Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent

Not all real estate agents, Realtors and brokers are alike. It's wise to shop around and find the real estate team that's right for you. First stop to think about the qualities that you need in a real estate agent to effectively sell your home. Your list may read like this:

Listens to my needs. You want a real estate professional who listens more than talks. Your agent needs to hear what's important to you, and keep your priorities above his or her own at all times.

Works hard and is not lazy. It sounds basic, but there people out there who are not willing to work as hard for you for whatever reason. You need someone at the top of their game, someone at the peak of their career who is ready to get out there and do whatever it takes to get your home sold in a timely manner and for the right price.

Answers my calls. When you're selling your home, nothing is worse than getting voicemail even 50% of the time. You need a real estate professional who is available for you when you need him or her. You need someone you can reach immediately when necessary.

Positive Attitude. Want to sell your home quickly, for more than you expected? Find a Realtor with a good attitude. A negative, moody or depressed agent frankly will not have the confidence necessary to sell your home effectively in any market conditions.

Knowledgeable. Your Realtor needs to be knowledgeable about the legalities of real estate, the marketplace and about your area.

Successful. The best real estate agents are successful agents. You should be able to tell they are successful when you meet with them. They should have an excellent track record and sound references to prove it. An unsuccessful agent is that way for a reason, don't find out why.

Confident & Assertive. When it comes to selling your home, you need someone who is confident and assertive. Confident, because they need to know exactly what they are doing, and assertive because they have to take an assertive stance in the negotiation process. You want someone on your side who knows how to take a stand.

Ethical. You want an ethical real estate agent who you can trust. Not only will he or she show up where expected, but will show up on time. Your Realtor must have an outstanding reputation and perform his or her job with high moral clarity.

Markets your home by many different means. Sometimes all that's needed is a sign in the front yard and you've got offers on your home from here to the Brazos River. Other times, depending on market conditions and other factors, selling your home may require extra techniques and tools such as virtual tours, internet marketing, open houses, direct mail, etc... Make sure your agent is ready to do whatever it takes to get your and your home moving.

Lee Gaban is a writer for Fort Worth Realtor, Sharon Mays, specializing in a Fort Worth Homes

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Gaban
http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-the-Right-Real-Estate-Agent&id=686611

Friday, August 10, 2007

Buying vs. Renting? What should I do now?

Many people come to me now with the question, should I buy now or rent for a while? That's a great question and there are many things to consider, regardless of where the real estate market is going.

What is your personal situation, where are you going to be in 2 years, 5 years, or more? Are you looking for a house to live in for the rest of your life or are you planning to move again in the next few years? Are you financially ready to put a 10-20% down payment when you buy a home or do you need 100% financing? So many things to consider so let's look at them one at a time.

Let's look at how long you plan on living in this house, this is very important factor right now. Over the last few years we have seen real estate prices increase at a record pace, this is not normal and now some areas are feeling the pain of having the market decline in price. The prices have come down some in many areas and there are some good opportunities to buy property out there, remember you never buy exactly at the bottom and sell at the top, getting close is what is important. Read more here

Peter DeJoseph
Lic. Real Estate Broker
Lic. Mortgage Broker
http://www.yourreguy.com/

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