Real Estate Broker

BuyMyself - Canale, IRED Attitude & News Home Directories Int'l Realty US Realty BuyMyself Choosing A Real Estate Agent By Stephen M. Canale, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA There's a common saying in the real estate industry regarding the vast number of agents in the business: "If you don't have any friends who are agents, then you probably don't have any friends at all." With so many agent out there, how can you make an intelligent decision? Do you choose a friend, neighbor or coworker? Should you work with an agent at a large firm, a small firm, a franchise or an independent? While there's an exception to every rule, and every marketplace has its own nuances, here are some solid rules to apply when you want the best representation to protect your interests. Demand Experience The real estate profession is plagued by high turnover. This creates a workforce that is made up of many newcomers. While there are brand new agents with good intentions, why trust one of the largest investment you'll ever buy or sell to someone without experience? Always look for an agent with at least two years of experience. Anyone still in the business after two years has probably learned at least the fundamentals of real estate. Look for Commitment Another problem we have in the industry is a large number of part time and recreational salespeople. These folks have either retired from some other career, work in real estate seasonally or are earning a second income for the family and honestly don't need to work full time. No matter how long they have been in real estate, their lack of full-time commitment makes it impossible for them to keep up with the vast changes in law, marketing and business practices that are occurring in the profession today. If an agent isn't working at least thirty hours a week, fifty weeks a year, look for someone else. Consider Education In the majority of states, the requirements for real estate licensing are substantially less than those for cutting hair. In Michigan, for example, all that is required is a forty-hour class and a multiple choice test. You cannot rely on licensing to indicate competence. And, unfortunately, many agent's real estate education ends with their pre-license education. While there are numerous advanced real estate education courses available, the only technical and competence based program available nationwide is the Graduate, REALTORS® Institute (GRI) series, which is administered under the direction of the National Association of REALTORS®. A REALTOR® who completes the fifteen eight-hour modules, and passes examinations, may then use the designation of GRI. While only 15%-20% of agents have earned this accreditation, it should not be too difficult finding a GRI in your marketplace as they will commonly print the designation behind their name in advertising as well as on letterhead and business cards. Conduct Interviews Before you hire an agent to help you buy or sell a home, you should interview at least three agents in person. In order to do this, first get recommendations from friends, family and neighbors. Then look on the web, in homes magazines and the local newspaper to see what kind of marketing the various companies are doing in your area and call a few that impress you. Then make brief fact-finding calls to determine which of the agents on your list are full time, experienced and either hold the GRI designation or are at least working aggressively toward it. You will probably need to call ten to fifteen agents in order to find three that are worth interviewing. The interview itself need not be a formal one. It is simply an opportunity for you to meet the candidate and explain your needs; and to determine whether you would be comfortable working with them. Ask whatever questions you like, or simply explain your goals and listen carefully to what they propose to do for you in meeting your needs. The decision If you follow the suggestions above, you will find that there are excellent agents working for firms both large and small; both franchised and independent. Thus, the real decision must be made based on the competency of the individual agent you will be working with on a day-to-day basis. Stephen M. Canale is President, Broker/Instructor of Acclaim Residential Marketing Ann Arbor, Michigan | IRED Home | Search IRED | © 1995-2005 IRED.Com, Inc All Rights Reserved

New Home

FOXNews.com SEARCH Raging Wildfires Grass fires in Oklahoma, Texas blamed for deaths, destruction of more than 200 homes Photo Essays • Southern Fires AP Soccer fields sit under floodwaters in Marysville, Calif. Heavy rains swell rivers in northern Calif., causing power outages, forcing some residents to evacuate Photos: California Floods Video: Fierce Storm 'Had to Be Done' Bank robber's officer son defends turning in dad Illinois man gets 40 years in prison after sons spot him in surveillance photo, turn him in LATEST HEADLINES ONLY ON FOX Israeli Warning Video: Is Iran much closer to nuclear weapons than many think? Politics of 2005 Rewind: President Bush, war in Iraq, Supreme Court top stories of the year Home of the Homeless Video: Community of rich residents supports ample homeless population Avoid the Yellow Snow Out There: Man busted throwing bottles of urine over fences The No Spin Year? Grrr! Americans are politically obsessed. Can't we all just get along? When a Coma Strikes In Health: Full recoveries much more common on TV soaps than in real life TODAY'S FEATURES BUSINESS HEADLINES & MARKETS • Nov. Existing Home Sales Lowest Since March • GM Shares Touch 20-Year Low • Business Activity in Midwest Grows Strongly • HealthSouth Sues Scrushy for $76M • U.K., U.S. Hilton Reach $5.7B Hotel Sale Deal • Stocks Up Slightly on Energy Prices MORE BUSINESS HEADLINES MARKET UPDATE Stock and Fund Search Sponsored By PORTFOLIO Register now to track and analyze your investments in our free and easy-to-use portfolio tracker. BULLS & BEARS POLL Vote for which Bulls & Bears prediction is most likely to come true ADVERTISEMENTS Advertise Here FOX NEWS 24/7 FOXLIFE In the FOXLight 'Wedding Crashers' cracks Bill McCuddy's top 10 movies of 2005 THE O'REILLY FACTOR A Mother's Nightmare Beth Holloway Twitty on her new campaign to save other children from her daughter's fate • Read "The Factor" transcript YOUR WORLD W/ NEIL CAVUTO Taking Stock If Enron's Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling go down, will stocks go up? SPECIAL REPORT W/ BRIT HUME Brit Hume's Grapevine Is there a Chinese hiring bias for those born in the Year of the Dog? • Read: The Grapevine THE BIG STORY W/ JOHN GIBSON Pre- Sexual Agreement? Inspired by Kobe Bryant? A contract for celebrities to hand out before sex • Read the Transcript ON THE RECORD W/ GRETA Life and Death Fight Is Clarence Ray Allen too old to execute? • Read Greta's Blog OTHER NEWS HEADLINES POLITICS • Rewind: Bush, Iraq Topped Political News of 2005 • Group Gives $100,000 for Disabled Veterans Memorial • New Navy Secretary to Take Over Post Next Week MORE POLITICS HEADLINES TECHNOLOGY • Louderback: Top Stories and Predictions for 2005, 2006 • NSA Caught Placing Cookies on Web Visitors' Computers • Pioneer Rolls Out Blu-Ray DVD Burner MORE TECHNOLOGY HEADLINES SCIENCE • Adult Brain Cells Do Keep Growing • Good-Hearted Women Fail to Deal With Bad Hearts • Fish Mating Preferences Change With Age MORE SCIENCE HEADLINES HEALTH • Bird Flu, Cloning, Katrina: Top Health Stories of 2005 • Surgery Offers Hope to Mutilation Victims • Vitamin D May Lower Some Cancer Risk MORE HEALTH HEADLINES FOXLIFE • Strakalogue: Grrr! 2006 ...The No Spin Year? • Fox411: 'Narnia' Overcomes 'Kong' at Box Office • Holiday Gift Guide MORE FOXLIFE HEADLINES VIEWS • Immigration: A Tool in the Enemies Toolkit • ifeminists: Abuse of Temporary Restraining Orders Endangers Real Victims • Martin Frost: King George W. ? MORE VIEWS HEADLINES NEW! SPORTS • Dungy Returns To Colts After Son's Death • Nicholson Accused Of Sexual Assault • LeBron Celebrates Turning 21 A Few Days Early MORE SPORTS HEADLINES FOX BLOGS GRETAWIRE Quick Change As the G Block approached, would I be forced to recite linking verbs memorized in the 7th grade? Watch 'On the Record with Greta Van Susteren' weeknights at 10 p.m. ET FOX NEWS Ask Dr. Manny Find out why all medical research is NOT created equal. FROM THE HEARTLAND What Makes a Hero? Shining a spotlight on those who do extraordinary things HARRIGAN ON THE HUNT Elections in Bolivia Evo Morales supporters have painted their houses blue RICK'S RAMBLES Plane Down They were heading home for the holidays... WILSON WATCH Soap Box Sunday 'Weekend Live' viewers get their chance to spout off FRIENDS INSIDER Getting Tough At least one governor is taking action against steroid use in high school SEARCH ADVERTISEMENT FOX MEANS BUSINESS POLL Should the U.S. drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? CLICK HERE TO VOTE! This is not a scientific poll. 'Your World w/ Cavuto': Weekdays at 4 p.m. ET 'The Cost of Freedom': Saturdays at 10 a.m. ET GOT A NEWS TIP? LET US KNOW. Send news tips to FOXNews.com Note : Your anonymity is guaranteed. GET YOUR WEATHER Type in your zip code to see your current conditions and five-day forecast. ZIP CODE Other Searches, Click Here ON YOUR LOCAL FOX STATION FOX News Sunday w/ Chris Wallace Check your local listings FOX NEWS RADIO FOX News Radio National news coverage coast-to-coast Tony Snow A radio revolution! Find it now in your area John Gibson The trouble begins...NOW! Find it now in your area Alan Colmes Any opinion — all the time! 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Home Mortgage U.S. Bank

Find low interest home mortgage financing and mortgage loans with the help of U.S. Bank U.S. Bank Home Customer Service Contact Us Locations Careers About U.S. Bancorp Related Links Account Access Achieve Your Goals Email from U.S. Bank Products & Services Resources Personal > Products & Services > U.S. Bank Home Mortgage U.S. Bank Home Mortgage Current Loan Rates U.S. Bank Mortgage Products, Programs and Pre-qualification First Time Homebuyers Getting Started Seminar Registration Free U.S. Bank Services Ask Mike-First Home Help Apply Now Email U.S. Bank Home Mortgage Find a U.S. Bank Loan Officer Existing Customer Account Information REO Properties Home Mortgage Calculators U.S. Bank Mortgage Business Partners Corporate Relocation National Account Services Wholesale /Correspondent Lending U.S. Bank Mortgage FAQ U.S. Bank Mortgage Glossary Search U.S. Bank Mortgage Tools Whatever your home mortgage and loan needs, our qualified experts at U.S. Bank are dedicated to helping meet all of your home ownership goals. Are you buying a new home? Are you refinancing your existing home? Are you simply shopping for rates? Are you concerned about your credit? Full-Service Mortgage Operation U.S. Bank Home Mortgage is a full-service mortgage operation serving all 50 states. We are proud to offer Builder and REALTOR® Services and Corporate Relocation Services to help corporate and business clients meet their goals. Applying Is Easy Apply over the Internet, by calling 1-888-461-4944, or by visiting one of our convenient bank locations to meet face-to-face with a helpful U. S. Bank Loan Officer. Stop Mortgage Fraud U. S. Bank Home Mortgage supports the National Mortgage Bankers Association's Web site, designed to help prevent predatory lending practices. To learn more, visit them today * . * By clicking this link, you will leave usbank.com. U.S. Bank is not responsible for the content of or products and services provided by the site you will be entering, nor does it guarantee the accuracy of information contained in the site. Enroll Today View All Logins Privacy Pledge | © 2005 U.S. Bancorp Site Map

Rental Property

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