New Guides to Home Buying, Selling Focus on Advantages of Realtors
To use a realtor or not to use a realtor, that is the question.
In reality, this is one of dozens of questions first-time home buyers and sellers will have. But it’s still an important one.
The National Association of Realtors has shown through numerous studies that people who buy or sell homes without the assistance of a Realtor inevitably lose money. For example, only 13 percent of home sellers in 2005 conducted their own transactions, but the median home price for sellers using their own agent was 16 percent higher than homes sold for-sale-by-owner.
Now the NAR is telling the story of why the better way to buy and sell begins with hiring a good Realtor.
The National Association of Realtors Guide to Home Buying and The National Association of Realtors Guide to Home Selling are the first official guides from NAR that show consumers how to navigate the complex home buying and selling processes while using the considerable collective data and knowledge from NAR, its members, and other home mortgage industry experts.
Whether a consumer is a first-time buyer, lifestyle-adjusting or investment-minded buyer, consumers can get information from the Guide to Home Buying on how to get the best possible home at the most affordable price and terms. The guide provides practical advice on everything from mortgage and financing alternatives to picking a great location to negotiating with sellers and planning a stress free move.
The Guide to Home Selling details what home owners need to know and the steps they need to take to ensure the best possible offer. The guide book presents a variety of issues for consumers to consider when deciding to sell including how to prepare their home for showings and open houses, setting the right price, working with offers and closing the sale.
“Realtors help home buyers and sellers save time and money, and these publications are full of information and advice on how to take the mystery and stress out of the real estate transaction while working as a team with your Realtor,” says NAR President Pat Vredevoogd Combs of Grand Rapids, Mich., vice president of Coldwell Banker-AJS-Schmidt.
Both guides walk the reader through the steps of home buying and selling processes and include useful checklists and guidelines. The guide books also explain the differences between real estate agents and Realtors and the essential role Realtors play in the real estate transaction.