Muskogee Home Selector Aug. 2, 2014

Page 2—Saturday, August 2, 2014 HOME SELECTOR

HOME SELECTOR Saturday, August 2, 2014—Page 3











Fair Housing

Your Right, Our Business.

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ®

The Voice for Real Estate TM

s members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, ® we uphold the right of all Americans to fair housing. All REALTORS ®

subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics*-which includes our commitment to equal opportunity in housing. When you choose an agent to help you buy, sell or rent your home, choose a REALTOR, ® an individual dedicated to ensuring your rights under the law.

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*Code of Ethics, Article 10: “REALTORS ® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. REALTORS ®

shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.”


Buying a home is often a difficult thing to do. The stress of making such a big financial commitment is a struggle for many home buyers, whether they have purchased a home in the past or are doing so for the first time. One way to make the process a lot less anxiety-ridden is to work with a real estate agent you can trust. Those who have previously purchased a home might already have a strong relationship with a real estate agent. But for those moving out of their current location or buying for the first time, finding the right real estate agent requires some effort. Those in the market for an agent to help navigate the home buying process should consider the following tips. * Find a buyer’s agent. Real estate agents are often affiliated with sellers instead of buyer’s. This means their primary goal is to help the seller and not the buyer. When shopping around for a real estate agent, ask companies about their buyer’s agents. Buyers should always have someone with their intere sts in mind, and not the interests of the sellers. * Find an agent first, then a property. Many times homes remain listed online or in “home for sale” brochures even if they are under contract or sold. These homes are often luxurious and appealing to a wide arr ay of prospective buyers, and some agencies use them to attract customers. While this isn’t a typical bait and switch, it is a way real estate agencies get customers in the door. It is important to find a real e state agent before looking through home listings. This allows the buyer to choose their agent based on merit and not due to the potentially glitzy houses he or she may have listed previously. * Find someone with a track record. Real estate can be an exciting and financially rewarding industr y in which to work. As a result, lots of people want to be real estate agents, even though few succeed an d last a long time. When interviewing real estate agents, inquire about their history in the business. A more expe rienced agent will make things far less stressful and easier, and a long career indicates they are good at w hat they do. A real estate agent with a long history in the business will likely be a full-time agent as well. Pr ospective buyers should look for a full-time agent, which is not as common as some buyers might think. Many ag ents work part-time, and buyers could receive less attention as a result. * Don’t place too much emphasis on agency size. Real estate agencies come in all shapes and sizes. W hen it comes to ability, the size of the agency should not factor in. A smaller independent agency can be j ust as qualified and reliable as one of the major franchise agencies. Buyers who find someone they trust sh ould go with that person, regardless of how big or small their agency is. * Get a referral. Friends and family members who have been through the buying process before might b e great resources. Buyers looking in “Town X” who have friends or family already living there should c onsult those friends or family and ask for any agent referrals. Those relocating because of work should ask their company to refer an agent. Chances are companies have relocated employees in the past and might have a strong relationship with an agency in town.

How to Find the Right Real Estate Agent



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Muskogee Home Selector Aug. 2, 2014