For veterans looking to relocate to a new destination they may not be very familiar with, a real estate agent brings that on-the- ground knowledge about the best neighborhoods for you and your family, whether you are still raising your family or empty- nesters looking for a quiet (or active!) retirement community. It’s essential to know the “ins and outs” of real estate agents before you hire one to help in your search for a home so that you know what to expect and what will be expected of you.
WHAT IS A REAL ESTATE AGENT? GENT?
Simply put, a real estate agent is licensed to list and sell real estate, including homes, multi-family properties, and commercial and industrial buildings. A Realtor®, however, is somewhat different. A Realtor® is a member of the National Association of Realtors®. While an agent is always a real estate agent, a real estate agent isn’t always a Realtor®. As mentioned, real estate agents who work on behalf of the best interests of the buyer are commonly called buyer’s agents. All listing agents represent the seller, but other agents who don’t have buyer-agency agreements with prospective buyers — even though they may show homes to those buyers — are working on behalf of the seller and must obtain the best price they can for the seller. In contrast, buyer’s agents traditionally work on commission, as outlined in the listing agreement. However, evolving regulations now allow for more varied compensation structures. When a buyer's agent represents a buyer, the commission structure may involve a split with the listing agent, direct payment from the buyer, or other negotiated arrangements.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST AGENT FOR YOUR NEEDS UR NEEDS
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