Home Loans Arizona - California - Nevada - Utah

Purchasing or selling a home can be an exciting process when working with the right team of professionals to guide you along the way. It also can be a combination of anxiety, fear and stress with a new chapter in ones life.

Choosing the best local real estate agent/Realtor® is one of the first things to consider when making a looking to purchase or sale a home.

We relay on friends and family as valued opinions to assist with referring you a real estate agent, but their home buying or selling needs can be different than yours. The internet is a good way to start your research, ensure when searching for a real estate agent that represents your interests in mind. I also work when many local agents that I can refer to you that will have your goals in mind.

First, there are many intangibles that you will need to consider when looking for a Realtor®:

• Is the agent’s personality compatible with mine?
• Do I “sense” they are honest and trustworthy?
• Does the agent have a clear understanding of my goals, objectives and needs?
• Do they have a list of referrals that I can call to gather their opinion of the agent?

Secondly, here are the some things for you to verify when shopping for an agent to represent you:

Licensing – a real estate agent must pass certain tests and must be licensed by the state of California, you should also check to ensure their license is valid and in good standing with the Bureau of Real Estate in California. 

National Association of Realtors® – Not all real estate agents can call themselves Realtors® unless they belong to this association and agree to be bound by their “code of ethics.” It’s an additional layer of protection for consumers.

Education & Specialization – It is important that real estate agents continue their education trough the year. Agents can also take courses to “specialize” in certain categories of real estate practices, like “short sales/foreclosures” or “luxury housing.” Ask their specialty about any educational designations and what areas of real estate they are an expert in.

Local Knowledge – A good agent will have local information at their fingertips, including housing trends, how many homes are on the market versus the percent sold, sales price trends, local crime stats, school, shopping information and a list of professionals that they do business with to help make your real estate transaction as seamless as possible like movers.

Experience – While a certain amount of experience is important, it should be only one of the things to consider. I have known experienced agents who become lazy after years of selling real estate and seen newer agents who are highly motivated to earn your business with hopes of future referrals.

While this info is not all inclusive, if you are thinking of buying a home or selling one, please let me recommend 3 or 4 agents for you to interview, so you can choose the one that you can relate to and will understand your real estate needs.