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Amazon.com: Back Home: Music Your Store Music See All 32 Product Categories   Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | advanced search | browse styles | classical | top sellers | new & future releases | music you should hear | blowout music | used music | free downloads Search Amazon.com Popular Music - Artist Name - Album Title - Song Title Used Music Classical Music Music Downloads Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . MUSIC INFORMATION Explore this album buying info listen to samples editorial reviews customer reviews RATE THIS ALBUM I dislike it I love it! 1 2 3 4 5 Edit your ratings Visit the DVD Store Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005 DVD Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . 120 used & new from $4.75 Available for in-store pickup now from: $16.99 Price may vary based on availability Enter your ZIP Code Have one to sell? Back Home Eric Clapton List Price: $18.98 Price: $13.49 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details . You Save: $5.49 (29%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours 120 used & new from $4.75 See more product details Best Value Buy Back Home and get American Made World Played at an additional $2 off Amazon.com's everyday low price. Total List Price : $37.96 Buy Together Today: $25.48 You Save : $12.48 Click here for promotion rules Customers who bought this title also bought: Souls Alike ~ Bonnie Raitt A Bigger Bang ~ The Rolling Stones Magic Time ~ Van Morrison Prairie Wind ~ Neil Young 80 ~ B.B. King Chaos and Creation in the Backyard ~ Paul McCartney Wildflower ~ Sheryl Crow Devils & Dust [DualDisc] ~ Bruce Springsteen Explore Similar Items : 20 in Music , 20 in DVD , and 20 in Books What similar items do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item? More than 33% buy CDs from The Bob Dylan Bootleg Series . 26% buy this item(Back Home~ Eric Clapton 12% buy Cost of Living ~ Delbert McClinton 6% buy Hillbilly Deluxe ~ Brooks & Dunn 4% buy All That I Am ~ Santana 4% buy The Word Is Live ~ Yes 2% buy At Carnegie Hall, Vol. 1-4 (Chicago IV) ~ Chicago Explore Similar Items : 9 in Music , 9 in DVD , and 9 in Books Product Details Audio CD (August 30, 2005) Number of Discs: 1 Label: Warner Bros / Wea ASIN: B000A3DFZE Average Customer Review: Based on 114 reviews. Write a review . Amazon.com Sales Rank: Today: #248 in Music Yesterday: #215 in Music Popular in: Osseo, MN(#13) , Coventry, RI(#13) . See more Customers interested in Eric Clapton may also be interested in Sponsored Links ( What's this? ) Feedback Eric Clapton Songs Download Your Favorite Songs 100% Free And Legal! www.GetMusicFree.com Eric Clapton Concert 01/06/06 Ahoy Rotterdam Bestel uw tickets op onze website www.onlineticketshop.nl Listen to Samples To hear a song sample, click on the "Listen ." Visit our audio help page for more information. 1. So Tired Listen Listen 2. Say What You Will Listen Listen 3. Im Going Left Listen Listen 4. Love Dont Love Nobody Listen Listen 5. Revolution Listen Listen 6. Love Comes To Everyone Listen Listen 7. Lost And Found Listen Listen 8. Piece Of My Heart Listen Listen 9. One Day Listen Listen 10. One Track Mind Listen Listen 11. Run Home To Me Listen Listen 12. Back Home Listen Listen Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Back Home is Eric Clapton in a good mood, filled with upbeat toe-tappers about hearth and home (a young child even puts in a cameo on "So Tired"). Blues-rock ("Lost and Found"), reggae ("Revolution"), and R&B (the Spinners' "Love Don't Love Nobody") mingle comfortably with laid-back pop (George Harrison's "Love Comes to Everyone"). Recorded around the same time as Me and Mr. Johnson , his bestselling collection of Robert Johnson songs, Clapton's first recording of (mostly) original material since 2001's Reptile is a combination of solo compositions, covers, and collaborations with writing partner Simon Climie. Backing musicians include John Mayer (guitar), Blind Faith mate Steve Winwood (synthesizer), and longtime associate Billy Preston (keyboards), whose expertise with the Hammond B3 shines brightest on the Vince Gill cowritten "One Day". There are no real surprises on Back Home , just Clapton doing what he does best--with an extra spring in his step. --Kathleen C. Fennessy Album Description Back Home, Eric Clapton's first album of original material in several years, follows this summer's historic and heralded Cream reunion and 2004's gold, Top 10 Me and Mr. Johnson covers disc (and it's audio/video companion, Sessions for Robert J). With Back Home, three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and 16-time Grammy winner Clapton finds his way home with another modern classic. Spotlight Reviews (What's this?) Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 104 of 126 people found the following review helpful: A happy Eric is not Eric... , September 2, 2005 Reviewer: Albert G. Smith Jr. (Daytona Beach, Fl USA)- See all my reviews I am torn here. In the review I posted for the last Mark Knopfler CD, I defended the lower prominence of lead guitar, based on the fact that this is 20-something years later than "Sultans of Swing", and an artist grows, as they should. I tried to apply this same standard to this Clapton album, but it just doesn't work for me. Knopfler might have cut back on the guitar gymnastics, but the tone and subject matter of the songs remain that same Knopfler that made me buy all of those albums. A happy Clapton is not Clapton. I'm glad his life is going well, but this also might prove that art comes from suffering. I am not a casual fan. I have every Clapton release (some on old vinyl), and tracked every vintage of his career. I can throw an old disc on that I have heard a thousand times, and experience it like new every time. I'm afraid "Back Home" will soon be relegated to the back of my CD shelf next to the dusty Pilgrim and Reptile discs. Thanks for the decades of great music Eric, but it looks like the days of buying every new album sight unseen has reached the end. I wanted to like this disc, I really did. 3 stars because this is technically a fine recording. The two missing stars are for the missing desire for me to listen to this disc after the first couple of tries. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 33 of 37 people found the following review helpful: In a nutshell - pleasant, but unexciting , September 20, 2005 Reviewer: Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana)- See all my reviews It's been about five years since Eric Clapton delivered an album with original material. Of the twelve songs, Clapton has writing credits for five, including the first single "Revolution", a reggae-based song reminiscent of "I Shot the Sheriff", except unlike the latter, this one is a somewhat flat, unexciting track. Boosted by guest appearances, the album mixes reggae, R&B, pop and country. Contributors include George Harrison, who wrote "Love Comes to Everyone"; The Spinners' "Love Don't Love Nobody"; "I'm Going Left" from Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright; plus Vince Gill, Steve Winwood and John Mayer among others. Most of the songs can be classified as "easy listening" and can evoke the occasional head bob and hum, but they're all relatively standard songs, with nothing really worth shouting about. An average album, and not one of Clapton's best, something like an Oreo cookie without the good stuff inside. Rated 3.5 stars Amanda Richards, September 21, 2005 Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) All Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. Middle of the Road , December 29, 2005 Reviewer: John Harwell (Grove City, OH USA)- See all my reviews Eric Clapton's new CD is not Eric Clapton. That's as plain as I can say it. The majority of the cuts are lilting Top-40ish sounding ditties about love and kids and general non-offensive subjects. The few blues sounding cuts have huge organ runs and what sounds like an entire choir backing his vocals. Orchestrated Blues? C'mon. There will probably huge numbers of fans who like this album, but they are NOT Eric Clapton fans. This is purely a generic "hit" album. I am not saying EC should not do happy songs, but I did not buy the CD for this "kinder, gentler" music. I personally want raw guitar and damnable blues. He is too talented for this pop album. Pure middle of the road. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) What's wrong with this album? , December 29, 2005 Reviewer: Andrew Brooks (Carson, California)- See all my reviews After one listen, particularly after the jigging "So Tired," I started liking this album immediately. It's an easy-listening/bluesy album about love, introspection ("Back Home" comes to mind), family, and belonging. I don't understand why people only listen to just Eric Clapton's guitar and not his vocal. The singer's vocal, as well as his/her instrument, is what sets the mood for the song. Just like that saying in "Death of a Salesman," it's not "what you say." It's how you say it. And here, Eric Clapton says it well. He's happy, he's living life to its fullest, and he wants his audience to know it. A person doesn't always have to be depressed in order to make good music. Eric Clapton is one of THEE best musicians that have ever lived, next to Bob Dylan. Give the man a break. :-) Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 1 of 3 people found the following review helpful: quit knockin a great master , December 27, 2005 Reviewer: Patrick Tsushima (San Diego, CA USA)- See all my reviews Clapton has been through more than any other musician alive the only part he may have been beat on is the drugs by say perhaps ozzy but clapton can still talk like a normal person. Anyhow point is this album may not be his classic heavy blues and whiskeyed downtime kind of thing, but for some jack ass to say that a sad clapton is not clapton annoys me enough to waste my damn time writing this stupid review when I could be playing the git fiddle I was juts and will be in just a second laying on my lap. That jackass may not be a casual eric clapton fan but he probably doesn't play guitar otherwise he would know how to critique a guitarist singer, without making himself look like a fool, and yes jackass too. