Real Estate School of Texas

08/25/2024

In July 2024, existing-home sales improved, breaking a streak of four consecutive monthly declines.

Three out of four major U.S. regions registered sales increases while the Midwest remained steady. Year-over-year, sales rose in the Northeast and West but retreated in the Midwest and South.

"Despite the modest gain, home sales are still sluggish," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "But consumers are definitely seeing more choices, and affordability is improving due to lower interest rates."

05/09/2024

The signs aren’t as obvious as leaping any of the houses they sell in a single bound, wearing skin-tight clothing with their initials emblazoned on it (usually), or putting on a cape to fly from one appointment to another. But there are certainly some things your agent might do that could make you...

05/09/2024

On the Buyer Side
DO emphasize your value proposition: what you do, how you do it, and why it’s important to them.

DO highlight the benefits of a written agreement, including that it benefits all parties by solidifying the relationship, duties and compensation. (All REALTOR® MLS participants who are working with buyers will be required to enter into written agreements with their buyers starting in late July 2024.)now August but most brokers are putting in effect now

DO explain the compensation terms of a written agreement and the fact that compensation is negotiable.

DO emphasize that you will inform the buyer before showing a property whether there is an offer of cooperative compensation and whether that offer covers the agreed-upon compensation. advise consumers that they have choices about how the buyer broker is compensated, depending on broker-consumer negotiations, including but not limited to fixed-fee commissions paid directly by consumers, concessions from the seller (as long as such concessions are not limited to or conditioned on the retention of or payment to a cooperating broker or other buyer representative), or a portion of the listing broker’s compensation.

DO educate the consumer that offers of cooperative compensation help make professional representation more accessible, decrease costs for home buyers to secure these services, and increase fair housing opportunities.

MOST IMPORTANTLY TALK TO YOUR BROKERS!

04/27/2024

Did you know????

AND OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Effective January 1, 2024 Where the word REALTORS® is used in this Code and Preamble, it shall be deemed to include ASSOCIATE®s. While the Code of Ethics establishes that may be higher than those mandated by law, in any instance where the Code of Ethics and the law conflict, the obligations of the law must take precedence.

04/02/2024

03/28/2024

03/24/2024

With all the news out regarding the lawsuit with NAR i have decided to write a ce class about it. At this point July 24th should be the effective date nationwide, currently local associations are revising firms to accommodate. Funny thing is when buyers representation came out in the 90's it was a required form but agents were afraid to use it. My take is that It's all about education for agents and the public, however, the agents need to translate the form so the consumer can understand without giving legal advice and crossing the line to sound like an attorney. Caution must be exercised. It's going to take awhile before agents and brokers ger the hang of it but I'd them to go in with confidence in their abilities and substantiating their worth, this should not be a problem. There are so many tools available for help with this. The number one priority is for the consumer/public trust and confidence in the job we do.
I would like to be a source of education and knowledge for both sides of the transaction through the Real Estate School of Texas.
In my opinion this should not be a big ordeal if brokers requiring it from day one, which is what we were supposed to do! As a general member of the public I would love to have a comment from you and your thoughts on the matter.
I am trying to squase the negative attitude from the agents as they seem to think a buyer's agent can no longer get paid by the seller which in reality the seller can pay the buyers agent it's just the compensation cannot be disclosed to the public, everything has been and will always be confidential in representation and looking out for the consumer interest, as the saying goes caveat emptor, (buyer beware)because most times it is the buyer who brings forth a lawsuit after closing, but both parties must be content when signing the paperwork, after all whether buying or selling a real estate transaction is one of the top 5 emotional, expensive, stressful, frightening, experiences in a person's life at that time. It's right up there with marriage, death, and birth of a child due to the financial commitment, which needs to be acknowledged and respected by the agents and brokers.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts! What is your opinion of REALTORS?

03/22/2024

From president of NAR regarding changes.

View all NAR videos, series, playlists, and channels. The National Association of REALTORS® produces videos on the housing market, navigating current market conditions, real estate updates, and video content for state and local REALTOR® associations.

03/01/2024

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Inability to Pay Their Rent There are some tenants who will move in with no intention of paying rent. They count on the fact that you are busy with other problems and tenants. They aim to live rent-free as long as they can until you catch on. To prevent this, develop a thorough tenant screening process that includes the following: