Few people buy stocks with a full service broker,  so why would you use a full service real estate broker?
537136
I'm not sure exactly about the question, it sounds like we shouldn't use real estate brokers because we don't own shares of their stocks as an investment choice?\n\nPersonally, I don't own any healthcare stocks, should I not go to a doctor when I'm sick?\n\nGenerally speaking the right real estate brokers can bring an advantage to the table when selling real estate.  Typically, the extra marketing, negotiating experience, ease of showing the property, and generally transactional experience of a good real estate broker will pay for itself.\n\nAn example is this: you don't need an accountant to file taxes, but overall, I'm sure that people who file with accontants typically write-off more than people who don't.\n\nYour experience and knowledge of the real estate market will determine if a real estate broker is right for you.
522920
Excellent question. I am a real estate investor and have bought and sold deals to them and from them. They are a wholesaler, meaning that they will buy the property from the homeowner, give it a small markup and sell it to rehabbers that will fix it up.\n\nRehabbers do not want to pay more than 65% to 70% for a house, including fix up costs, compared to the fair market value.\n\nI assume that your house needs a lot of work, and that you can't sell it on the open market because it won't sell. That is the only time I would sell to them, because no one else would want to buy the house.\n\nIf you have the money, fix the property up yourself and sell it with an agent for a much higher price. If you don't have the money to fix it, need to sell quickly, and are willing to take a deep discount, then Homevestors are perfect.
577918
BUYING IS ALWAYS BETTER!  People that rent are making landlords rich, and I thank my tenants for that.  If you were to buy a condo in an area of good appreciation, you have equity in the home whether you are ready to settle down or not.  You are putting money into your own walls as opposed to a landlords pocket, whose mortgage YOU pay when you rent.  I know people that are 20 years old buying real estate because they have educated themselves on this subject.  There are many tools out there for first time home buyers with little or no money to put down.  Research buying or put someone Else's' kids through college.
536578
Just another way for Realtor to make money. A bit like extended insurance on a home appliance. Not wise.
79643
Im A Broker And Let me just say this.\nBUY BUY BUY  The reason is If you buy then its yours and the Banks When you lease You take Some risk with this venture I have seen people lease houses with the choice to buy and 5 yrs down the line the owner files chapter7 and you lose the house and your money then you try to sue the person who has no money left. Its just better to buy Taxes and everything else it will work in your favor. Dont be scared to Buy. If you buy the right house And keep it up and maybe do some work to it in 5yrs you can move and make money on the house. I know many people who buy a house that needs work They get it for 250grand do work to it and in 5 yrs they get 600thousand for it. its a investment and its a good one. But never buy the first one you see. look and compare. Check the area and The market for that area.\nGoodluck
456781
Please don't go the "cheesy" route; IE: DITECH\n\n   Your business depends on a client base that is in need of housing certainly, but more important than that perhaps is,,, how active is the "Market" in your area?\n\n   Have you linked up/networked with any well established, possibly return customer, Realtors?\n\n   I enjoy investing in Real Estate, and/or at least constantly shopping it and any options for buying. I don't know the lattitudes you are able to offer as a Mortgage Broker however. Do you own the business? Is it already a well established business? Is it in a decent location?\n\n   Again, I don't know your allowable range of options within the framework of the business, but you might look into offering as many options to buyers as exist,,, IE: SHIP, etc. It may also serve you to offer a customer a referral to another type of lender once in awhile, depending on your ability to loan to them, or their abilities to get a loan.\n\n   Certainly you can do balloons and flyers, radio spots, TV, change the "CURB APPEAL" of your office, change the signing, advertise more extensively in the Yellow pages, hire some clown in a themed suit to stand outside,,,NOT,,,LOL.\n\n   Networking with other brokers and especially with Realtors, who in turn might recommend you to prospectives, might be the better way to go.\n\n   There is no fear that I can see, that the market is going to fall apart anytime soon,,,even with over escalation of prices,,,and no matter that, there isn't anymore land,,, per say.\n\nRev. Steven
155953
In some markets you can find foreclosures in regular real estate listings. I bought a power of sale in rural Ontario from a regular broker in 2003. No one else wanted it! Was a great house, turned a 33% profit in just over 2 years. If you don't mind living in the boonies, you can find stunning deals.
604623
I don't know the NY Real Estate market but in sales (in my state)it takes months to close your first deal. Rentals may be different. But I think to make "killer dollars" you have in some "killer time".
988665
You need to sign it and you should use the standard contract. Since you are probably not going to save money for not using an agent (since the listing agent in this case, get the full commission), why don't you find an agent who would do everything for you?