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 1 of 2 people found the following review helpful: Give him a break, he's happy! , December 23, 2005 Reviewer: C. Lyons (Phoenix, AZ USA)- See all my reviews I have been a fan of Eric Clapton since he was in Cream, and have every one of his CDs. I think that Mr. Clapton has earned the right to let his fans know that he has found love and happiness in his beautiful wife and children. I think he has accomplished that without being untrue to his roots. I for one, and happy that he has found happiness and I am enjoying this toe-tapping CD! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 114 customer reviews... Customers who bought titles by Eric Clapton also bought titles by these artists: Derek & The Dominos John Mayall Cream Allman Brothers Band Jimi Hendrix Explore similar artists So You'd Like To... Stock up on these great things. :by Philipa C. Field , SL Interpreter, shopper, parent Have A Fundamental Eric Clapton Collection :by Mike Vegas King , A Journeyman Fan delete a "so you'd like to?" but can't? lol :by MovedbyMusic , can find loopholes anywhere Listmania! What"s in the CD changer right now :A list by Earl Biringer , Music Listener The Rolling Stones Studio Albums :A list by DEAN M. Dent , Musician Bonnie Raitt: Blue Angel From ... 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Real estate brokers are
Real Estate Agents & Brokers Career Prospects in Virginia Real Estate Agents and Brokers Home | Find another career | Find career statistics Suggestions & corrections Printer friendly page What do they do? Real estate agents sell property for owners. Specializations : Residential property, commercial property Preferred education : Complete an approved real estate marketing program in high school (with Career & Technical Education), community college, or trade school; associate's or bachelor's degree is an advantage Certification & licensing : State license required Getting ahead : Selling more & higher-valued property brings more commissions & more property to sell Skills & knowledge : Selling, negotiating, & bargaining; working well with clients; knowledge of local area Where they work : Visiting houses & properties to be sold Job outlook : Good in the long run, but probably becoming more competitive as the housing boom of the last decade slows down Look for work : Link to job banks and other job search resources Earnings : Usually in the $16-110,000 range Links : Find more information about this career Become An Agent & Get Rich Quick? Think Again Interviews with real people See a video WHAT DO THEY DO? It's the "American Dream"-- buying a house somewhere to call one's own. And the people who assist in that dream, making a fair profit at the same time, are real estate agents. When people want to buy a house, some land, or a commercial property, they usually contact a real estate agent or broker who collects listings of all the houses, properties and parcels of land for sale in a particular city or neighborhood. The agent sorts through the listings and selects the properties that seem to fit a buyer's price range and needs. The agent then shows the property to the buyer, along with any others that seem to fit the bill. When clients have questions--for instance, how old is the roof and is the property in a flood zone--agents track down the answers. They draw up contracts between buyers and sellers, and help smooth along the whole process by acting as a "go-between" between buyer and seller. Money enters the picture when the agent actually makes a sale. Agents charge both buyers and sellers for their services. Many also offer services like renting and managing property owned by others, also for a fee. Real estate brokers are the people who own and manage real estate agencies. Real estate agents are usually independent sales workers who provide their services to a licensed broker on a contract basis. In return, the broker pays the agent a portion of the commission earned from the agents sale of the property. (Agents are also sometimes called realtors if they belong to the National Association of Realtors). Despite all the excitement and money in real estate in recent years, selling real estate is not an easy line of work. Agents must stay on top of changes in the market by constantly touring homes that have just been listed. They work nights and weekends and have to be on call for clients who want to see them