10 Questions to Ask A Seller's Agent
If you’re ready to sell your home, you should feel empowered to find and work with the agent who is the best fit for your needs. Here are ten questions you should consider when selecting an agent:
10 Questions to Ask A Buyer's Agent
If you’re ready to buy a home, you should feel empowered to find and work with the agent who is the best fit for your needs. Here are ten questions you should consider when selecting an agent:
Buyer's vs Seller's Market
The real estate market constantly shifts, and knowing whether conditions favor buyers or sellers can help you make smarter, more confident decisions. Here’s how to recognize which type of market you’re in and what each means for you:
REALTORS®’ DUTY TO PUT CLIENT INTERESTS ABOVE THEIR OWN
A REALTOR® is a special kind of real estate agent: one who follows NAR’s strict Code of Ethics, including the first and primary pledge to protect and promote the interests of their clients.
WHY AM I BEING ASKED TO SIGN A WRITTEN BUYER AGREEMENT?
As of August 17, 2024, you will be asked to sign a written buyer agreement after you’ve chosen the professional you want to work with. Here’s what you should know about these agreements:
Open Houses and Written Agreements
As of August 17, 2024, many real estate professionals nationwide will be asking buyers to enter into a written agreement prior to touring a home. But what if you are just attending an open house? Here’s what you should know:
Offers of Compensation
As a home seller, you have a wide range of choices when deciding how to market your property. This includes whether you’d like to offer—or authorize your agent to offer—compensation to a buyer’s agent as a way to attract potential buyers. Here’s what you need to know as you consider your options related to offering compensation:
Negotiating Written Buyer Agreements
You’ve decided it’s time to buy a home and want to work with an agent to guide you through the process. The next step is to interview agents and negotiate a written agreement that includes the services the agent will provide and the compensation they will receive. Here’s what you need to know about negotiating an agreement with an agent who is a REALTOR®:
What Veterans Need To Know about Buying a Home
Veterans and active servicemembers often have unique needs when looking for a home, and agents who are REALTORS® are committed to helping ensure those needs continue to be met following the real estate practice changes that went into effect on August 17, 2024. Here is what you need to know:
Fair Housing
Buying or selling a home is more than a transaction—it’s fundamental to your long-term goals and financial future. Consumers and agents all have rights and responsibilities to promote a home buying or selling process free from discrimination. Here’s what you need to know:
Multiple Listing Services (MLSs)
When buying or selling a home, your real estate professional may use a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to find homes for sale or market your property. Here is what you need to know:
Seller Concessions
As a home seller, you have choices when deciding how to market your property, including whether you’d like to offer concessions to attract buyers or close a deal. Here’s what you need to know as you consider whether this approach is right for you:
Listing Agreements
If you choose to work with a real estate professional to sell your home, one of the first things you’ll do is negotiate and sign a listing agreement with the agent you’ve selected. Here’s what you need to know:
Buying Your First Home
So, you’re ready to find your first home. But where do you begin? And what resources are available to help you? Here’s what you need to know as you embark on your homeownership journey:
Mortgages and Financing
Buying a home is one of the largest personal and financial decisions you can make. For many buyers, the process includes finding a loan that will help you pay for your new home over time. An agent who is a REALTOR® can help you learn about your options. Here’s what else you need to know:
Steps Between Signing and Closing
Once you sign a purchase agreement on your new home, there are still several steps to complete before you can finalize—or “close”—the transaction. While the process differs in each state, here are the basics of what you can expect during the period between signing and closing:
Home Inspections
Between signing and close, a homebuyer may choose to have a new home inspected to make sure it is in good condition and safe for a new owner. Here’s what buyers and sellers should know:
The Appraisal Process
If you are financing your home purchase, you will likely be required to get a home appraisal as one of the steps between signing and close. Here’s what you should know:
Homeowners Insurance
Understanding homeowners insurance is essential for anyone looking to purchase a home. Start looking at policies early—and ask an agent who is a REALTOR® to connect you with a licensed insurance agent for assistance. A detailed industry overview of available coverage is here, and below are some of the basics:
Flood Insurance
Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States. Even a few inches of water can cause devastating damage. A licensed insurance agent can advise you on purchasing the right flood insurance to protect your assets. Here’s what you need to know:
Fire Damage & Policy Coverage
Depending on where you live, your property may have varying degrees of risk of sustaining damage from a wildfire. Even if you aren’t in a high-risk area, you should fully understand your insurance coverage in the event of a fire. Here’s what you need to know:
Escrow & Earnest Money
One of the steps between signing and closing on a home is when homebuyers typically deposit money into an escrow account. An agent who is a REALTOR® can help advise you on your offer and how to keep your deposits safe. When it comes to escrow, here’s what homebuyers should know:
Preparing for Homeownership
Whether you are a first-time buyer or planning your next move, you should consider many factors as you prepare for the home purchase process. Here’s what prospective buyers should know:
Property Taxes
Wherever you buy a home in the United States, property taxes are a reality of homeownership. An agent who is a REALTOR® can help connect you with a tax expert in your area, but here are the basics:
Homeowners Associations
In many housing markets, homeowners associations (HOAs) and other community associations can be a part of the homebuying (and owning) experience. Here’s what prospective buyers should know:
Preparing to Sell Your Home
Once you decide to sell your home, you might have questions about how to prepare it for listing and viewing by potential buyers. An agent who is a REALTOR® can guide you through this process. Here are some common considerations as you prepare your home to sell:
What Goes In To Pricing Your Home
As a home seller, one of the most important questions to ask your agent is how to determine your home’s listing, or asking, price. Here is what sellers should know about home pricing:
Marketing Your Home
Once you decide to sell your home, your agent will work with you to determine the best strategy to reach potential buyers and attract strong offers. Here are some considerations when marketing your home:
Alternative Listing Options
Home sellers looking to market their homes may have different preferences for how they do so. An agent who is a REALTOR® can help you craft a marketing strategy that best suits your needs. Here are the basics:
Seller's Disclosures
When selling a home, sellers must disclose certain characteristics of the property to potential buyers. An agent who is a REALTOR® can help you understand why and what you need to disclose, but here are the basics:
Navigating Multiple Offers
When your home is on the market, you may receive offers from multiple interested buyers. Offers can vary greatly, and you will need to determine which one is best for you. Here's what sellers should know:
Deeds and Titles
Closing day is an exciting milestone for buyers and sellers alike. To complete the process of a home sale, a property’s ownership rights are formally transferred from the seller to the buyer. Here’s what you should know about deeds and titles:
Protecting Yourself from Title Fraud
Title fraud is a serious crime that can be overlooked and result in a property owner unknowingly losing the title of their property. Here’s what you need to know about title fraud, how it happens, who’s most at risk, and how you can prevent it from happening to you.
Your Home & Estate Planning
A home is a long-term financial asset. Estate planning helps you prepare for the future by deciding what happens to your home and other assets if you can no longer care for them. Here are the basics:
Working With A Real Estate Attorney
Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you can make. Many professionals are available to help you throughout the homebuying process, including a real estate attorney. When navigating the homebuying process, this is how a real estate attorney can help you:
Mortgage Interest Tax Deductions
For many homeowners, the mortgage interest deduction can offer meaningful tax savings. If you're navigating tax season or planning to buy a home, understanding how this deduction works can help you make smarter financial decisions. Here’s what you need to know:
Assistance Programs
Buying or keeping a home can be financially challenging—but you may not have to do it alone. There are assistance programs designed to help. Here’s what you need to know:
Real Estate Auctions
Buying a home at auction can be an exciting opportunity to get involved in real estate, but there are certain risks and rules to be aware of. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or an experienced investor, understanding how auctions work can help you bid confidently: