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Smartmoney.com: Consumer Action: Ten Things Your Real Estate Broker Won't Tell You Thursday December 29, 2005 3:28 PM ET U.S. Markets close in: :32 Search (choose an option below) Quote Charting Earnings Ratings Competition Financials Profile Key Statistics Insiders Site Search News (Enter Symbol) advanced search SmartMoney Select My Portfolio Tools Maps Stocks Advanced Trading Funds ETFs Personal Finance Autos Career Journal College Planning Debt Management Health Care Insurance Life LTC Insurance Real Estate Retirement Tax Guide Economy & Bonds Small Business SmartMoney TV SmartMoney Magazine SmartMoney University Business Travel Technology SmartMoney Mobile Holiday Survival Guide Select Homepage Stock Screener Market Map 1000 Fund Screener Stock Compare Fund Map 1000 Fund Compare XStream Quotes More... 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Editor's Picks Features Ten Things Real-Life Index Advertisement 4.25% APY with hsbcdirect.com Online Savings. Earn 8X the national savings average and make money into big money. No minimums. No monthly fees. Member FDIC. Email This Story Print This Story Save This Story Send Us Your Comments Add this column to your News Alerts (New!) 1. "Your open house is really a party for me." Hire a real estate broker to sell your home and one of the first things he'll likely suggest is hosting an open house, so potential buyers can casually check out your property on a weekend afternoon. While open houses are promoted as a great way of finding a buyer, a National Association of Realtors study found that their success rate is a mere 2%. No matter. Having an open house serves another important purpose — for the broker. "It gives him a database of clients," says Sean McNeill, an independent real estate broker based in New York City who says that he doesn't like open houses, preferring to match clients with appropriate buyers. "At open houses, you get all kinds of people walking in. Some are [trying] to see how much they should sell their own places for; others just want to get a look at what's out there." All are perfect pickings for a broker looking to increase his roster of buyers and sellers. "Think about it," McNeill says. "The broker is devoting a couple hours of a weekend. He won't do that unless it helps him in a big way." 2. "My fees are negotiable." Brokers like to make it sound as if their fees are engraved in stone, but that's rarely the case — especially in a brisk market, when brokers fiercely compete for properties they can unload fast. This past summer one broker in the Midwest says he lowered his fee by a full percentage point because there was so much demand for good properties that he needed leverage. Indeed, says the broker, who asked not to be named, sellers should shop around for broker's fees. He suggests these negotiating tactics: "If somebody's willing to commit to me for selling one place and buying another, I give a discount. If you're in a particularly desirable neighborhood with a house that will bring a lot of traffic" — say, at an open house — "that can be used, because the broker will use the flow of people to get potential customers. And with some [smaller] brokers, all you need to do is ask and they'll lower the commission." 3. "Think you've had no offers? Actually, there've been several." Legally, the broker you hire to sell your home is obligated to tell you about all offers that come in. In reality, some don't. Perhaps he thinks the offer is insultingly low for you, but more likely, "the broker thinks it's too low for his own purposes. He wants to hold out for a bigger commission," says McNeill. Or else there's an outside broker (or "co-broker") circling your house, and the primary broker is waiting for one of his own clients to make an offer so he can keep the full 6% to himself. "You must be clear with your broker that you want to be informed of all offers," McNeill says. "Otherwise, you may be leaving him to make decisions that you should be making." Check the listing agreement drawn up when you hire the broker; if the promise to disclose all offers isn't listed explicitly, insist that it be added. 4. "I talk about you behind your back." You spot your dream house as you're driving through a neighborhood and call the broker listed on the For Sale sign. That's how a lot of buyers stumble on a broker — who, in turn, happily shows you other houses, asking about your needs, laughing at your jokes. It's easy to get loose-lipped and forget whom you're dealing with: someone else's agent. "Legally, brokers are obligated to provide their sellers with any information that can help them get the best prices for their homes," says Stephen Israel, president of Buyer's Edge, a Bethesda, Md.-based company that represents homebuyers. "If you tell the broker that you're willing to pay $500,000 but want to offer $450,000, they'll pass that on to the seller. They have to." Also, some brokerage companies encourage prospective buyers to get preapproved for loans. While that can make a buyer more attractive to a lender, it also tells a broker whether a buyer can afford a $600,000 house when he's trying to haggle on a $400,000 property. "When somebody asks for [a preapproval], find out who they're representing," says Israel, acknowledging that such details can short-circuit your negotiating leverage. "If they represent a seller — or someone in their office does — they shouldn't have it. The broker may tell you she will be impartial, but how can she be?" 5. "Sometimes I forget whose side I'm on." The past 10 years have seen the proliferation of the buyer broker, agents who are supposed to work strictly in the buyer's interest, helping him get a fair price on a home as well as avoid pitfalls along the way. Unfortunately, things don't always unfold so nicely. While buyers may think they're getting a broker who isn't commission-hungry, many buyer agents are just that: They usually get about 3%, the same amount any broker typically earns when he gets involved with another agent's listing. "Buyer brokers are sometimes too focused on closing the sale and getting that commission," says Max Gordon, an Overland Park, Kan.-based real estate broker and attorney, so it's often in their best interest to see you pay as high a price as possible. Even worse, some brokers who call themselves buyer advocates are actually working for companies that also represent sellers. "Brokerages offer bonuses to buyer agents if they sell an in-house listing," says Israel. A good way to get a broker who has no such conflicts of interest: The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, whose Web site (www.naeba.com) can help you find a buyer agent near you who pledges to help you get the best deal possible and has no ties to sellers' agents; many even work on a fee structure rather than on commission. Page 1 | 2 Consumer Action Archive To license this content, click here ADVERTISEMENTS Click here to get your FREE report -- The Motley Fools´ 2 Top Picks. 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Pensacola Real Estate - Century 21 AmeriSouth Realty - Dan Gullahorn THE Pensacola Realtor Your Century 21 Pensacola Real Estate expert is Dan Gullahorn Pensacola, Florida - Home of the Blue Angels Dan Gullahorn Broker-Owner-Realtor Licensed in Florida & Alabama 3000-C West Nine Mile Road Pensacola, Florida 32534 Office 850-478-6800 Direct 850-723-9193 Fax 850-478-6895 Toll Free 877-897-9023 Navigation Bar Homeowner Alert! Sellers are still needed in the local area. Due to continued demand and low interest rates, Dan can help you sale your residential properties for top dollar . Dan will even guarantee your satisfaction in writing with the Century 21 Seller Service Pledge . Contact him now to find out more! Welcome to your source of information for Pensacola Florida Real Estate featuring Dan Gullahorn and his team at Century 21 AmeriSouth Realty . Thinking selling your home? You can put the power of Century 21 , the worlds most recognized real estate brand to work for you! Would you like to search for Search for Real Estate on the Pensacola MLS (Muliple Listing Service) to see homes for sale in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties? Dan and his staff can help you find what you are looking for. This site has all the information you need concerning Pensacola homes, Panhandle construction, Northwest Florida realty and commercial properties in the local market. Dan's team serves the greater Escambia - Santa Rosa area in Florida & Baldwin-Escambia counties in Alabama. These area include but are not limited to: Pensacola, Cantonment, Gulf Breeze, Pace, Milton, Perdido Key, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Seminole, and Lillian which includes the neighborhoods of East Hill, Spanish Trail, Scenic Hills, Marcus Point, Pine Forest, Scenic Heights, Cordova Park, North Hill, Milestone, Innerarity