at odd times. They spend many weekend afternoons sitting at "open houses" and must be aggressive and good at drumming up new clients. In very competitive markets they must perfect the art of cold-calling or canvassing for new business. Va Association of Realtors Most importantly, real estates agents must be expert negotiators since they must manage delicate price negotiations when an interested buyer and seller hook up. The agent also coordinates the "closing" when a property is sold, that is, the actual signing of papers and transfer of a property's title. Once the property is sold, the agent who sold it and the agent who first got the listing both receive a portion of the commission. Agents who sell a property they also listed can increase their commission. Real estate agents and brokers need to know a lot about the communities in which they work. They need to know about the local real estate market and about local services, particularly the schools. They also need to be familiar with local zoning and tax laws, and know where to get financing. A broker's knowledge, resourcefulness, and creativity in arranging mortgages often means the difference between success and failure in closing a sale. Above all, the successful real estate agent has to be able to sense what clients really want in a property, be good at selecting properties that clients will like, and at helping clients be realistic about what they can afford. This type of job, in short, calls for a business-minded "people" person who really knows the lay of the land, so to speak. Specific tasks include: Finding properties to sell Estimates property will sell for to set the opening price Meeting with prospective buyers Helping buyers find property that they like Knowing the physical condition, features, and special characteristics of properties Preparing purchase agreements Referring clients to lawyers and tax consultants Working with lenders, home inspectors and others until the sale is completed to the client's satisfaction Commercial Investment Real Estate Real Estate Professional Realty Times The right job for you? Learn more with an informational interview with a local employer . The wrong job for you? Take an interest test & find a better one . SOME AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION Most real estate agents and brokers sell residential property. A small number, usually employed in large or specialized firms, sell commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other types of real estate. Every specialty requires knowledge of that particular type of property and clientele. EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, & LICENSING In Virginia, as in every other state, real estate brokers and agents need a license. Prospective agents need to be at least 18 years old, and pass a written exam. The exam--more comprehensive for brokers than for agents--includes questions on basic real estate transactions and laws affecting the sale of property. In Virginia, agents have to complete 60 hours of real estate classes at an approved school and pass the state and national portions of the salespersons exam. Brokers must complete 180 hours of education, pass the state and national portions of the broker exam, and submit proof that they worked as a salesperson during 36 of the preceding 48 months before applying for a license. A college degree is helpful in certain areas like commercial real estate, but it is not required. Real estate licenses must be renewed every two years. To qualify for renewal, agents and brokers need to complete 8 hours of approved continuing education. In addition to licensure and continuing education requirements, real estate agents and brokers in Virginia cannot be guilty of violating the fair housing laws of any jurisdiction, nor convicted anywhere for a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, sexual offense, drug distribution, physical injury, or any felony. Real estate agents and brokers can also study to earn their GRI a nationally recognized professional designation that stands for Graduate, REALTOR® Institute. Studying to be a real estate agent in Virginia: Are you in high school? Learn more about Career and Technical Education . Find out about CTE courses in Real Estate Marketing. Students who complete this course are eligible to take the Virginia real estate licensing exam. Planning to go to college? Find real estate programs at community colleges . Read " How do I become a realtor " from the Virginia Association of Realtors. Find out more about getting a license and other issues from the Virginia Association of Realtors. Find more information on licensure and a list of schools and colleges approved to offer the required courses for brokers and agents from the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Read about GED , High School , Community College , Financial Aid , & more in The World of Education Va public schools • Your School Division • HS Graduation Requirements • Career Readiness Certificates GETTING AHEAD Real estate agents advance as they learn more about the business, become more efficient, and as a result increase their earnings by selling more property. They may also earn larger commissions by moving to agencies that list more expensive properties. In large agencies, experienced agents can advance to sales manager or general manager. Experienced real estate agents who go on to get a brokers license may open their own offices. Others with experience and training in estimating property value may become real estate appraisers, and people familiar with operating and maintaining rental properties may become property managers. Bright ideas for getting ahead in any job SKILLS, ABILITIES, & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS Communicating clearly Working well with customers or clients Working in a highly competitive environment Attention to detail Listening carefully to what someone else is saying Keeping track of numerous responsibilities at once Dealing with people under stress Being consistently pleasant and polite Building and maintaining good public relations Selling, negotiating, and bargaining Thorough knowledge of local area Inspiring trust and confidence Keeping abreast of economic conditions and trends In addition to career-specific skills, everybody needs these basic skills: Reading Math Writing Speaking & listening Computer literacy Problem-solving & decision-making Understanding the broader picture Working with people A strong work ethic A positive attitude Independence & initiative Self-presentation WHERE THEY WORK ( Employer locator ) Real estate brokers and agents spend much of their time away from their desks, showing properties to customers, analyzing properties for sale, or meeting with clients. Increasingly, real estate agents work from home because now they can get so much of the information they need over the Internet. OUTLOOK Real estate brokers and agents enjoyed boom times during the last decade, as demand for housing soared. However, the future will not be quite so bright if interest rates rise and sales slow. In fact, some experts fear that the recent housing boom is expanding into a bubble that will soon burst leading to a fall in house prices and a slowdown in sales. Even if the real estate market holds up, opportunities for agents and brokers are expected to grow more slowly than average through 2012. People who want to buy houses can now do a lot of their own searching on the Internet, and this will probably reduce the need for agents and brokers. However, jobs prospects in this field also tend to vary by region and since many people are expected to retire from this field in coming years, there will always be work available. The economy in: Your area • Virginia • The nation Employment projections Monster Employment Index Manpower Employment Outlook LOOK FOR WORK See job ads at Virginia's Job Bank • More job banks • Find local employers Learn job search skills—from reading job ads to preparing for the interview EARNINGS See what people usually earn Most real estate agents in Virginia earn somewhere in the $16-73,000 range. Brokers usually earn more, in the $20-110,000 range. Incomes in this occupation vary widely because agents work on commission. They are paid a percentage of each sale they make, so their incomes depend on the price and the number of properties they sell. The average commission is about 5-7 percent of a property's selling price. This commission rate varies from firm to firm, and commissions are often split between broker and agent on a 50-50 basis. Commissions can also be split between the agent and broker of the listing firm and the agent and broker of the firm that made the sale. Learn more about earnings at Salary.com , Payscale.com , Career Info Net , & other sites FOR MORE INFORMATION Virginia Association of Realtors 10231 Telegraph Road Glen Allen, VA 23059 www.varealtor.com Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Real Estate Board 3600 W Broad St Richmond, VA 23230 www.state.va.us/dpor/reb_main.htm National Association of Realtors 4301 North Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611 www.realtor.com/ National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc. 1629 K St NW, Suite 1100 Washington DC 20006 www.nareb.com/ About.com's Real Estate professional's page Realty Times realtytimes.com/ WetFeet.com, Career Profiles and Interviews Career Overview www.wetfeet.com/asp/careerprofiles_overview.asp?careerpk=33 Industry Overview www.wetfeet.com/asp/industryprofiles_overview.asp?industrypk=27 Real People Profiles www.wetfeet.com/research/rpp/rppbycareer.asp?careerpk=33&careerName=Real+Estate This page was last edited on: November 18, 2005
