Real Estate Marketing Tools An Agent’s Guide to Modern Technology

Writen by Brandon Cornett

Seems every time you blink there’s new marketing technology being released.

I that predict within the next ten years we’ll see a robot marketing assistant. Can’t you just picture it? Robo biz XR 17 … he can help you grow your business while fetching your slippers!

Here in the present, at least, you face an abundance of marketing technologies, and most of them make similar but contradictory claims. They all tout their ability to take your marketing to new levels. But how can this be?

I’m not accusing these companies of being dishonest, but how can they all claim to be the best thing going? More importantly, how can you decide what you need and what you don’t? Where do you even start?

Here’s a simple, systematic way to go about it:

How to Choose Your Marketing Technology

Step 1 Determine your marketing goals

Step 2 Determine what you must do to achieve those goals

Step 3 Research available technologies that can help

1. Determine Your Marketing Goals
Before considering the technology out there, you first need to think about your marketing goals. Write them down on paper, starting with the most important goal.

Think about the big picture, not the technical side of things. For instance, maybe one of your goals is to get more business from first time buyers. Armed with this awareness, you can move on to Step 2.

2. Determine How to Achieve Those Goals
Again, forget about the technology for a moment. Look at your goal(s) from the previous step, and then write down the specific things you need to do to achieve the goal(s). Using the first time buyers example from above, the list might look like this:

• I need to locate first time buyers.
• I need a way to communicate with first time buyers.
• I need to generate a response from them.
• I need to offer them something of value to generate this response.

3. Determine the Technology Needed
Now that you’ve got the important stuff down your goals and the individual steps that make up those goals it’s okay to think about technology. In fact, that’s exactly what you need to do. Go down the list of items from Step 2 and jot down the technology needed to accomplish each step.

For example:

Must find potential buyers.
Technology required: None yet.

Must communicate with first time buyers.
Technology required: Direct mail.

Must generate a response.
Again, direct mail can do the job.

Must offer something of value to generate a response.
Maybe a first time home buyer’s class (technology: PowerPoint). Probably a good idea to create a web page to help promote it (technology: web publishing software, or pay a web designer).

Look at that. In three easy steps, we’ve gone from not knowing where to start, to having the basis of a marketing plan and the technology needed to drive it. Not bad!

4. Research the Necessary Technology
All that’s left to do is research any technology from the list above that you don’t already have. If you’re familiar with PowerPoint, then all you need is a direct mail program and a website. If you’re also a direct mail pro, all you need to do is create your message and possibly make a website landing page to support it.

You’ve taken a world of potential technology, and boiled it down to one or two items for further research. And you’ve done it in only four steps.

Conclusion
No technology is going to do your marketing for you. It can only help you carry out a program you’ve already devised. So shop wisely and use only what you need. Identify your goals, identify the necessary steps to accomplish those goals, and then (and only then) look at technologies that can help you do it quicker, easier or more affordably.

That should at least hold you until Robo biz XR 17 comes out.

Brandon Cornett has worked as a writer and advertising manager within the direct mail industry. He now dedicates his time to helping agents and brokers improve their real estate marketing programs. His free newsletter is available at: http://www.ArmingYourFarming.com.

The Home Buying Process

Writen by Mary Garland

Looking for a home? Where should you begin? Home buying can be an over whelming task. Think about any changes in your life during the foreseeable future. Will there be changes in your family size or with your vocation? What are your requirements for the home? Selecting the right Realtor is a challenge. Eighty percent of the Realtors sell 2 houses a year. There are approximately 7,500 Realtors in Montgomery County, Maryland alone.

CHOOSE A REALTOR

The Realtor you want is a full time professional with at least 5 million dollars in sales each year and at least 10 years of experience. The best way to find that Realtor is though referrals. Decide if the one you have selected is a good fit for you at the initial Buyer Consultation. Has that individual meet the first requirements? Did they explain the buying process to you? The Realtor should be patient, professional, polite, knowledgeable, and willing to work at your pace. An exceptional Realtor will listen intently to you and visualize the kind of lifestyle you want to live in your new home and will recognize the feeling you want in a home. Yes, homes have a feel about them. Some are sunny bright happy homes others are dark, dramatic, cold, elegant, rustic and so on. You don’t want a Realtor that will show you every home on the market, nor do you want to be shown luxury homes when they are not in your budget. It’s too exhausting.