Point, Tiger Point Navy Point and all areas near NAS Pensacola. Dan Gets It Done! Who is Dan you ask? He is a multi-million dollar sales producer who would like the opportunity to work with you on selling your house or finding your next home. Dan and his team always operate within your comfort zone. There are no hassles, never any pressure, and fewer headaches with Dan & his team working as your Realtors. These realtors simply listen to your concerns, work to address those concerns and keep you informed. Century 21 AmeriSouth Realty provides the information and you make the decisions. It is just that simple. Dan's Free Home Value Report Would you like to quickly order a free, no obligation, Home Value Report to find out about recent sales in your neighborhood? In just one click you can find out what Pensacola Real Estate market sale prices are for a particular neighborhood. Follow the links below to find out about the Hassle Free Listing Plan for sellers that can save you money with less headaches when selling your home. The seller services provided by Dan are not limited but include everything you expect from a modern state-of-the-art real estate company. All listed homes are full service listings that appear in the Pensacola MLS, Century21.com and across the internet. Dan and his team already have a group of Buyers looking for homes in the area. Could your property be what they are looking for? Did you know that a Free Comparative Marketing Analysis can give you a clear idea of the market value of your property (home or business)? It is similar to an appraisal and estimates an appraised value without the costs you would expect for such a report. Find out how Dan's exclusive Free Pre-Market Home Assessment will give you the information you need to get your property in condition to sell quickly. Buyers Agents Buyers can get started quickly by going to the Hot Pensacola Florida Properties page or find some of the finest homes in Northwest Florida on the Century 21 AmeriSouth Realty website. Are you thinking of buying a new construction home? Dan and his team work with builders everyday to bring the finest new houses to market. The Select-A-Home feature allows Dan to provide you with the latest Multiple Listings Service listings by E-mail. Be sure to let him know about any listings you are interested in from your search of the Multiple Listing Service on the Pensacola MLS Search page. Dan's team can also keep you up to date on the latest listings in the Pensacola Real Estate market by enrolling you in their Auto Notification program. Mortgage Assistance The Mortgage Information page has the latest rates and links to local lenders. You can also use the Mortgage Calculator to find out what your buying power can do for you. If you have any realty questions that are not addressed here on this site, please ask. Your personal source of local property information is only a mouse click away! Site Map Selling Your House | Testimonials | Pensicola Featured Properties Buying Your House | MLS Search | Value of Your House | Relocation Information | Links | Free CMA | About Dan Mortgage Information | Mortgage Calculator | SelectAHome New Listing Notification | PreMarket Home Evaluation | Links2 Resources Pace RealEstate Directory Pensacola Realty Directory Perdido Key Real Estate AgentPreview - RealEstate Agents and Realtors LookMLS.com - Pensacola MLS and Multiple Listing Service Directory Relocation Professionals Directory Penscola Network.com Cat Clinic of Pensacola Site Built & Maintained by Dan Gullahorn , 2005 All Rights Reserved.

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Find Real Estate, Rentals, New Houses, Real Estate Agents and Mortgages on Yahoo! Real Estate Find Real Estate, Rentals, New Houses, Real Estate Agents and Mortgages Choose Location Home Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent Home Loans Moving & Insurance Tools My Real Estate Hurricane Katrina Resources Features Classifieds • Sell Your Home • Rent Your Apartment Home Loans • Mortgage Rates • Online Rate Quotes • Refinance Loans & Rates • Home Equity Loans & Rates • Free Credit Reports Resources • Find & Compare REALTORS • Find a Mover Insurance • Homeowner's Insurance • Renter's Insurance Tools • What's My Home Worth? • Research Neighborhoods • Free School Reports • Foreclosure Center • Home Service Center Commercial Real Estate • List Commercial Property National Mortgage Rates Thu Dec 29 Mtg Loan