What’s the difference between a Realtor and a Real Estate Agent

Posted by admin on January 15, 2010 under Real Estate License Basics | Be the First to Comment

There’s a lot of confusion regarding this question… and the confusion isn’t new!  Here’s the bottom line… getting your real estate license and becoming a real estate agent does not make you a Realtor®. Although the term Realtor® is used quite frequently by people outside of the real estate industry to describe a real estate agent, not every real estate agent is a Realtor® and not every Realtor® is a real estate agent. Are you confused yet? There is no reason for you to be.  In this post we will break down what the difference is between a Realtor® and a real estate agent.

A real estate agent is someone licensed to perform real estate transactions. Realtor® is registered title reserved strictly for members of the National Association of Realtors®. The National Association of Realtors® is the single largest professional organization in the world, providing a network of information for its members, governmental agencies, and the public alike. Property managers, brokers, appraisers, salespeople, and any other real estate professional can become a Realtor® by becoming a member of the National Association of Realtors®.

The National Association of Realtors® is an organization networking more than 720,000 people in all aspects of the real estate industry across the nation. Since 1908 when it was first established with a grand total of 120 members, the National Association of Realtors® has been holding real estate professionals to a higher standard of practice with the Code of Ethics that those with the privilege of holding the title of Realtor®.

The way that a real estate professional can become a Realtor® is by joining any number of the more than 1700 local or more than 50 state groups and associations affiliated with the National Association of Realtors®. Realtors®, also known as The Voice For Real Estate®, are advocates for property owners nationwide. Being a Realtor® comes with a much greater ethical standard required than having a real estate license or a real estate appraiser license. Joining any of the councils, societies or institutes across the country to become a Realtor® binds you to the code of conduct that must be upheld by all members of the National Association of Realtors®.

Getting your real estate license and becoming a real estate agent can be a great move for your career, but becoming a Realtor® can help propel your career to the next level.  Joining an organization of the size and stature of the National Association of Realtors® can provide you with a tremendous network of fellow real estate professionals to help expand your knowledge base. Networking is crucial to a successful real estate career. Another element of a successful career is reputation, and there is no more reputable organization to be a part of than the National Association of Realtors®. Being a real estate agent that is also a Realtor® brings an incredible amount of credibility to your name; the kind of credibility that will attract a solid clientele.

Real Estate Career Facts

Posted by admin on January 7, 2010 under Real Estate Careers | Be the First to Comment

With the nation’s unemployment rates at an all time high, there is a career that has long been creating wealth for many people around the world. Even in the wake of the housing crisis, a real estate career has more to offer than most any industry out there. Having a real estate license can open up doors to several different career paths, beyond that of just a real estate agent that you might not have considered. When you understand some real estate career facts, you will realize that there is tremendous opportunity in the world of real estate right now.

One of the most surprising facts about a career in real estate is how quickly you can get started. The educational requirements in many states take only a few weeks to complete and can be done online at whatever pace works for you. Most of the time you can complete your course work and have your real estate license in less than a month. A largely unknown fact is that you can be ready to earn your first commission in real estate in less time than it takes to complete the registration process at many four year colleges!

One thing that many people already know about the world of real estate is that the potential for income unparalleled. A less known, but highly important fact about a career in real estate is that you could take all of the required classes and get a real estate license all for a fraction of the cost of one single college course. Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars for a degree that might make you more money eventually, you could be starting a lucrative new career with your real estate license in six weeks for just a few hundred dollars.

Another fact to be aware of in a real estate career is that you are not limited to a career in sales. The real estate industry has professionals across many employment spectrums.  The sheer number of career choices available with a real estate license makes growth potential in the field almost limitless.

Of course there is the fact that real estate is an industry that can be practiced anywhere in the country. Other states may require additional education to expand your license into another state, but licensed real estate professionals are in demand all across the country. Not only does a real estate career offer unlimited income possibilities with incredible growth potential, it is a profession that you can take anywhere in the country and still find a job market, especially now that the housing market has begun to turnaround.