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Victoria University of Wellington Site Map | Glossary | A-Z of Victoria University Sites | Planned Web Outages On Tuesday 27 September, from 8.15pm to midnight, there will be a website outage. »Read more -- Information For: › Prospective Students › Enrolling Students › Current Students › Mature Students › International Students › Māori Students › Pacific Students › Prospective Staff › Current Staff › Alumni › Donors › Employers › Media › Visitors Quick Links › Library › Online Enrolment › Timetable Information › Course Catalogue › PostgradLife › Jobs at Victoria › Marae › Staff Directory › Victoria Events › Contact Victoria Welcome to Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand Te Whare Wananga o te Upoko o te ika a Maui Aotearoa Subjects & Degrees Subjects Offered at Victoria Undergraduate Degrees Postgraduate Degrees Course Catalogue Summer Trimester Short Courses About Victoria News Publications University Calendar Maps, Transport & Parking Org Charts and FAQs Policy Faculties & Schools Architecture & Design Commerce & Administration Education Humanities & Social Sciences Law Science Toihuarewa A-Z List of Schools Research at Victoria Research Overview Recent Research Projects Māori-related Research A-Z of Centres & Institutes Studying at Victoria Admission & Enrolment Degree & Course Advice Fees 2006 Dates & Deadlines Distance Learning Scholarships & Prizes Student Notes & Textbooks Careers Student Life Student Services Facilities & Resources Student Clubs Arts & Culture -- Enrol Online Now Online enrolment for 2006 is now available. Summer Trimester 2005 Many summer trimester 2005 courses are still open for enrolment. Check out the details. PostgradLife Find out about life as a postgraduate student at Victoria. Victoria News: › More News Site Map | Glossary | A-Z of Victoria University Sites Contact Vic | Disclaimer | About This Site | Request a Change | Site Accessibility Page Updated: 22/9/04 © 2004 Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Real estate brokers are
Real Estate Agents & Brokers Career Prospects in Virginia Real Estate Agents and Brokers Home | Find another career | Find career statistics Suggestions & corrections Printer friendly page What do they do? Real estate agents sell property for owners. Specializations : Residential property, commercial property Preferred education : Complete an approved real estate marketing program in high school (with Career & Technical Education), community college, or trade school; associate's or bachelor's degree is an advantage Certification & licensing : State license required Getting ahead : Selling more & higher-valued property brings more commissions & more property to sell Skills & knowledge : Selling, negotiating, & bargaining; working well with clients; knowledge of local area Where they work : Visiting houses & properties to be sold Job outlook : Good in the long run, but probably becoming more competitive as the housing boom of the last decade slows down Look for work : Link to job banks and other job search resources Earnings : Usually in the $16-110,000 range Links : Find more information about this career Become An Agent & Get Rich Quick? Think Again Interviews with real people See a video WHAT DO THEY DO? It's the "American Dream"-- buying a house somewhere to call one's own. And the people who assist in that dream, making a fair profit at the same time, are real estate agents. When people want to buy a house, some land, or a commercial property, they usually contact a real estate agent or broker who collects listings of all the houses, properties and parcels of land for sale in a particular city or neighborhood. The agent sorts through the listings and selects the properties that seem to fit a buyer's price range and needs. The agent then shows the property to the buyer, along with any others that seem to fit the bill. When clients have questions--for instance, how old is the roof and is the property in a flood zone--agents track down the answers. They draw up contracts between buyers and sellers, and help smooth along the whole process by acting as a "go-between" between buyer and seller. Money enters the picture when the agent actually makes a sale. Agents charge both buyers and sellers for their services. Many also offer services like renting and managing property owned by others, also for a fee. Real estate brokers are the people who own and manage real estate agencies. Real estate agents are usually independent sales workers who provide their services to a licensed broker on a contract basis. In return, the broker pays the agent a portion of the commission earned from the agents sale of the property. (Agents are also sometimes called realtors if they belong to the National Association of Realtors). Despite all the excitement and money in real estate in recent years, selling real estate is not an easy line of work. Agents must stay on top of changes in the market by constantly touring homes that have just been listed. They work nights