Real Estate Broker

California Department of Real Estate: Licensee Status Inquiries California Home DRE Home Contact Us What's new About DRE Careers at DRE DRE Records Consumers Escrow Violations eLicensing Examinees Licensees Subdivisions Real Estate Law Regulations Publications Forms FAQs Links Index Department of Real Estate My CA Licensee Status Inquiries indicates an item is in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need Adobe Reader (or an Adobe Acrobat product) to view it. Click on the icon below to download a free copy of Adobe Reader. Click here for information about using Adobe Reader. You may check the status of real estate salesperson, broker, and corporate licensees online. However, before you do, please take a minute and review the information below on how to use the inquiry screen. Click here to check the status of a real estate salesperson, broker, or corporation. NOTE: The online status inquiry feature is a service for consumers. It is not intended for, nor capable of, automated database searches or sorts. If you desire such database files, please contact the Department for information on availability and costs. Using the Real Estate License Status Inquiry Screen If you enter a name (and, optionally, the city), click on the find button to advance to an index of licensees who satisfy your search criteria. The license identification number, name, license type and city as contained in the mailing address of record, are displayed in the index. This information is provided to help you select the license record you are seeking. If you click on the license I.D. number from the name index or if you use the license I.D. search from the first screen, you will migrate to the final screen that displays the public information available for that licensee such as the license expiration date, status, salesperson associates, office addresses and corporate affiliations. The information presented reflects the license records of the DRE at the time of your inquiry; however, it will not reflect pending updates which are being processed by the Department. Helpful Hints Mark the search page with a "bookmark" or "favorite" indicator so that you can initiate search requests from your own menu. Review the search tips above, especially when you receive a "no record" reply. Review the supplemental explanations of status and comment descriptions available on the public information page. Out-of-Date License Information If your license record reflects information which is no longer current (wrong address, employing broker, etc.), you can use the eLicensing online system to update your license record immediately. Or, you may notify the DRE using the appropriate change request form: Salesperson Change Application ( RE 214 ) Broker Change Application ( RE 204 ) Corporation Change Application ( RE 204A ) Prior to submitting your change application, please review Tips for a Smooth Licensing Transaction . Depending on the change being requested, the approximate processing time frame for paper applications is 4 to 6 weeks. Actions Against Unlicensed Persons The Department publishes monthly a list of names of persons and businesses which have been found to have been conducting real estate activities without a license. See Desist and Refrain Orders for Unlicensed Activities . Back to Top of Page Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Tech Problems 2003 State of California This page last modified on Friday, August 06, 2004

Real Estate Agents Apartments

Real Estate Agents, Brokers, Loan Agent and Financing Service Providers. Real Estate # Online information provided within the site to be beneficial and presented in an efficient format to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our members and visitors to the site. Real Estate Agents Apartments & Rentals Home Finance Moving Home Builders Commercial Real estate Legal Service Calculators Find Real estate Builders Get Home Finance My Real estate Tools Real estate Lawyers US Codes for Real estate Apartments & Rentals Home Finance Moving Home Builders Commercial Real estate Brokers Commercial Real estate Legal Service Calculators Property Tools Find a Property For Sale By Owner Other Properties for Sale Home Real Estate Agents by State • Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Guam • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Puerto Rico • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming Read Articles Apartment & Rental Articles Mortgage Articles Moving Articles Buying Articles Selling Articles Read FAQs Apartment & Rental FAQs Mortgage FAQs Moving FAQs Buying FAQs Selling FAQs Home | Home Finance | Moving | Calculators Privacy Policy Information contained herein is deemed accurate and correct, but no warranty is implied or given. © estme.org 2005. All rights reserved.

Home Mortgage Are you

Mortgage Research Center : Loan and Mortgage Info Contact | Mortgage Rates | Mortgage Calculators Mortgages Refinancing Debt Consolidation Mortgage Resources Loans FHA Loan VA Loan What Type Of Loan Are You Looking For? Please Select.... VA Home Loan Home Loan VA Home Refinance Home Refinance FHA Home Loan What Is The Approximate Value Of Your Property? Welcome To The Mortgage Research Center! This site is designed to help educate you about mortgages, refinancing, debt consolidation, and various type of loans. You will be provided with comprehensive information on every aspect of the mortgage process. We will give you tips on when to refinance, what costs should be included in the closing fees when completing your mortgage, and calculators to help you determine how much you can spend and save! This is your first step in helping you achieve your financial security, so good luck! Register for the Home Buying Seminar Mortgage Refinance Find out how much you can save, when you should refinance, what type of refinancing is best for you, and other information. More Information Home Mortgage Are you buying a home? We provide you with resources to help you get all of the information you need when applying for a mortgage. More Information Debt Consolidation Determine how you can get out of debt by saving hundred's of dollars per month by combining your various payments (for credit cards, etc.). More Information Loans Looking to purchase a home with a special government loan? You may qualify for a FHA loan or VA loan. More Information Mortgage Sources We provide you with a list of reputable mortgage companies, mortgage brokers, and lenders to find one that best suits your financial needs. More Information Current Mortgage Rates Get current information on today's mortgage rates and get tips on when to lock in to a great interest rate. More Information Mortgage Calculators A variety of calculators will help you figure payments, total costs of loans, and display amortization tables and other options. More Information If you have questions or would like help with your mortgage, you can call us at 800-930-9201 . "Nathan, I wanted you to know that everything went very well at our closing. It was quite pleasant. Thank you for everything." -Vicki Ficklen Mcdonough, GA More Testimonials Equal Opportunity Lender License Information We can help you find the lender (mortgage bank) that can get you the best deal for your financial situation (including setting you up with the best financing rates and loan term). MRC does not originate loans in MA, NJ, NY, ND, PA, VT, NV, WV, or DC. If you are getting a mortgage in one of these states, we will help you by directing your information to a lender in your state. Get additional information about a VA Loan , Home Loan , or 1031 Exchange : Privacy Policy .