Rate APR 30-yr Fixed: 5.70% 5.88% 15-yr Fixed: 5.27% 5.57% 1-yr ARM: 4.53% 6.89% See Local Mortgage Rates Provided by Bankrate.com Neighborhood Profile Research neighborhoods nationwide! City, State, or Zip: Real Estate Listings Browse by City New! Home Loans Center - Find, Compare, & Graph Rates Find a Home Find a Rental City & State, or Zip: Price Range: $0 $30,000 $50,000 $80,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $650,000 $750,000 $850,000 $1 million $1.25 million $1.5 million $1.75 million $2 million $2.25 million $2.75 million $3 million $3.5 million $4 million $4.5 million $5 million $6 million $8 million $10 million to No limit $30,000 $50,000 $80,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $650,000 $750,000 $850,000 $1 million $1.25 million $1.5 million $1.75 million $2 million $2.25 million $2.75 million $3 million $3.5 million $4 million $4.5 million $5 million $6 million $8 million $10 million Beds: Any 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ Baths: Any 1+ 1 1/2+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ Search For: Existing Homes Yahoo! Classifieds New Homes Foreclosures Advanced Search Search Commercial Real Estate Mortgage Payments Calculate your biweekly & monthly payment for different loan amounts, interest rates and amortization terms. Loan Amount: $ Term (years): Interest Rate: % Show table?: Yes No See More Loan Calculators Sponsored Links HomeSmart - Property Selling Reports Buy a HomeSmart report now for just $24.95. Welcome to HomeSmart. Our instant home price estimates and area trend profiles will help you find the right value when buying or selling a home. www.homesmartreports.com FastCash4Homes.com - Sell Property Sell your home to FastCash4Homes.com. We buy homes in any condition, location or price range. Get fast cash for your home with an offer in minutes from our online analysis. www.fastcash4homes.com We Buy Houses Nationwide We buy houses in all 50 states. Fast close, cash buyers, no commissions. Simple one minute online offer form. www.nationwidehomebuyers.com (Become a Sponsor) Partner Spotlight Featured Sponsor Find a Local REALTOR by HomeGain • Find & Compare REALTORS • Get Home Prices Featured Videos Dream Home Videos by Inman Stories Real Estate News Financing your first real estate investment Dec 29, 2005, Inman News Top Mistakes of Home Buyers and Sellers in 2005 Dec 29, 2005, Realty Times Housing Affordability Hits 14-Year Low Dec 22, 2005, RealEstateJournal.com Home loan applications fall to over 3-1/2-yr low Dec 28, 2005, Yahoo! Finance Weekly Home Mortgage Rates (AP) Dec 28, 2005, Yahoo! News Despite Decline, Housing Still Strong Dec 28, 2005, Quicken Loans more real estate news Homes For Sale - Apartments For Rent - Current Mortgage Rates - Real Estate Agents - Local - Yellow Pages

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Real Estate News and Tips for Buyers, Sellers & Investors - Inman News HOME | NEWS | JOIN | PRODUCTS | CONFERENCES | ADVERTISE | ADVICE | ABOUT US | CONTACT US | SUBMIT A TIP HOME BUYING, SELLING AND MORTGAGE ADVICE Real Estate Investing Advice Bob Bruss Read Bob's Articles Buying & Selling a House Dian Hymer House Hunting Home Maintenance Paul Bianchina Handy @ Home Mortgage Advice Jack Guttentag Ask the Mortgage Professor REAL ESTATE ADVICE ARTICLES Is open house effective way to market real estate? Homeowner gets discouraging advice Financing your first real estate investment Some strategies benefit both buyer, seller In bankruptcy sale, must co-owner pay 50 percent of expenses? Judge decides whether property co-owner should pay sales costs Home sellers beware: Undisclosed info comes back to bite But owners should use caution on how they disclose Dry rot leaves home buyer in the gutter Do-it-yourself tips on repairing fungus-infected rafters A term every home buyer, real estate agent, homeowner should know What is 'negative amortization?' 