and weekends and have to be on call for clients who want to see them at odd times. They spend many weekend afternoons sitting at "open houses" and must be aggressive and good at drumming up new clients. In very competitive markets they must perfect the art of cold-calling or canvassing for new business. Va Association of Realtors Most importantly, real estates agents must be expert negotiators since they must manage delicate price negotiations when an interested buyer and seller hook up. The agent also coordinates the "closing" when a property is sold, that is, the actual signing of papers and transfer of a property's title. Once the property is sold, the agent who sold it and the agent who first got the listing both receive a portion of the commission. Agents who sell a property they also listed can increase their commission. Real estate agents and brokers need to know a lot about the communities in which they work. They need to know about the local real estate market and about local services, particularly the schools. They also need to be familiar with local zoning and tax laws, and know where to get financing. A broker's knowledge, resourcefulness, and creativity in arranging mortgages often means the difference between success and failure in closing a sale. Above all, the successful real estate agent has to be able to sense what clients really want in a property, be good at selecting properties that clients will like, and at helping clients be realistic about what they can afford. This type of job, in short, calls for a business-minded "people" person who really knows the lay of the land, so to speak. Specific tasks include: Finding properties to sell Estimates property will sell for to set the opening price Meeting with prospective buyers Helping buyers find property that they like Knowing the physical condition, features, and special characteristics of properties Preparing purchase agreements Referring clients to lawyers and tax consultants Working with lenders, home inspectors and others until the sale is completed to the client's satisfaction Commercial Investment Real Estate Real Estate Professional Realty Times The right job for you? Learn more with an informational interview with a local employer . The wrong job for you? Take an interest test & find a better one . SOME AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION Most real estate agents and brokers sell residential property. A small number, usually employed in large or specialized firms, sell commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other types of real estate. Every specialty requires knowledge of that particular type of property and clientele. EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, & LICENSING In Virginia, as in every other state, real estate brokers and agents need a license. Prospective agents need to be at least 18 years old, and pass a written exam. The exam--more comprehensive for brokers than for agents--includes questions on basic real estate transactions and laws affecting the sale of property. In Virginia, agents have to complete 60 hours of real estate classes at an approved school and pass the state and national portions of the salespersons exam. Brokers must complete 180 hours of education, pass the state and national portions of the broker exam, and submit proof that they worked as a salesperson during 36 of the preceding 48 months before applying for a license. A college degree is helpful in certain areas like commercial real estate, but it is not required. Real estate licenses must be renewed every two years. To qualify for renewal, agents and brokers need to complete 8 hours of approved continuing education. In addition to licensure and continuing education requirements, real estate agents and brokers in Virginia cannot be guilty of violating the fair housing laws of any jurisdiction, nor convicted anywhere for a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, sexual offense, drug distribution, physical injury, or any felony. Real estate agents and brokers can also study to earn their GRI a nationally recognized professional designation that stands for Graduate, REALTOR® Institute. Studying to be a real estate agent in Virginia: Are you in high school? Learn more about Career and Technical Education . Find out about CTE courses in Real Estate Marketing. Students who complete this course are eligible to take the Virginia real estate licensing exam. Planning to go to college? Find real estate programs at community colleges . Read " How do I become a realtor " from the Virginia Association of Realtors. Find out more about getting a license and other issues from the Virginia Association of Realtors. Find more information on licensure and a list of schools and colleges approved to offer the required courses for brokers and agents from the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Read about GED , High School , Community