83713
Need more answers here.\n\nIs it on the market with a Realtor, or are you selling 'by owner'?  West Texas from what I've been told isn't a high turnover market, so if you're not listed, I would HIGHLY consider it.  Being on the Multiple Listing Service gets it noticed by the people that actually have buyers in their cars looking for homes.\n\nAlso, VERY important to make sure your price is in line with the market.  If you haven't already done so, get a CMA (comparative market analysis) from an agent.  Most will provide this free of charge.  If there is a huge difference between their analysis and where you've got it priced, you might be overpriced.  Nothing will stop a house from selling more than being overpriced.\n\nGood luck.  If you have any questions, feel free to email me at rodbaker@fwrealtor.com
1100232
I personally choose not to use brokers, but I have worked in the real estate industry for 20+ years.  I go online and do a bunch of research as to who has the best rates and go from there.\n\nBrokers (most) only shop your loan to their preferred lenders, those that will pay THEM the best amount, rather than where YOU will get the best deal.  Not all brokers, but most.\n\nYou can do both, shop around through a broker, or more than one and do research on your own.  And let them know you're working with others, so they'll know if THEY don't get you the best rate someone else will.  \n\nYou have to be really pro-active with direct lenders though.  Let them know what you will and won't pay and at least give them the impression you're not one of the sheep who blindly follow what they say you should pay.  \n\nThere's pros and cons with both.  If you're up for it and have the time, go the solo route.  If you're not, try to get a broker or 2 to work for you.  \n\nGood luck!
523114
You need to find an international real estate broker.
851528
Hi,\n\nFACT! 10% of the realtors NATIONWIDE make 90% of the commissions.\n\nI built a $6Kb initial investment to just under a million in 10 years with RIP (residential income property)\n\nI had a CA. RE license and let it lapse because I did NOT want to be associated with the residential SLIME BALLS that lie and spin the truth for their 6% or 3% co-op.\n\nRE agents hook up with title companies and escrow companies and generally get "consideration" for their alliance.\n\nThe BIG DEAL in residential is "farming your patch"; scratch pads and all the other junk that you hang on doors.\n\nIt ONLY takes ONE Realtor to LIE and you are ALL SCREWED, so it is NOT about YOU but your assciatres.\n\nThe bottom line is the BROKER!  If he/she has it together ETHICALLY then you are OK.  It is the BAD ones that set the tempo.\n\nDISCLOURSURE is the KEY and if you "spin" or lie it sends a WAVE of dis-trust that you can NEVER recover.\n\nI figure that 90% ofthe real estae agents get their license out of either desperation or are chasing the BIG BUCKS.\n\nThe former spends %$500 to get a job when no one else wilhire them; wonder why and the rest are housewives with too much time on their hands and KIDS to pick-up from school and take to practice.\n\nYou have the NEW BMW and huge house that you can't afford unless the wife contibutes some income.\n\nWhen you are chasing the "AMERICAN DREAM" with certified letters posted on the door, ETHICS take a second seat to a 6% commission on a $300,000 house clousure.\n\nTo get a "LISTING" you have to SELL that you are going to turn it QUICKLY at the asking (even though it isn't worth the asking)  Why be HONEST with 6% on the line. Get it in the MLS and collect the 3% when somebody else sells it?  Ain't rocket science.\n\nIf you are considering RE look at RIP because it is a FINANCIAL DECISION and you can walk from the BS if you do YOUR HOMEWORK and the math works.\n\nGood Luck,\nJacques
455196
Wouldn't it be great to have one broker that does it all? \n\nBut a stock broker doesn't have a license to trade commodities, and vice versa. \n\nAnd wouldn't it be great if you could afford the best in the business, the most advanced technologically, on the cutting edge of online trading? \n\nTerraNova is such a broker. Now you can have your cake and eat it too, and trade anything you wish from one broker, albeit, not from one account. Obviously, the laws cannot be broken. Their subsidiary, or is it parent company, Townsend Electronics, is the one that electronified and digitized the NASDAQ, and I believe they're getting ready to do the American Stock Exchange next.\n\nYou'll be amazed at their trading software. I've been using RealTick for over a year, and still haven't learned how to use all of the features. \n\nIt's all really incredible. I am just a Day Trader in index futures, and have no association with any of these companies, and have nothing to gain by applauding them; they simply deserve the applause, and you should take the opportunity to check them out.
1174527
Why would be going through a real estate agency be too expensive?  As a buyer, you pay NO COSTS for the services, and have full representation.  The prices you see are not for the agency price, that is the market price - the seller pays the agency from the proceeds of the property when it has closed.\n\nIf you are low on funds, try looking in less popular (and less expensive) areas.  Be open minded as to what will and will not work for your business.  An agent can help you narrow those choices down as well. You may be able to find motivated sellers who would accept less than asking price, willing to remodel to suit for free, and a vast array of other negotiation topics an agent could help you with, including owner financing/lease options.\n\nBest of luck to you!
799099
A trader has a product to trade a broker provides a service.  e.g. mortgage or insurance brokers don't provide the mortgage or the indemnity rather they negotiate the best deal on behalf of their client and obtain a fee for same.  A trader on the stock market sells stocks.
151599
Most investors don't have a problem spending, at most, $30 to $50 a month (until cancelled) to get a list of properties where every single one of those properties can be purchased for tens of thousands of dollars less than other houses on the market. By the way, what do you consider 'useless'? If you are unable to purchase the property that you want, it's not the fault of the person who sold you the list. But, if they flat out scam you by providing you with a bogus list, you can always take it up with your credit card company or law enforcement. I suggest that if that amount of money is a problem for you, avoid auctions. Good luck!\n\nSomeone mentioned sites that list foreclosed properties. We are one of them, although we typically charge for those lists because we verify everything ourselves.