ComputerHunter.org

 

Choosing a Real Estate Agent


Before you go looking at houses, you'll need to find a real estate agent. Hiring a real estate agent takes a little bit of time to do. You're making one of the most important financial decisions in your life and you want to make sure you hire the right person.

You can get recommendations for agents from family members, friends and co-workers you trust who have used that agent themselves in buying a home. You can also check the internet, newspaper listings, and "Homes for Sale" publications.

The best type of agent to look for are the ones who work in real estate full-time. Sometimes, the part-time agents may not devote enough time towards finding a home for you. You want agents who do this for a living full-time and will make sure that your housing needs are met. Also, because there is such a high turnover among real estate agents, you want to find several that have been doing this for at least the past couple of years.

Try to find agents that are licensed and have the Graduate, REALTORS® Institute series (GRI) accreditation from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Agents who have the GRI will usually have it printed on their letterhead or business cards. If not, just ask if they have this particular accreditation.

After selecting several agents, set up interviews with each one. The interviews don't have to be long, no more than an hour. During the interview, explain to the agent what kind of house you're looking for, what neighborhoods you're interested in, and the price range you're comfortable with.

Ask the agent if he or she is a buyer's agent. A buyer's agent represents the buyer only. Most agents say they represent the buyer and seller, which is called dual agency, but they really only represent the seller. These agents must legally negotiate on behalf of the seller and put the seller's interest first before yours.

Ask if the agent is an "exclusive buyer's agent". This type of agent only works with buyers and does not sell homes. Ask to talk with past buyers who have bought homes in the neighborhoods you're interested in.

After conducting interviews with all the agents, choose the one who answered your questions well and made you feel that you're interests were important and they're committed to finding that perfect home for you.

Michelle Roebuck provides mortgage and home buying advice for people with bad credit at http://www.find-bad-credit-mortgage-loans.com Sign up for her newsletter at http://www.find-bad-credit-mortgage-loans.com/newsletter.html







Google News - Top Stories

TVNZ

Obama Aides Signal Deeper Cuts in Taxes and Spending
New York Times - 1 hour ago
By JACKIE CALMES and JEFF ZELENY WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama has signaled that he will pursue a far more ambitious plan of spending and tax cuts than anything he outlined on the campaign trail - a plan "big enough to deal with the huge ...
Axelrod on Economy: We Have to 'Do Something Big' ABC News
Obama to announce his top economic team Reuters
Bloomberg - Financial Times - CBS News - WNYC
all 377 news articles


Canada.com

APEC leaders pledge swift economic action
Reuters - 1 hour ago
By Chisa Fujioka and Oleg Shchedrov LIMA (Reuters) - The United States, China, Japan and 18 other economies in Asia and the Americas pledged quick and decisive action on Sunday to prevent a severe global economic downturn.
APEC: Global crisis can be overcome in 18 months The Associated Press
Apec pledges swift financial action Aljazeera.net
Washington Post - AFP - Xinhua - New York Times
all 4,143 news articles


Los Angeles Times

'Twilight' leaves its box-office mark
Los Angeles Times - 1 hour ago
By Richard Verrier A wildly popular vampire love story bit into the box office with a vengeance, helping to deliver a banner weekend for the industry as Hollywood brushed off one of the worst weeks ever on Wall Street.
UPDATE 1-Moviegoers enter 'Twilight' zone at box office Reuters
'Twilight' takes $70.6M bite out of box office The Associated Press
Variety - Hollywood Today Newsmagazine - /FILM - Mania
all 177 news articles


Los Angeles Times

Official: Richardson to be commerce secretary
The Associated Press - 3 hours ago
NEW YORK (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama has chosen New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to be commerce secretary, adding a prominent Hispanic and one-time Democratic rival to his expanding Cabinet.
UPDATE: Official: Richardson to be commerce secretary WNCT
Richardson expected to head Commerce Dept. United Press International
CNN Political Ticker - FOXNews - Donklephant - Wall Street Journal
all 649 news articles


CTV.ca

Tibetans back Dalai Lama's 'middle way,' despite impatience
Christian Science Monitor - 58 minutes ago
But they may yet abandon his moderate stance on China if it doesn't bring progress soon, they warned. By Mark Sappenfield | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor NEW DELHI - At the end of a conference called to consider the future of the ...
Dalai Lama Urges Caution in Tibet's Dealings With China Washington Post
Tibetan exiles at a crossroads BBC News
Indian Express - Wall Street Journal - AFP - eTaiwan News
all 1,703 news articles

Google
 

Copyright © 2006 Computer Hunter - A Division of Arthur´s Job Base