College , Financial Aid , & more in The World of Education Va public schools • Your School Division • HS Graduation Requirements • Career Readiness Certificates GETTING AHEAD Real estate agents advance as they learn more about the business, become more efficient, and as a result increase their earnings by selling more property. They may also earn larger commissions by moving to agencies that list more expensive properties. In large agencies, experienced agents can advance to sales manager or general manager. Experienced real estate agents who go on to get a brokers license may open their own offices. Others with experience and training in estimating property value may become real estate appraisers, and people familiar with operating and maintaining rental properties may become property managers. Bright ideas for getting ahead in any job SKILLS, ABILITIES, & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS Communicating clearly Working well with customers or clients Working in a highly competitive environment Attention to detail Listening carefully to what someone else is saying Keeping track of numerous responsibilities at once Dealing with people under stress Being consistently pleasant and polite Building and maintaining good public relations Selling, negotiating, and bargaining Thorough knowledge of local area Inspiring trust and confidence Keeping abreast of economic conditions and trends In addition to career-specific skills, everybody needs these basic skills: Reading Math Writing Speaking & listening Computer literacy Problem-solving & decision-making Understanding the broader picture Working with people A strong work ethic A positive attitude Independence & initiative Self-presentation WHERE THEY WORK ( Employer locator ) Real estate brokers and agents spend much of their time away from their desks, showing properties to customers, analyzing properties for sale, or meeting with clients. Increasingly, real estate agents work from home because now they can get so much of the information they need over the Internet. OUTLOOK Real estate brokers and agents enjoyed boom times during the last decade, as demand for housing soared. However, the future will not be quite so bright if interest rates rise and sales slow. In fact, some experts fear that the recent housing boom is expanding into a bubble that will soon burst leading to a fall in house prices and a slowdown in sales. Even if the real estate market holds up, opportunities for agents and brokers are expected to grow more slowly than average through 2012. People who want to buy houses can now do a lot of their own searching on the Internet, and this will probably reduce the need for agents and brokers. However, jobs prospects in this field also tend to vary by region and since many people are expected to retire from this field in coming years, there will always be work available. The economy in: Your area • Virginia • The nation Employment projections Monster Employment Index Manpower Employment Outlook LOOK FOR WORK See job ads at Virginia's Job Bank • More job banks • Find local employers Learn job search skills—from reading job ads to preparing for the interview EARNINGS See what people usually earn Most real estate agents in Virginia earn somewhere in the $16-73,000 range. Brokers usually earn more, in the $20-110,000 range. Incomes in this occupation vary widely because agents work on commission. They are paid a percentage of each sale they make, so their incomes depend on the price and the number of properties they sell. The average commission is about 5-7 percent of a property's selling price. This commission rate varies from firm to firm, and commissions are often split between broker and agent on a 50-50 basis. Commissions can also be split between the agent and broker of the listing firm and the agent and broker of the firm that made the sale. Learn more about earnings at Salary.com , Payscale.com , Career Info Net , & other sites FOR MORE INFORMATION Virginia Association of Realtors 10231 Telegraph Road Glen Allen, VA 23059 www.varealtor.com Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Real Estate Board 3600 W Broad St Richmond, VA 23230 www.state.va.us/dpor/reb_main.htm National Association of Realtors 4301 North Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611 www.realtor.com/ National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc. 1629 K St NW, Suite 1100 Washington DC 20006 www.nareb.com/ About.com's Real Estate professional's page Realty Times realtytimes.com/ WetFeet.com, Career Profiles and Interviews Career Overview www.wetfeet.com/asp/careerprofiles_overview.asp?careerpk=33 Industry Overview www.wetfeet.com/asp/industryprofiles_overview.asp?industrypk=27 Real People Profiles www.wetfeet.com/research/rpp/rppbycareer.asp?careerpk=33&careerName=Real+Estate This page was last edited on: November 18, 2005
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