Tehama Country Real Estate

Tehama Country Real Estate – 3 eal estate professionals come with many job functions such as loan officer, home inspector, appraiser, broker and sales agent. Perhaps the two most confusing titles are those of real estate agent and Realtor. Are they the same thing? Well, not exactly. What is the Difference Between a Real Estate Agent and a Realtor? R The real estate agent and the Realtor provide many of the same services for home buyers and sellers. However, the breadth of knowledge, recog- nition and assurance of ongoing real estate training is the defining line that separates the two. Real Estate Agents Depending on what state the real estate agent is practicing in, the option to obtain a Realtor title will vary. When a real estate student passes the state real estate exam, he or she will automatically become a real estate agent. This is sufficient to go to work for a broker and begin work with the broker's clients. The real estate agent is under the authority of the broker, who is ulti- mately responsible for every real estate transaction in his or her office. Should a lawsuit arise, it is the broker that typically must deal with the legal issues, so he or she should be greatly concerned about the education of the agents in the office. Real estate agents are fully competent to assist buyers and sellers in the real estate transaction, but in some states, the agent does not have their own access to lock boxes and premium online selling tools. The real estate agent will need to use broker keys to show properties and may not carry the same prestige as an agent that has upgraded their skills to Realtor. Realtors A Realtor is given that title by becoming a mem- ber of the National Association of Realtors that rec- ognizes an agent to be one of their own. This means that the real estate agent has under- gone extended real estate training beyond the call of the state board exams to rise to a professional level for residential and commercial property sales. The Realtor is a member of an elite group that trains and shapes new agents into highly competent real- estate machines. Depending on the size, branding and location of a real estate office, some brokers insist that all of their agents become Real- tors. This ensures a consistent quality of service to the broker's clients and guards against the agent making a tragic mistake that could result in a costly lawsuit. The Realtor title is not free and has a number of mandatory fees associated with membership. The real estate agent must pay an initial fee, yearly deposits on the lock box and agent key, and will be asked to attend a series of meetings and events. The person who foresees a lengthy career in the property business is well advised to get the Realtor title as soon as possible. In addition to making life easier at the office for the broker, a sales agent that upgrades to a Realtor status will have the opportunity to work with the sale of commercial properties. This aspect of the industry can be very lucrative, but also carries a great deal of responsibility from the agent. Commercial contracts are much longer and more complicated than handling a residential contract. However, the commission structure is excellent and the total sales price can reach into the millions of dollars. Commercial real estate is not the place to start for a brand new agent fresh from the examination room. However, with some wise planning to make the jump from agent to Realtor, a lucrative career in commercial sales may be carved in just a few short years. Alex Mason is a former real estate agent and mortgage broker living in Los Angeles.

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