'House Poor' a profitable read for home buyers Fact-packed book surpasses misleading title Should landlords rent to section 8 subsidized tenants? Advice for touchy landlord subject Electrical panel requires upgrading Electrician points finger at home inspector Government requirements for disclosure fail to make the grade Federal ARM mandated disclosures fall short of being useful Inside capital gains tax law for real estate Minimum home ownership time just 24 months to claim tax break 5 negotiation tactics for real estate deals What home buyers, sellers and realty agents are likely to encounter America closes doors to architectural expression A look at how the trend evolved Ensuring home's proper ventilation How to deal with house odors No pro-ration if spouse doesn't meet home occupancy test Question on capital gain rule for home sale Can hot tub land homeowner in hot water? Landlord's liability concerning spa A look back at 2005's biggest real estate news Ringing in the New Year by peeking at the past Landlord sued for negligence in gang shooting Did property owner have a duty to protect tenant from violence? Temporary wall solves remodeling question How to cover a window without creating mold risks Home seller gets taken by sneaky real estate agent Why price may not be reason for unsold listing Top New Homes Katherine Salant Your New Home Apartment Living Robert Griswold The Rental Forum Architecture Arrol Gellner Architext Home Inspection Barry Stone Inspectors in the House Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement Bill & Kevin Burnett Sweat Equity Renting Property Helene Lesel Rental Savvy International Guía de Bienes Raíces Canadian Housing Free Resources Real Estate Q&A's Real Estate Glossary Home Defect Guide © 2005 Inman News Home | Privacy | Editorial | Legal | Site Map

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Colorado Springs Real Estate - El Paso County Real Estate - Teller County Real Estate Select Page Free Reports Buyer Seller Tips School Information Consumer Links Real Estate News Resource Center Useful Tools Community Info Your Home's Value Serving the Entire Pikes Peak Region Colorado Springs Real Estate - El Paso County Real Estate - Teller County Real Estate RESIDENTIAL SALES - Merit Co., Inc. has been a prominent force in the real estate structure of Colorado Springs since 1969. In direct proportion to the growth of Colorado Springs, we have expanded the number of our offices, making us easily accessible to all our customers. RELOCATION - Merit Co., Inc. is a member of RELO , one of the world leaders in relocation. Nearly half of the country's top 100 brokers are RELO members. RELO is made up of more than 1,100 member companies and 93,000 sales associates, producing $170 billion in collective real estate volume. RELO provides a strong network of support for Merit Co., Inc.'s Relocation Department. MILITARY RELOCATION - Merit Co., Inc. has real estate professionals who are either retired military members or military spouses who understand military moves and are dedicated to assisting military families with their relocation. "Our Goal is Service and Customer Satisfaction" CORPORATE RELOCATION - Merit Co., Inc has some innovative programs that help guarantee these families a positive experience. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT - Merit Co., Inc. has a vast inventory of residential rental properties. Each of these are subjected to an extensive analysis by our large experienced group of licensed property managers and their support staff. We pride ourselves on personal service and our tenants are screened with the utmost care. We believe renters should treat a property as if it were their own. MOUNTAIN PROPERTY - Our Woodland Park office is staffed with the best local agents who are extremely knowledgeable about all types of mountain homes and land opportunities. Thanks for visiting the Merit Company online real estate source. Please bookmark this site for future reference, and ENJOY! Featured Homes Local Weather Your Home's Value Maps Directions Local Schools Buyer & Seller Tips Translate this page into: Select Language French Spanish German Italian Portuguese Easy Guide to Buying a Home 1 MERIT CO., INC. West 1150 Elkton Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 8090 7 719-598-6200 2 MERIT CO., INC. East 6120 Tutt Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80922 719-596-7800 3 MERIT CO., INC. South 6710 U.S. Hwy 85/87 Fountain, CO 80817 719-390-7877 4 MERIT CO., INC. Woodland Park 510 W. Hwy 24 P.O. Box 9013 Woodland Park, CO 80866 719-687-1112 Email: meritrealestate@worldnet.att.net http://www.MeritCo.com Please read our disclaimer and our privacy statement. Return to: Colorado Springs Real Estate About - Featured Listings - Search for Homes - Meet Our Agents Apply Online - School Info - Merit Rentals Oahu Hawaii Real Estate Real Estate Agents & Realtors Click here for more links! Web Site Design and Hosting Provided By: Advanced Access © 1998-2005