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Why Use a REALTOR®
Not every agent or broker is a
REALTOR®! Here are the advantages of working with a REALTOR® when
buying or selling real estate. The decision to buy or sell real estate is one
of the most important ones you can make. A REALTOR® has the interest,
resources, and dedication to guide you through the process. When the public
asks for a REALTOR® or seeks the REALTOR® trademark, they are getting
more than a real estate licensee-they are getting a member of their local
association of REALTORS®, Illinois Association of REALTORS® and
National Association of REALTORS®. REALTORS® subscribe to the
Association's strict Code of Ethics, encouraging high professional standards
through required educational programs, professional certification, code of
ethics and principles of real estate sales practices. Only a REALTOR® can
display the REALTOR® logo which is a federally registered mark licensed
exclusively to the members of the National Association of REALTORS®. This
mark represents a high standard of professional conduct in serving the
interests of clients and customers.
Purchasing Real Estate
When purchasing real estate a REALTOR® can help you determine what
you can afford and shows you only those properties that meet your criteria. A
REALTOR® can explain alternative mortgage financing programs. In addition
to knowing the local money market, a REALTOR® can tell you what personal
and financial data to bring with you when applying for a loan. Already familiar
with current real estate values, real estate taxes, utility costs, municipal
services and facilities, a REALTOR® may also be able to respond to your
questions about local zoning changes that could affect your decision to buy. A
REALTOR® can research your property needs in advance through the Multiple
Listing Service or the Commercial Real Estate Network. A REALTOR® can
provide you with a checklist to serve as a reminder of some things you should
look for in order to make a wise buying decision.
Selling Real
Estate
A REALTOR® can free a seller from the time, effort and
details involving the sale of the property. They can establish the fair market
value and can advise when seller financing might be in your best interest. With
an interest in bringing both buyer and seller together, a REALTOR® can help
negotiate a satisfactory agreement between the parties. Before the first
showing and beyond the final sale, you'll get the expertise and service you
look for in a real estate profession who knows how to sell your property.
A REALTOR® does a lot of homework in order to sell your real
estate. The property is listed, ads are placed, inquiries are handled and
appointments for showing are arranged with your convenience and best interest
in mind. With the aid of a Multiple
Information Service or Commercial Real Estate Network a REALTOR®
can list a property and work with other REALTORS® to assure a wider range
of prospective buyers. Through your REALTOR® you also have the ability to
have your property exposed to the largest audience possible through
www.seehouses.info.
A
REALTOR® has the advantage with expertise in...
- Comparative Market Analysis
- Loans and Loan Sources ·
Pre-qualification
- Earnest Money
- Loan Products that fit your budget
· Agency Options
- Fair Housing
- Local and National Market
Conditions
- Lead Paint, Radon and Other Environmental
Concerns
- Marketing the Property
- Showing and Qualifying the Potential
Borrowers
- The Closing Process
- Providing the Most Comprehensive
Information on Available Listings
- Many other Aspects of the Buying and
Selling Process
To learn more, visit the National
Association of REALTORS® website at
www.REALTOR.org
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Titles >Do You Really Need Title Insurance
When a home is purchased, title insurance is one of the closing cost items on the closing statement. This insurance protects the buyer from defects in the title that are not discovered until after the closing. There are two kinds of title insurance--coverage that protects the lender for the balance of the mortgage if the buyers have a loan, and coverage that protects the buyers' equity in the property.
It is prudent to purchase owners' coverage because most of the title problems that arise after a closing are not from a sloppy title search, but are the result of inaccurate information in the public records. The ownership chain goes back a long way, and fraud or misrepresentation anywhere in the chain could mean big problems. Title insurance will protect you if a wife or husband did not properly sign off on the ownership papers or if the property was sold as part of an estate that was later disputed. Most people do not have to deal with the title insurance company after the closing, but this coverage could save your investment if a problem arises.
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| Q |
From 1974 to 1996, what was the world's tallest habitable building?
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| A |
The Sears Towers, headquarters for Sears, Roebuck & Co., with 110 stories and 1,454 feet high. |
 See More Real Estate Trivia > |
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- NUMBER1EXPERTS™ 