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 agent’s 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 broker’s 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

Home equity for the

MSN Money - Home equity for the holidays MSN Home Hotmail My MSN Sign In Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Banking Home My Accounts Bill Pay Mortgages/Loans Services Credit Reports Financial Tools Track your bills Resources Decision Centers Home Buying Guide Home Financing Your Credit Rating Financial Privacy Better Banking Credit Card Smarts Bankruptcy Guide Commentary Index Related Links Manage Debt More on Budgeting Print-friendly version Send this to a friend See where rates stand Calculate your debt burden here Find a home-equity loan Find books on home buying Find It! Article Index Finance Q&A Tools Index Site Map Recent articles by Bankrate.com: • Mortgage rates hit 18-month high , 11/2/2005 • Best deal? Go to the source , 10/27/2005 • When it pays to stay single , 10/24/2005 More... The Basics Home equity for the holidays advertisement Borrowing from a home-equity loan for holiday spending is tempting because of the lower rates and tax-deductible payments. But theres a huge risk involved. By Bankrate.com This season, many consumers will charge against the home for the holidays. They will use home-equity debt to pay for gifts and travel. Some will do it directly, paying for presents and airline tickets with charge cards tied to home-equity lines of credit. More will do it indirectly, by using equity to pay off credit-card balances that end up as bloated as a turkey-sated family. Home-equity debt traditionally has been spent on investments that bring some kind of return -- renovating houses, paying for college, starting small businesses. More recently, as consumers have become more clever about using debt, equity loans are seen as a cheaper, smarter way to consolidate debt and pay for such items as cars and furniture. But gifts and airline tickets to visit family? Believe it or not, bankers and consumer advocates agree that there are times when it's appropriate to pay for something so fleeting by charging it against the roof over your head. It's not exactly wise to go into debt to pay for presents, but if you're going to do it, you might as well do so as inexpensively as possible. Find a loan that's right for you at the Loan Center Debt for gifts "Don't let these things be excuses to be in debt. That's the issue," says Anthony Hsieh, president of Home Loan Center, an online lender based in Orange County, Calif. If you listen long enough to AM radio, you are likely to hear a holiday-themed sales pitch for these loans, which allow you to borrow money and use the accumulated equity in your home as collateral. Generally, it takes two to four weeks to get access to the money after you apply. Home-equity loans, also known as second mortgages, come in a lump sum. You repay them with equal monthly payments at a fixed rate for a specified period. Related news and commentary on MSN Money • Gift cards are not gifts • 15 worst holiday gift ideas • The fine art of holiday tipping: why, who and how much • The 13 worst holiday spending blunders • 12 rules for regifting without fear • 10 low-cost gifts from the heart Home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs, on the other hand, work like credit cards. Instead of getting a lump sum, you start out with a credit line and can draw up to the credit line's limit. During the first years of the account, the minimum monthly payment covers only the interest on the balance. The rate is variable and usually is tied to the prime rate. The tax deduction On both kinds of equity debt, the interest you pay is deductible from your federal income taxes in most cases. That's the key, Hsieh says. If you decide to take some time to pay off your holiday debt, why not do it with tax-deductible interest? "Is it irresponsible to dig into equity (to pay for gifts?)" Hsieh asks. "Yes. But if you're going to get into debt and you're disciplined enough to pay it off in a predetermined time, there is an advantage to using a HELOC because the interest is deductible." Rudy Cavazos of Money Management International , a national, nonprofit credit-counseling agency based in Houston, agrees that buying things with low-rate home equity debt "beats using that credit card" with higher rates and no tax-deduction. But he's not sure every consumer understands all the differences between regular credit cards and cards tied to HELOCs, including the biggie: "You're placing your home on the line as security, as collateral, for these funds." No walking away from equity debt Sure, the HELOC has a lower rate and the interest is tax-deductible. But the regular credit card is unsecured, meaning that the balance is not backed by collateral -- so the debt can be wiped clean in some bankruptcies. Not so with a card tied to a HELOC. If you buy your godson a Christmas gift with your HELOC, you are pledging your house as collateral. You can't walk away from the debt, even in bankruptcy. This important point might not be stressed at the time of the loan application. That's why Cavazos recommends that consumers get some kind of loan counseling before they take out home-equity loans or get HELOCs. Consumer credit counseling agencies, such as MMI, often hold workshops or do one-on-one education for people who get home loans of all kinds. Cavazos hears radio advertisements all the time that urge listeners to use home equity as a way to consolidate debt "or improve their lifestyle in some way. That's all good, but you have to remember to educate yourself before you enter into these types of financial tools." When it comes to gifts and holiday travel, the best financial tool is to stay away from debt in the first place. Instead, use the financial tool that can't be beat: a savings account. 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