real estate agents Money

Feds probe real estate agents - Apr. 22, 2005 Web CNN/Money Buying & Selling Investment Property Home Improvement Million $ Life Financing Best Places SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | Feds probe real estate agents Money magazine investigation shows Justice Dept. looking into anticompetitive practices. April 22, 2005: 5:27 PM EDT By Jon Birger, Money Magazine NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Did you pay your real estate broker too much? The U.S. Department of Justice may be set to turn Tulsa, Okla. into a test-case for ending the stranglehold 6 percent commissions have over the real estate brokerage business. MONEY has learned that Justice's Antitrust Division is gathering information on the bully tactics that full-commission brokers in Tulsa allegedly use against their discount rivals to discourage commission-cutting. The probe follows other recent efforts to spur competition in the real estate industry. According to a copy of a Justice Department subpoena obtained by MONEY, federal investigators are seeking information on "possible anticompetitive conduct in the provision of real estate services in the Tulsa area" as well as "documents related to refusal to cooperate on real estate transactions." An Antitrust Division spokeswoman confirmed the existence of the investigation but declined to provide additional details. Al Unser, executive director of the Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors said: "We received a CID [civil investigative demand] from the Justice Dept. and we have responded." Economists who study real estate, such as the University of Cincinnati's Norm Miller, believe anti-competitive behavior is the primary explanation for the persistence of the 6 percent commission. J.D. Smith and Bob Meyer are two Tulsa discount real estate agents who say they were interviewed by federal investigators. They say the investigators wanted information on full-commission agents' alleged refusal to show home-buying clients properties listed by discount brokers -- a tactic known as boycotting. Boycotting exploits the one major weakness of the multiple listing service. The MLS's upside is that it centralizes all homes for sale in a single electronic marketplace that can be accessed by all agents -- and these days by Web-savvy consumers as well. The downside is that brokers must depend on one another to help sell their homes, and that discourages them from undercutting each other's commissions. While boycotting the listings of discounters is generally considered an antitrust violation -- if undisclosed, it's also a breach of fiduciary duty to clients -- industry insiders are well aware that boycotting goes on, even if they claim not to condone it. For Smith, the Feds' investigation comes a year or so too late. His realty business on the brink of ruin, Smith recently abandoned discount brokerage and went back to charging 6 percent. "In one week," Smith said, "I've had more showings and more offers from other realtors than I had in the previous two months." The Tulsa investigation is part of an ongoing Antitrust Division foray into the sharp-elbowed realty world. In March, the Antitrust Division sued the Kentucky Real Estate Commission over a state law that prohibits real estate brokers from offering commission rebates to consumers. More recently, Assistant Attorney General R. Hewitt Pate sent letters to lawmakers and regulators in Oklahoma and Texas, urging them to reject proposals that would effectively prohibit brokers from engaging in limited-service or fee-for-service realty -- such as listing a home for sale on the multiple listing service for a flat fee of $500. Bruce Hahn, chairman of the American Homeowners Grassroots Alliance, argues that state prohibitions on rebates and fee-for-service discourage competition and inflate commissions paid by consumers. "We've talked to Justice, and we think what they're doing is tremendous," he said. E-mail Jon Birger at jbirger@moneymail.com. The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? Big new tax credits for hybrid cars More Real Estate How to buy and build on rural land Most overvalued housing markets When booms go bust... contact us | magazine customer service | site map | glossary | RSS | press room OTHER NEWS: CNN | SI | Fortune | Business2.0 = Money subscribers = Premium content -- * - Time reflects local markets trading time. † - Intraday data is at least 15-minutes delayed. Disclaimer © 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Terms under which this service is provided to you. privacy policy Reprints of site stories are available. Top Stories Most overvalued housing markets Risks to the economy in 2006 Which was the worst ad of all in 2005? After the ride, a rest Hilton brands reunite after 40 years YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Real Estate Antitrust Division Corporate Governance Oklahoma or Create your own Manage alerts | What is this?

Buy House

How to Buy a House -- A guide for first-time home buyers How to Buy a House home Learn the basics 1. The Basics 2. How much home can you afford? 3. The Down Payment 4. The Loan - Assuming a Loan - Owner Financing 5. Qualifying for a loan 6. Understand Closing Costs Do the groundwork 7. Get your finances in order 8. Clean Up Your Credit Record 9. Establish Credit if you don't have any The Process 10. Find a Lender 11. Get the bank's offer 12. Start looking at houses 13. Get the Disclosure 14. Sign a Contract 15. Pay Earnest Money 16. Have the House Inspected 17. Problems on the Inspection? 18. Appraisal, Survey, & Insurance 19. Appraisal went through? 20. Closing! After the purchase Avoding scams More about Mortgages How much loan can you get? Understand Compound Interest Paying off a 30-yr. loan in 15 yrs. Private Mortgage Insurance Other Appendices Renting vs. Buying: Financial Impacts Don't pay cash even if you can The Debt Ratio Figuring your monthly pmt. If you won't live long enough to pay off the mortgage Tax breaks are actually welfare for the rich Other Links to helpful sites Fan Mail Michael Bluejay's home page Email Me How to Buy a House VA Loans VA Mortgage Center . Loans and Refinancing here. Welcome! I'm a real estate investor. I've bought and sold a few homes so I'm in a good position to explain how to buy a house to first-time home buyers. I'm not a realtor, and I'm not trying to sell you anything. I created this site only to share my knowledge of house-buying with others; I wanted to create the guide that *I* wish I had when I was a rookie home buyer. This is not an exhaustive guide -- I don't cover every single possible detail related to buying a house. On the other hand, this site contains a lot more than a typical pamphlet or even what you'd learn from most realtors. Certainly many people have bought houses without knowing nearly this much . (Including me, when I bought my first home.) I believe everything here to be accurate, but of course it's "use at your own risk". And by the way, I have no idea whether the house-buying info listed here applies anywhere outside the USA. Ready to get started? Then go to the first lesson : The Basics of Buying a House. -- Michael Bluejay Next: The Basics If you liked this site then you might like some of my other sites: Personalized Wedding Gifts Cheap Airfare How Slot Machines Work Discount Website Design Last update: July 2005

Investment property news and

Property investment UK - property market for home and business - Interactive Investor Skip navigation Site Shares Thursday 29 December 2005 Home / Property Register | My Account | About Us | Site Map | Glossary | Help | T&Cs | Logout Home Investing News Markets Portfolio Share Dealing Level 2 / Tools CFD Trading Spread Betting ISAs Funds Property Community Personal Finance Planning Mortgages 1st Time Buyers Remortgaging Buy to Let Buying Abroad Calculators Credit Cards Loans Savings Banking Pensions Insurance Life Insurance Tax Cut Your Bills UK property investment information UK property investment information. Find property in the UK or abroad or value your home. Investment property news and property market guides. Search for residential or business property in UK or abroad. Mortgages, conveyancing, plot search and more. Property investment UK - search for and buy property Property UK Property How £1,000 can transform your home With fewer active buyers in the market, if you want to sell your home you need to make it stand out from the rest. Here are our tips for sprucing up your property without breaking the bank more Property Investment Courses UK and overseas property investment education from Inside Track Seminars. Book your free 2 hour workshop Date / Location 02/01/2006 , Kettering 02/01/2006 , Southampton 03/01/2006 , Heathrow 03/01/2006 , Hinckley 04/01/2006 , Nottingham 04/01/2006 , Watford 07/01/2006 , Gatwick 08/01/2006 , Gatwick 09/01/2006 , Newcastle 09/01/2006 , Worcester 10/01/2006 , Newcastle Upon Tyne 10/01/2006 , Shrewsbury 11/01/2006 , Sunderland 11/01/2006 , Walsall 12/01/2006 , Guisborough 14/01/2006 , Manchester 15/01/2006 , Manchester 16/01/2006 , Basildon 16/01/2006 , Bournemouth 16/01/2006 , Middlesbrough 17/01/2006 , Durham 17/01/2006 , St. Albans 17/01/2006 , Winchester 18/01/2006 , Ascot 18/01/2006 , Gosforth Park 18/01/2006 , Milton Keynes 19/01/2006 , Oxford 21/01/2006 , Birmingham 22/01/2006 , Birmingham 23/01/2006 , London Course Time Seats Required 1 2 3 4 Find a UK Property Maximum price No maximum £10,000 £20,000 £40,000 £30,000 £50,000 £60,000 £70,000 £80,000 £90,000 £100,000 £125,000 £150,000 £175,000 £200,000 £225,000 £250,000 £300,000 £350,000 £400,000 £450,000 £500,000 £600,000 £700,000 £800,000 £900,000 £1,000,000 £1,250,000 £1,500,000 £1,750,000 £2,000,000 £2,250,000 £2,500,000 £2,750,000 £3,000,000 No maximum Minimum bedrooms No minimum (incl. studio) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Area or postcode (e.g. York, Yorkshire or YO1) Business Property Finder Find a Business Property Property type: All Commercial Property Catering Empty/Vacant Premises Industrial Site/Unit Investment Properties Land/Development Sites Large Corporate Companies Leisure,Pubs and Hotels Motor Related Office Space Retail Showrooms Warehouses Other Property location: Spain Rest of Europe USA Rest of the World Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland Channel Islands Scotland UK - Nationwide All Locations Bedfordshire Berkshire Bristol Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cleveland Cornwall County Down Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Dorset Durham East Sussex East Yorkshire Essex Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire Herefordshire Hertfordshire Humberside Isle of Man Isle of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London Merseyside Norfolk North Wales North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Pembrokeshire Shropshire Somerset South Wales South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Tayside Tyne and Wear Warwickshire West Midlands West Sussex West Yorkshire Wiltshire Worcestershire Tenure (Freehold, Leasehold): All Leasehold Freehold Property as Your Pension Should you bet your future on a house? Acres have been written on the benefits of SIPPs, but in practice there are complications. more Buying Property Abroad Find a Property Abroad Daltons property search worldwide Findyourproperty.com French-property.com French-property.eu.com Lighthouse - Properties in Spain Overseashomesearch.co.uk The safe way to buy in Spain Guiding you to your Spanish home: 10,000 properties, strict Code of Ethics, accredited agents more Buy to Let Housing associations Letting your investment property through a housing association saves landlords hassle and provides a guaranteed income. more Best Mortgage Rate 4.84% Go Value Your Home Enter Postcode: Free area report Detailed report Promotion Request FREE brochures on investing in properties abroad. More... Property Investment Newsletter Sign up here: Go Manage? | Register? Promotion A new auction website to help you find Spanish property bargains. More... Conveyancing Purchase Amount: Freehold/Leasehold: Freehold Leasehold ADVERTISEMENT / ;zone= ; ;pos=bottom;sz=468x60; dcopt=ist; tile=1;ord=123456789?" target="_blank"; / ;zone= ; ;pos=bottom;sz=468x60; dcopt=ist; tile=1;ord=123456789?" width="468"; height="60" border="0" alt="" / Legal terms Risk warning Privacy Security Mobile Blog Contact us 0845 88 00 267 Interactive Investor Trading Limited, trading as "Interactive Investor", is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered Office: Dashwood House, 69 Old Broad Street, London EC2M 1QS, telephone 0845 88 00 267 . Registered in England with Company Registration number 3699618.Group VAT registration number 832 6732 26. We may record and/or monitor telephone calls or intercept other telecommunications between us. This is to protect both of us and for training purposes.

Land Loans If you're

VSECU - Land and Construction Loans RATES LOANS SERVICES DEPOSITS HELP ABOUT HOME You are Here: Home >> Loans >> Land and Construction Loans Land and Construction Loans Land Loans If you're planning to someday build your own home and have found the perfect land to do so, acquiring the land may be the first step in that process. A land loan mortgage is available to secure your dream lot, whether you're ready to build now or six years from now. The land you choose to finance must meet certain eligibility requirements such as: The building lot must be suitable for residential construction for a 1-2 unit home as your primary residence in Vermont or New Hampshire You building lot must have passed a perc test The total acreage cannot exceed 25 acres All land loans are adjustable rate mortgages and require a 20% down payment. Construction Loans If you’re ready to start building a new home this is the right loan for you. A construction loan is available for both new construction and the improvement of certain residential property in Vermont and New Hampshire. All construction loans are adjustable rate mortgages and require a 5% down payment. Requirements For construction projects where you'll be improving the energy efficiency of your home, you may want to consider our Energy Improvement Loan . Please contact a mortgage originator for more details on Land or Construction loan options. Apply Today See our online application ! © 2005, VSECU. All Rights Reserved. Additional Resources Current Rates & Terms Meet Our Mortgage Originators Energy Improvement Loan Apply Now! What Will My Loan Payments Be? Use Our Online Calculators Auto Loans Mortgage Loans Home Equity Credit Cards Other Types of Loans Search VSECU.com FREE VSECU CLASSIFIEDS BOOM! OUR TEEN WEBSITE CONTACT US PRIVACY & TERMS OF USE FAQ | FEEDBACK

Real Estate Broker and

NYS DOS, Real Estate Professional Page NYS Department of State Division of Licensing Services F requently A sked Q uestions Applicants for Real Estate Broker and Salesperson Licensure Do I need to be licensed? Generally, Article 12-A of the Real Property Law provides that anyone who, on behalf of another and for a fee, 1) negotiates a sale, exchange or rental of real property, 2) collects rent, or 3) negotiates a commercial loan secured by a mortgage must be licensed as a real estate broker. What is the difference between a real estate broker and a real estate salesperson? A real estate broker is responsible for the supervision and conduct of the real estate brokerage business. He or she applies for and holds the license on behalf of the brokerage. This person is known as the "representative broker." A real estate salesperson works for and is supervised by the representative broker. The salesperson acts as the representative broker's agent. All listings, although perhaps negotiated by a salesperson, are accepted by the representative broker. How do I become a real estate salesperson or broker? In order to qualify for licensure as a real estate salesperson, an applicant must have satisfactorily completed a 45 hour salesperson qualifying education course in real estate approved by the Secretary of State, and have passed a qualifying examination administered by the Department. In order to qualify for licensure as a real estate broker, an applicant must have at least one year of experience as a licensed real estate salesperson or at least two years of experience in the general real estate field (e.g., buying and selling your own property, managing property owned by your employer), have satisfactorily completed both the qualifying salesperson course of 45 hours and an additional 45 hour real estate broker course as approved by the Secretary of State, and have passed a qualifying examination administered by the Department. Who licenses mortgage brokers? Anyone who negotiates or attempts to negotiate any mortgage loan other than a mortgage loan on residential property, in the state of New York, is required to be licensed as real estate broker, or as a salesperson associated with a real estate broker. This license is issued by the NYS Department of State. To negotiate a mortgage loan on residential property (one to four family building) registration with the New York State Banking Department is required. If I am a real estate management company, do I need a real estate broker's license? That depends on what services you provide. If you collect rent or place tenants in vacant spaces on behalf of your landlord client, the answer is yes. If, on the other hand, your services are strictly maintenance, the answer is no. you are not acting as a fiduciary (not handling another person's money). Whom do I call if I am not sure whether I completed my 22.5 hours of continuing education during my license term? Contact the school(s) you attended. Schools are required by law to maintain course completion records for three years. You may request duplicate certificates from the school(s) in the event you are audited. In order to renew my salesperson license, I completed the 45-hour broker qualifying course. Can I apply the extra 22.5 hours to my next license term? No. The law clearly states that continuing education must be completed within each license term. I could not complete the continuing education, but I wish to renew my license anyway. Can I apply for an extension? Please refer to §177.6 in the real estate law booklet. Extensions will only be granted in bona fide hardship cases. You must submit the following, preferably prior to your license expiration: a written request for the extension, completed renewal form, fee, and original documentation demonstrating your hardship; i.e. , medical documentation. I think I might be exempt, but I am not sure when I originally became licensed. Can you tell me when I was first licensed? No. The Department of State only maintains seven years of real estate records. You may possibly determine your original date of licensure if you know when you completed the salesperson course and how long it took you after completing the course to apply for your license. What happens if I do not complete my continuing education and don't renew my license? If you do not renew your license, you cannot conduct any real estate activities that require a New York State real estate license in accordance with Article 12-A of the Real Property Law. There are no grace periods that allow you to continue working while not licensed. You have two years from the date your license expires to renew your license. If you fail to renew within that period, you will be required to pass the state written examination. No continuing education will be required to repeat the licensing process again. When you submit your new salesperson application, you must include the following: your new examination results, application fee, and a copy of your expired license/pocket card or ORIGINAL proof of completing the salesperson course. If possible, it is better to submit original proof of your salesperson course. If you do not have an original certificate, then call the school where you took the course to request another certificate. If you are applying for your broker's license, you must submit ORIGINAL proof of your 45-hour salesperson course and 45-hour broker course, or a copy of your expired broker's license. How do I obtain a waiver from the 45-hour salesperson or 90-hour broker course requirement? You must submit a written request stating the waiver you are applying for along with ORIGINAL proof of course completion, a detailed outline listing topics and hours, and a course description. We only review prelicensing courses from other states that were completed in a classroom setting. (No home-study/correspondence courses.) The prelicensing salesperson's course must be at least 45 hours of classroom instruction and the broker's course, 90 hours. In addition, if you have graduated with a Master's Degree with a concentration in real estate, you may qualify for a 90-hour waiver of the qualifying courses. Please submit an official transcript with your waiver request. If you are granted a waiver, you will receive the waiver letter, the license application, real estate law booklet, and examination schedules. When you are ready to apply for your license, please submit the ORIGINAL waiver letter with your application, fee, passed examination results, and any other required documents. I have been a real estate licensee for many years. Am I exempt from the continuing education requirements? Article 12A statutorily requires all real estate brokers and salespeople to complete 22½ hours of Department of State approved education within their two-year license period prior to the date of expiration. The law does provide for an exemption from this requirement for a real estate broker who has 15 consecutive years of combined licensure as a salesperson and a broker and who is actively engaged in the real estate business as a real estate broker at the time of renewal, or an admitted NYS attorney. Where do I get more detailed information? You may access pertinent law and regulations, applications and exam schedules from this website. You may also request this or other information by calling a Division of Licensing Services customer service representative at (518) 474-4429 or by writing to: New York State Department of State Division of Licensing Services 84 Holland Avenue Albany, New York 12208-3490 [ NYS Department of State Home Page ] [ Licensing Services Menu ] [ Real Estate Professionals Page ]