BUYING IN MARYLAND

Most people move every 2 5 years in our area. Consider keeping your home for a minimum of 2 years so that you will avoid paying 23 percent tax on the profit. Non Maryland residents must pay a six percent tax on the profit from the sale of a Maryland home. The tax will be with held from the proceeds at settlement. Ask your Realtor to refer you to a tax expert for more information.

Most buyers need to use a step up process beginning with a condo, townhouse and then a single family dream home. Homeowner’s use the equity from one sale to buy the next larger home. This method is useful in today’s expensive housing market. So, plan for the foreseeable future not for infinity.

Mary, over many Real Estate Agents, has consistently earned a reputation among her clients and colleagues as a complete professional who exemplifies conscientious, competent and knowledgeable service. She is a patient realtor, responsive, calm with a personable approach which are the reasons so many of her clients and colleagues consistently repeat referral business. Almost ten years as Realtor has earned Mary many achievement awards.

Visit Mary at http://www.marygarlandrealtor.com.

Buying Beach Houses in New Zealand: Real Estate and Investment Opportunities

Writen by Ofer Shoshani

Buying a beach house in New Zealand offers many possibilities.

New Zealand is made up of two main islands, North Island and South Island, giving it miles of coastal lands and perfect beaches to live by. Each island offers its own unique climate conditions and way of life.

Make Money from the Real Estate investment

One aspect to consider when you think about buying a beach house in New Zealand is the possibility of earning money from it. There are several ways to do this. You could rent or lease your house to tourists. You could also live in it with an eye toward selling it for more than you paid for it in the not to distant future. The New Zealand real estate market is rapidly growing, and giving someone else a chance to buy a New Zealand beach house could earn you a lot of money.

Rules for Investment

If you are interested in buying a beach house in New Zealand as an investment property, visit www.landlords.co.nz. It will be important for you to know about taxes, mortgages in New Zealand, and learn if you have to be a New Zealand resident to be a New Zealand landlord, and find answers to the many other questions you’ll most likely have.

Coromandel

One popular area on North Island is the Coromandel Coast on the Coromandel Peninsula. The nearest town is stunning Cook’s Beach. It would be a spectacular place to buy your dream New Zealand beach house. For dramatic pictures and a full description, visit prosale.co.nz.

Waiwera

If you prefer to buy a beach house in New Zealand close to a metropolitan area, think about Waiwera which is less than a thirty minute drive to Auckland. You would be unable to buy a piece of land where you could build a new home. The area is closed to more growth. However if you want to buy an existing beach house in New Zealand and live in a truly wondrous setting, this might be your perfect spot. You’ll live near thermal pools, a nature reserve, and be able to launch your boat right from the beach.

Virtual Tour

Whatever your reason for buying a beach house in New Zealand, you need to check out the many potential areas. It would be lovely to take a tour in person to see all the marvelous beaches where you might purchase your house or property. However, one of the great things about our high tech society is that you can take virtual tours and see marvelous pictures of a number of unbelievably beautiful properties. Within minutes of going out on the Internet, you’ll be amazed you didn’t think of buying a beach house in New Zealand, long before now.

For more on Real Estate opportunities in New Zealand visit http://nzpassport.com/artman/publish/cat_index_48.shtml

Copyright 2005 Ofer Shoshani

Ofer Shoshani has been working for the last 5 years as a professional journalist, writing about finance, economy, travel and lifestyle. During these years he lived and wrote from Spain, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, USA, Israel, India & Thailand. More of his work can be found at http://www.nzpassport.com (Immigration and Relocation to New Zealand), http://www.bespanish.com (Immigration and Relocation to Spain) and http://www.betotal.com (Intl. Charity organizations, Child Sponsorship programs, Donation, World Aid, Aids in Africa and Poverty).

Practical Advice for Finding Irish Castles for Sale

Writen by Deborah Felker

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a castle?

Have you ever dreamed of dancing in a grand ballroom that at one time was filled with princes and other nobility?

If you find yourself dreaming of this lifestyle, you’re not alone. Celtic castles, and all things medieval for that matter, have gotten very popular in recent years. While it’s true that there aren’t Irish castles for sale on every corner, you can still find them if you’re willing to be diligent and patient.

First, decide what region of Ireland you’d prefer to find castles for sale.

If you want to buy a castle in Ireland, you must first decide whether you’re interested in a particular region. If you are, then research that area first. The best way to do this is to use one of the online community guides to all 32 of Ireland’s counties.

Best ways to find castles for sale in Ireland:

Unlike houses and commercial buildings, you probably won’t find listings for Irish castles for sale in the local real estate section of a newspaper. A better place to begin searching for castles for sale is with a reputable real estate agent in Ireland so you can be contacted as soon as Irish castles come on the market.

