house prices and should signal for you to sell straight away. On the other hand, headlines such as "Massive Industrial Park Expansion" will indicate growth in the area, and suggest you should hold on as the new local jobs result in more people seeking houses in your area. A great starting point to learn about your housing market is your local government housing department. For US residents, the US Census Bureau offers a detailed analysis of the housing market in most metropolitan centres.

2. Choose your Real Estate Agent Carefully

Choosing the right real estate agent can make or loose you thousands of dollars. When choosing an agent, you should first check is that the agent is registered. If you live elsewhere, simply look up your local state property department website for more information. Secondly, the real estate agent should have a substantial presence in your suburb and work full time. A part time real estate agent means you'll only have part time marketing of your property. A good real estate agent should be able to provide:·

* A list of recent sales in your suburb, complete with listing price and sale price.

* A detailed marketing plan for your house, including how it will be advertised on the internet, newspaper, magazines and possibly radio. * A graph of what advertising medium buyers used to find houses in your area. * Access to premium local internet advertising sites. * A flow chart of the selling process·

* A document detailing how the agent commission is calculated and any other fees.

3. Presentation Matters

Having the 'For Sale' out the front of the house covered up by over grown weeds creates a bad first impression. The bad first impression mean's that both less people will inspect the property and the offer that you do get will be lower. While the idea of mowing your lawn and gardening on a weekly basis while you are trying to sell is not a new one, I see houses for sale with over grown gardens, time and time again.So what are some other presentation tips? A neat and tidy house is a good first start. Grab all your old bricka-brac and put it in a box out in the shed, before the 'For Sale' sign goes up. Clean and tidy houses are much more inviting to look around and appear to be much larger than cluttered houses. Finish any renovation projects. A half painted house or half installed kitchen wins you no favours in the eyes of the buyer. It means work for them when they move in. Try to make the house look like there is no work to do when the new buyer moves in. Half finished projects will lead to claims by the buyer, when the house price is being negotiated, to clean up the mess that you started. There are loads more presentation tips, so check out the article http://www.thenaturegarden.com/RealEstatePresentationTips.htm for more information.

4. Don't Start too High, or too Low

Choosing how much to sell your house for starts on day one, when you decide how much you would like to list your property for. Getting a good price is a balance between getting a lot of people coming through the property, and not inviting lots of substantially under value offers. If you introduce your house to the market say, ten percent to high, then this will put a lot of potential buyers off from even looking through your house. On the other hand, if you list your house at the desired selling price, then you will only invite low offers. High listing prices scare buyers off and often these buyers won't come back even if you drop your house price to within their range.So how do you choose your listing price? Start with the desired selling price in mind, add on the agent's commission, then with the aid of the real estate agent, add the average percentile difference between the listing price and the selling price. It is critical that you find out this information from real estate agents, and good ones will be only to happy to help.

For Example: if you would like to sell your house for $275,000, the agent has a 2% commission, and the average difference between selling price and listing price is 2%, then: To cover the agent's fees = 275,000 x1.02 = $280,500 To get the desired price = 280,500*1.02 = $286,100 You will need to list your house for around $286,000, in order to achieve your goal of around $275,000. While this is good in theory, you then need to match it against the listings for similar houses in your suburb to ensure it is still attractive for prospective buyers.

Happy house selling!

Why Work With a Realtor in Finding Home at Siesta Key Real Estate

Why Work With a Realtor in Finding Home at Siesta Key Real Estate

by Eliza Maledevic Ayson

BusinessAre you interested to purchase a home in Siesta Key real estate? If yes, you will find a lot of different options.

There are some individuals who can buy homes without the assistance of a real estate agent, but you will want to avoid doing this kind of approach. In working with areal estate agent, there are plenty of advantages that you can get. You can examine it for yourself; you can do a little research and found out how real estate agent works.

The internet serves as an enormous marketplace, so you can research and examine homes for sale on Siesta Key real estate, but working with a realtor can help you find your dream home.

Plenty of homebuyers do not realize that not all properties or homes for sale are being advertised, but professional real estate agents know this. So in order to find and examine properties that can be the right one for you, you have to let a realtor guide and assist you.

Usually, homebuyers would want to have their dream homes at all costs. With the help of a realtor, you could determine how much you can afford to spend in buying a new home. All you need to do is give your real estate agent a little information such as income in a year, your expenses, the amount of money saved and so on, the realtor can determine the exact price range that you can have in buying a home. A realtor can also assist and help you out in acquiring financing.

Of course, you have certain features that you want in a home, jot them down. You hand these features with your realtor. Your realtor will assist you in examining and touring available homes for sale. With the assistance and guidance of your real estate agent, you would eliminate properties or homes that are financially out of your reach. You can definitely find your dream home quicker and with great deal with the help of a realtor.

Another benefit or advantage that you would get in working with a realtor is honesty. Of course, the realtor want you to have a home, but not just any home, the realtor want you to gain the right home that can give you convenience, comfort and satisfaction. If you have a realtor with you, he/she will give you honest information about the property such as the downsides and so on.

This article mentioned few of the reasons why it is best to work with a realtor in finding your dream home in Siesta Key real estate. Just make sure to find the right realtor for you. Allocate time in seeking the realtor that can assist you with your quest. Ask for recommendations from family and friends.

Real Estate Agent - Asking Price

Real Estate Agent & Asking Price

by James Gunaseelan

Are you selling your home? If so, one of the most important decisions you must make is the asking price. If you ask too much for your home you will never get anybody to take you seriously. But if you decide that you are going to set your asking price low, you could be leaving a lot of money on the table that could have been yours. For this reason, setting the asking price of your home can be a difficult task to say the least.

One of the most important benefits of hiring a real estate agent comes to those who are buying a home. If this sounds like the position you are in, keep reading. Most real estate agents have inside information that can work to your advantage. This is not to say that they have tons of secrets, but they do have access to information that the common person does not. For instance, they can check multiple sources to see which homes have just hit the market, as well as which ones may be doing so in the very near future. Additionally, real estate agents have connections with others in the industry. This includes other agents, brokers, and much more. When you work with an agent, you will more or less become a part of this inner circle. In the end this can definitely work to your advantage.

Simply put, if you are working with a real estate agent you will find it much simpler to set an asking price. The reason for this is simple. First off, they are trained in assessing the value of homes. It is safe to say that after a walk through that your agent will be able to give you a good idea of what the asking price should be. Additionally, your real estate agent will also compare your home to others in the area that are also for sale. From there, it is easy to see if you are asking too much or too little for your home.

Keep in mind that you do not have to use the asking price that your real estate agent suggests. But with that being said, they definitely know what they are talking about in this area. Could they make a mistake and ask too much or too little? Sure. But you need to take what they are saying to heart. Many sellers get caught up thinking that their home is worth more money than the actual market value. When this happens, you are not only harming the chances of making a sale but you are also wasting your agent's time. After all, they know what price point is competitive while also giving you the best chance of making a sale. Overall, your real estate agent will be able to help you set the most accurate asking price. If you trust the agent that you hired, you can let them do their thing with the price. Just make sure that they know your feelings as well. By working together you should be able to agree on the perfect asking price.

Paying For A Real Estate Agent

Paying For A Real Estate Agent

by James Gunaseelan

The seller usually pays the real estate agent commissions, which are taken from the proceeds of the sale and distributed after the close of and by Escrow. Commissions are negotiable -- before listing agreements and sales contracts are signed, not at closing. The percentage typically is set by local custom and the strength of the market. Some buyers hire their own exclusive agent and the seller either does not pay that agent a commission or their commission is negotiated as part of the sales contract. Working with a real estate agent offers many benefits. The only drawback is that you will have to pay them when selling your home. In other words, they will take a cut of the selling price of your home. This is the number one reason that some people decide to sell their home by owner. They want to keep all of the profits for themselves, and this is perfectly understandable. But with that being said, you need to keep in mind that the small fee you will have to pay is usually well worth it. After all, an agent does a lot of work for the money that they make.

The question is: how much money do you pay a real estate agent when they sell your home for you? Generally speaking, this is a question that should be answered by the agent that you are going to do business with. After all, this can change from agent to agent depending on the way that they work, etc. But with that being said, there are some standard commission rates that seem to hold true across the industry.

It is safe to say that you will end up paying your real estate agent approximately 6 percent of the selling price. For instance, if you sell your home for Rs.100,000 your real estate agent will take small portion of this. Does that seem like a lot to you? If you are like most, you probably think that it does. But again, you need to remember what you are going to get for the money that you are paying. Your agent will work on everything from marketing to negotiations and much more. Working with an agent means that you will not be responsible for a lot on your own; and this is a good thing for most sellers.

The commission is split. Usually, the seller's agent's brokerage gets half and the buyer's agent's brokerage half, although other splits are possible. If the agents work for a broker, the broker will get 30 to 50 percent of the agent's commission (minus what they spend for things like marketing, newspaper ads, flyers, internet ads, which comes out of their own pockets - along with many other expenses of the daily operating costs of their real estate business). Commissions are the bulk of the seller's closing costs and the reason many homeowners explore selling without an agent. If they are successful, they'll have either no commissions to pay, or only one -- the buyer's agent -- if they agree to pay the buyer's agent. The percentage to be paid also must be in the contract. You will more than likely pay your real estate agent somewhere in the range of 6 percent if they are successful selling your home. If this is something that you are willing to deal with, you can move forward right away. Before you decide against this because you don't want to spend the money, remember that an agent will bring many benefits to the selling process.

The How to Buy Real Estate Software Checklist

The How to Buy Real Estate Software Checklist

by James R Kobzeff

Searching online for the right real estate software you require to meet a particular desire can be confusing, to say the least. Take it from someone who knows, having myself spent big bucks online for real estate software.

Where do you begin? There are a variety of real estate software solutions available, with various features, tools, and reports. Once we determine our budget, we have consented to the investment, so the confusion is not just about price. We just want it to work for the purpose we expect, and most of all, we want it to be easy.

Here is a checklist you might want to employ when you get ready to purchase real estate software. It has helped me.

1. Look at the web site. The web site is the first clue about the software. Is the site well organized, creative, informative, unobtrusive, and easy to navigate? Bear in mind, the same company claiming to you that their program is easy to use and professional and your best solution publishes the website.

2. Read what the software purports to do. Knowing whether the software is what you need is crucial, though not always easy to decipher. If you are uncertain about what the software does, call the company and ask for clarification. When a number is not available, you might want to opt out. You do not want to spend money on a software program you are unsure may help you, and worse yet, are not able to discuss it with the software company directly.

3. Preview the screen shots. Screen shots of the forms and reports should give you a good idea of what the program will look like when you open it. When screen shots are not included, get concerned. If the developer is not thorough enough to post a few gifs, chances are that the software will be more hype then substance.

4. Read the testimonials. Reading what real people who use the software have to say about the software is helpful. Most testimonials are legitimate so you should be able to trust them.

5. Examine the support policy. When you encounter a problem, or have a question, how are you served? Telephone contact is always preferred, especially with the developer. Email contact is okay, but I generally like talking to a real person.

6. Read about the company. The more experience related to your type of real estate business the better, and look for longevity. How long has the company been in business? This alone should not persuade your decision (all real estate software companies have to start somewhere). But given the choice, it might be better to look for some seasoning.