Discuss with the realtor your interests and see what they have to offer. During the discussion, expect that the realtor will be pre screening you to see how serious you are. Why? Because buying an Irish castle is an enormous undertaking and a realtor won’t be interested in working with a client who is not completely serious about this type of transaction.

Also, if you’re planning an Ireland vacation, check with locals in the area while you’re there to see if they know of any Irish castles for sale. They may know of a castle just in the next county coming on the market soon, before the real estate agents even know about it!

Things to carefully consider when researching Irish castles for sale…

First, be sure you’ve thought diligently about the type of property you will be buying. Castles are very expensive to buy, restore, and maintain. It is important to understand that most of a castle’s value is based on the property upon which it is built, not in the castle itself. Most castles will require a considerable amount of updating and remodeling. But since governments actually own many of the castles and underlying properties, you may be eligible for grants to assist you with upgrading and refurbishing the castle.

Be prepared for repairs. Remember that castles are huge and they’re old. So refurbishing a castle can be quite costly, ranging between $200,000 and $2 million or even more! For instance, the roof may be in poor condition; the plumbing might leak; the electricity, if there is any, may not meet local code requirements; and there may already be tenants in the castle…rats, squirrels and other things that come out at night!

After the remodeling is complete, you’ll need to furnish the castle too, and you may need to hire a staff to keep it clean and maintained. Another thing to consider is that castles are usually not very energy efficient. They can actually be somewhat cold and drafty. If you purchase an Irish castle in a region where the temperature drops considerably during the winter, the monthly heating bill might just cost more than the monthly mortgage!

Regardless of the time and expense, if you dream of living in an Irish castle…hold on to that dream!

Because even if the reality of buying a castle presents plenty of challenges, we all know that anything in life worth pursuing is full of challenges! And there’s just something about the idea of living in a castle that brings out the child in us all! If it is something you can carry out in a thoughtful, considered manner…there’s no reason why you can’t answer the call of your inner child! If you indeed have the “luck of the Irish” as well as “the patience of Job” you may just find an Irish castle for sale that’s right for you and so you will finally be able to live your fantasy!

Deborah Felker is an internet publisher with a passion for Celtic Ireland. After studying Sociology in college, she took the research skills she honed and poured them into her quest to reconnect with her Irish heritage. She is the editor and webmaster of Fantasy Ireland.com and lives in the Cincinnati Metro area with her husband and two daughters.

Fantasy Ireland.com features many articles about the historical castles of Ireland as well as plenty of articles to help plan your Ireland vacation.

Ridgemoor Community of Palm Harbor Florida

Writen by Robert Lipply

As you enter the sensational Ridgemoor Community you first notice the natural beauty that surrounds these homes. The mature landscaping is meticulously maintained, soaring trees are everywhere to provide warmth and shade, and small ponds abound to add even more charm to these homes. Developers of the 15 separate communities that make up Ridgemoor took special care in preserving the natural surroundings that make this community so special.

Once inside this stunning community, you will find homes to meet every family’s needs. From small condo’s to large luxury homes, there is a wide variety of real estate for sale. Homes range in size from two bedroom to large five bedroom homes with prices ranging from $179K on up to $1M. Each of the 15 neighborhoods maintains the same high level of standards which allows the community to have a feeling of unity when driving amongst each home. Each homeowner truly seems to care about preserving the high quality of life these residents enjoy.

There are recreational activities to enjoy all throughout the Ridgemoor Community. Basketball and tennis courts, scenic walking or biking trails, and a children’s playground give residents a chance to enjoy the beautiful Florida sunshine, while visiting with their friendly neighbors.

Outside this community, the East Lake Area offers numerous amenities that are sure to attract residents of all ages. Beautiful Lake Tarpon is a fantastic place to enjoy a day on the water while boating or fishing with your family. Enjoy a day with friends or host a small gathering at the John Chesnut Sr. Park. This county facility offers a boat ramp, athletic fields, a playground, and picnic pavilion. And don’t forget to bring your four legged friends. This park welcomes leashed animals to enjoy running and playing in their own dog park area. You can also stop by the YMCA of North Pinellas. This newer facility offers exercise equipment as well as a junior Olympic size pool. It’s a great place to beat the hot summer sun and still stay active.

Everyday conveniences are also just a short drive from Ridgemoor. From grocery shopping, banking, dining and more, you won’t have to leave East Lake to meet all your family’s needs. Fortunately, the East Lake area has grown steadily in recent years, real estate values have consistently increased, making Ridgemoor one of the most sought after neighborhoods in northern Pinellas County. Additionally, it has maintained a very calming and attractive appearance without the clutter and congestion development can bring. This area of Pinellas County is a solid investment for your future and a place you will love to call home! Discover what so many homeowners have already found. View Ridgemoor for yourself and fall in love with the warmth and tranquility that these residents enjoy everyday.

Bob Lipply is a top Real Estate Broker Associate in the Tampa Bay Florida Real Estate area. He and his team have been helping families relocate to Florida and on the selling end get top dollar for their homes with great success. Lipply Real Estate also specializes in Ridgemoor Subdivision Real Estate visit his website where you can search the MLS for up to date available homes for sale.

Property Investment How to Calculate Rental Returns

Writen by Timothy Wright

Before purchasing an investment property for rental purposes it’s always a good idea to calculate whether it will be cash flow positive or cash flow negative. That is, will the property generate an income (positive) or will it require a monthly cash injection (negative)?

This article will outline and briefly describe many of the main Purchasing and Annual Holding Costs incurred when buying a rental property. Please keep in mind that these items will vary from country to country and they do not take into account personal tax implications.

Purchasing Costs

Purchase price - the agreed price for which the property will exchange hands.

Renovation Costs - money budgeted for renovations prior to the property been made available for rental.

Agents Fees - in some countries it is common practice for the buyer to pay some or all of the real estate agent’s selling fees/commission. However, in most cases these fees are paid by the vendor.

Stamp duty - a duty placed on the purchase of a property charged by the local government for the registration of the property into the new owner’s name.

Mortgage Application Fees - charged by lenders upon application to secure a loan to buy the property.

Travel Expenses - flights, car hire, and hotel costs incurred when travelling to personally inspect a property.

Solicitors Fees - payable to the solicitor for all of the relevant legal work for the transfer of the property.

Research - books, local suburban reports purchased to research a suburb.

Accountants Fees - the property may be purchased in the name of a Trust or Company. There may also be a crossover here with the solicitor’s fees.

Council Rates Cutover - A vendor may have paid rates up to a time after the transfer of the property. The amount is then split between the buyer and vendor on a pro rata basis.

Independent valuation / Engineers Report - a vendor may choose to pay for their own independent valuation or engineers report to highlight areas of concern.

Miscellaneous - this will include postage, telephone calls etc. It’s also worthwhile to include a contingency should some of the above costs be more than anticipated.

Annual Holding Costs

Mortgage Repayment - payable to the mortgage lender to repay the loan used to purchase the property.

Property Management Fees - if a professional property manager is appointed they will either charge a percentage of rent or a monthly flat fee.

Council/Municipal Rates - charged for collection of waste and upkeep of local services. Sometimes these are paid by the tenant.

Maintenance - costs for repairs and maintenance on the property and it’s fixtures and fittings.

Bank Fees - account keeping fees charged by the bank.

Landlord Insurance - protection against theft, damage, non payment of rent, legal costs.

Letting Fees - some property managers may charge a letting fee for finding new tenants.

Pest Control - protection against pests and termites.

Cleaning - the property may require a thorough professional clean in preparation for new tenants.

Travel Expenses - incurred when visiting the property at times such as showing it to potential tenants or collecting rent.

Local Income Tax - may be charged by some local governments for the rental profits after any allowable deductions.

Land Tax - an annual tax on the value of the land on which the rental property is built.

Accountants Fees - payable for the administration of legal structures if a property is owned by a Trusts or Company.

Miscellaneous - again, this will include a contingency should some of the above costs be more than anticipated.

Once all of these costs have been factored into your calculations you will be able to determine whether a property will be cash flow positive or not.

In closing, it is imperative that you seek professional legal advice before you make any investment. This will clarify the process according to your own personal situation and the county you are investing in.

Happy investing!

Tim Wright is an international property investor and regular article contributor. He is the author of “Bulgarian Property The Overseas Buyers’ Kit” available at http://www.bulgarianpropertybuyer.co.uk

Real Estate Finance Overseas

Writen by Rhiannon G Williamson

After the technology bubble burst back in 2000 the stock markets suffered a bleak period of decline and investors chose to place their focus on bricks and mortar rather than falling share prices and they began investing heavily into real estate.

As a result the second home and the buy to let real estate markets in many countries around the world such as in the UK, US and Australia boomed. However, as the real estate affordability gap continues to widen in these nations and fewer first time buyers can even get onto the first rung of the real estate ladder, property price increases have begun to cool off and the ability to generate impressive rental yields and strong capital appreciation has slowed right down for at least the short term.

At the same time the stock markets around the world remain volatile and so now many more investors are looking overseas for alternatives to cooling domestic housing markets and bumpy rides on the stock market. Many are finding that there’s an abundance of real estate opportunity in emerging countries around the world which has created a strong demand for real estate finance overseas.

For those considering joining the jet to let real estate investment set here are the three main options available when it comes to raising real estate finance, loans or mortgages to buy property abroad.

1) In many of the nations that were the first to boom the property markets are now stagnant and because lenders have fewer customers to provide finance for they are actively targeting those who have yet to upsize, release equity or take out a second mortgage and offering them increasingly favourable terms, conditions and interest rates.

For anyone thinking about buying real estate overseas in a country where they believe it will be difficult for them to secure local finance or where interest rates are unattractive, the option may exist for them to re mortgage their existing property or take out a loan secured against the equity in their primary residence.

The negative side of this option to raise real estate finance to buy overseas property is that the purchaser’s primary residence will be the security against the loan and naturally this introduces an element of risk.

2) The second option available to buyers looking for real estate finance overseas is getting a mortgage locally in the country in which they want to buy. Some countries such as Spain, Germany and France for example offer attractive interest rates and payment schedules to buyers from other European nations and many countries offer mortgages to international purchasers who can provide a decent sized deposit.

Anyone thinking about buying abroad would do well to also research which banks and lending institutions exist in that country, whether they are allowed to lend to foreign buyers and if so, are the criteria for getting a loan and the terms and conditions of the loan favourable?

3) The final option available to the majority of real estate investors looking to finance the purchase of a property abroad is an international mortgage provided by an international lender who usually has experience in the country from which the borrower heralds and also in the country in which they wish to invest which can make the whole finance process so much simplerbut the downside is that arranging such mortgages can be far more expensive than the first two options available to those contemplating their real estate finance options.

The availability or applicability of any type of mortgage or finance raising scheme discussed in this article is something that needs to be determined on an individual basis therefore this article does not constitute advice. Anyone hoping to raise finance to purchase real estate overseas should seek expert financial advice.

Rhiannon Williamson writes about property abroad and currently specialises in property in North Cyprus.

All The Forms You Need For Your New Home

Writen by Gloria Smith

Any transaction involving an exchange of money for products and/or services should be properly documented. For purchases of small items, you normally get an official receipt or a docket from the vendor once you hand over your payment. For larger more expensive items such as furniture, equipment, appliances, the process will involve more documentation. In exchange for your hard earned cash, the seller will not only hand over the receipt, but a warranty card to protect you against factory defects as well. Bigger purchases that can be considered investments, such as cars and most importantly: homes should be handled with utmost care. Not only because it involves a lot of money, but because these transactions will affect the lives of the buyer and the seller for many years to come.

Of all the purchase transactions you can do in your life, nothing would be more sensitive and would need attention to detail as that of purchasing or selling a house. Each step of the transaction should be fully documented and if there are revisions that need to be made, these should be recorded as well. Buyers and sellers can opt to prepare the documentation themselves but, due to the number of changes a single transaction can have, being able to catch up with all the revisions may be difficult for the average consumer; and for this reason, ready made real estate forms were produced.

Ready made real estate forms can be obtained from the offices of real estate agents or downloaded from various real estate websites. These real estate forms cover all the possible real estate transactions an individual may encounter: from renting to purchasing or selling properties. There are generic real estate forms that can be used by anybody irregardless of their place of residence; and there are also state specific real estate forms that conform to the legal requirements of a particular state. There are also real estate forms that cover disclosure laws (particularly for lead based paint).

Real estate forms can be purchased individually as the user sees fit; or a complete set can be bought. Purchase of individual real estate forms is ideal for those who are involved in short term real estate transactions, such as having a property leased out. Those who will be embroiled in a real estate deal that may require constant revisions and changes, and for a significant period of time; such as selling homes, are better off purchasing the complete set.

Buyers of ready made real estate forms can be assured of the accuracy of the forms format, their legality and their contents. The manufacturers of ready made real estate forms spent much time and energy verifying that their documents will be honoured by any legal entity. These real estate forms are generally up to date but it would help if you checked law offices or real estate agents for the latest updates, although since real estate laws and regulations are not revised often, real estate forms generally stay the same for long periods of time.

Through the development of ready made real estate forms, the process of conducting real estate transactions has become much easier. Ordinary laymen now have the option of doing everything themselves and forego the services of realtors.

This is article is brought to you by Gloria Smith at LegalHomeForms.com Created by a former, licensed Real Estate Agent, LegalHomeForms.com was designed to offer instant access to the most sought after type of real estate forms. For the cost of what others charge for one real estate contract, you can have instant access to over 60 downloadable real estate forms. You can find all the real estate forms you need at http://www.LegalHomeForms.com.

Investor Or Dealer Status

Writen by Layne Parker

For real estate investors it has become critically important to differentiate between being an “investor” and a “dealer”, especially after the Clinton Tax Act. A commercial real estate developer who buys large tracts of land, subdivides them and sells individual lots would be considered a dealer in most cases.

If you are marked as a real estate dealer for tax purposes, you will be taxed (up to 39.6%) on the full gain on a piece of property up front when the property is sold. You also lose the tax advantages of the installment sale when you sell real estate.

As an investor, you could be taxed as little as 28% under the capital gain tax laws for the same transaction. Until recently the tax difference between being a dealer (31%) and an investor (28%) was minimal. The Clinton Tax Act changed all of that by increasing the possible spread to 11.6%.

An 11.6% additional tax on a $250,000 real estate transaction equates to $29,000 of extra tax on the same transaction, all because you’re considered a dealer. For the average real estate investor, the dilemma is how to avoid being marked as a real estate dealer by the IRS.

Real estate investors do (and should do) everything possible to avoid being tagged with dealer status. There are many schools of thought on what warrants a dealer in the eyes of the IRS and what type of deals triggers the IRS to call you a dealer. Unfortunately, there is no singe answer to the question of how to avoid dealer status.

If you routinely develop, subdivide, market and sell large tracks of land, you will likely be tagged as a dealer. The real debate lies with real estate investors who routinely flip houses. How many deals per year are too many to be considered an investor by the IRS?

If you’re flipping (buying and selling in 12 months or less) 1 to 5 houses per year you probably have little to worry about if you keep a low profile. Especially if you keep a few houses here and there as rentals so you can show rental income on your tax returns.

Once your real estate investing business progresses to the point where you’re flipping 20+ houses per year you’re in danger of being tagged with dealer status. It’s a good idea to keep a few properties every year as rentals or lease/options to show passive real estate income on your taxes. If the IRS sees huge capital gains from multiple deals with no passive rental income you will raise your visibility and increase the danger of acquiring dealer status.

If you have one business that flips a large quantity of houses or develops tracts of land, you may want to shelter it in another entity from your passive investment business. Being tagged as a real estate dealer is never beneficial and you want to do whatever’s possible to maintain your real estate investor status.

Layne Parker has been investing in residential and commercial real estate since the age of 17. He now teaches others how to do the same. Click Here for a FREE CD and Special Report on how to start investing in real estate with no cash, credit or previous experience.

Choosing Your REALTOR (r)

Writen by Leanna Meyer

With so many realtors competing for your business, how do you know which one to choose? Here are a few things to consider when choosing a realtor.

The most important decision you will make in the sale of your home is the Realtor you choose.

Some points to consider:

Find someone you feel comfortable with. If you don’t feel you can ask questions or go to your Realtor, you have the wrong Realtor.

Your Realtor should show you research to back up any recommendations. This includes information about recent sales, current listings and recent expired listings in your neighborhood.

Choose a local Realtor. He or she will know your area better than an outsider, will be seen as a source for people looking to relocate in your neighborhood, and will get better co operation from other agents. It is likely that any amount you might save by having a friend or relative from outside the area serve as your Realtor, will be lost in their lack of knowledge about the very specific local market. Ask for references from the Realtor. He or she should be willing to give you names of previous clients.

Ask your friends and acquaintances for recommendations, but make your final choice based on your needs.

Ask the Realtor to show you what will be done to market your home. Consider the office and company support available to him or her as well as the initiative and professionalism shown by the individual.

Look for a Realtor who tells you what he or she knows from experience in the market, and not what they think you want to hear. Flattery may sometimes get the listing, but it doesn’t sell the home!

Leanna Meyer is a Realtor with Re/Max Cross Country and can help you find Lewisville Texas Real Estate. Find homes for sale and area information for Flower Mound Texas, Lantana, and Dallas, TX. Free buyer and seller reports are available as well as a mortgage calculator, and other mortgage information.