The most important fact about a career in real estate is that it is a career that will give back what you put into it. Those who love the world of real estate excel in the world of real estate, and those who excel in real estate make a lot of money doing so. Regardless of the individual field that is chosen, it is a fact that those who enjoy success in a real estate career enjoy financial security.

How to Pass the New York Real Estate License Exam

Posted by admin on January 18, 2010 under Real Estate License | Be the First to Comment

Going after your New York real estate license is an exciting career move.  After passing your real estate pre-license coursework you will take the New York State real estate license exam. For many the anxiety of the test is enough to keep them from success, so it is important to know that careful preparation for the exam is the best way to ensure that you pass your real estate license exam the first time. There are exam prep tools available online that can dramatically improve your chances of success in passing your New York real estate license exam.

Learning the material in the pre-licensing classes is a step, but it is practicing actual examination type material, like practice exams, will make you much more likely to pass your real estate exam. The volume of information about New York real estate that is covered in class can leave many people feeling so overwhelmed that they shut down in an exam situation. An online exam preparation tool can offer you a number of practice exams that you can take whenever you choose, as many times as you want to, until there is no exam question you are not prepared for.

Each practice question in the New York real estate exam preparation software has an answer key that includes explanations to help you go beyond memorization and understand the answers to the questions. These explanations give you the ability to streamline how you study and focus in on the areas that you don’t have the strongest understanding. The practice exams will filter out your strengths and weaknesses and help you to center your attention on the specific areas that you need work.

Taking these practice tests repeatedly help to prepare you for the phrasing and types of questions that the exam will include. Knowing what to expect is an important part of a successful exam taking strategy. The more relaxed you are in a testing environment, the more likely you are to pass the first time. Using the exam preparation software will make sure that you are ready for any question that the exam could throw at you.

One of the simplest ways to be successful in an exam is to make sure that you read every word in the question. As obvious as that may seem, it is harder than you might think. Missing just one word can completely change the context of the question, thus changing its answer. The examiners are aware of this and will include within the possible answers a choice or two reflecting answers that would be correct if the “and” in the question were an “or”, or if you missed the word “and” completely.

Understanding the material and knowing what to expect on the test are crucial elements to having a successful testing situation. Online exam preparation software can significantly increase your chances of passing your New York State real estate exam the first time you take it.

Stable Real Estate Market is Good For Agents and Brokers

Posted by admin on January 6, 2010 under Real Estate License Basics | Be the First to Comment

The recent economic crisis has forced many people to re-evaluate where they are in their lives and careers, and to make changes to create a more secure future. One career choice that continues to provide great income prospects is real estate. Even though the housing market has taken its share of lumps in the last couple of years, the signs are pointing to stabilization of the housing market, and these signs are about to pay off in a big way for those people that have their real estate license. Licensed real estate agents and brokers are ready to start earning their commissions as the market stabilizes and begins its upswing.

Now that housing prices are stabilizing, more people are taking advantage of the tax incentives that have been extended through April 2010, both to first time home buyers and existing home owners that wish to purchase a new primary residence. People that had been holding out to make sure that they are seeing the absolute best prices available are coming down off the fence as they see the housing prices begin to rebound. This promises to continue the flood of people looking to buy well into the New Year, and that secures continued business for those who have completed real estate school and have their real estate license.

Home prices have risen consistently over the last five months and even in the regions that are not seeing noticeable increases in prices, the decreases have minimized and that is a positive indicator that the market is rebounding. Real estate is poised to retake its position as the leading industry of wealth creation in the nation. Licensed real estate agents are going to be in demand and making real money. Those agents who have remained successful through the difficult market are in an ideal position to make the move to getting a broker’s license to earn even more while brokering the hungry new agents making their mark a housing market on the rise.

Stability in the real estate market is creating a level of opportunity that has not been seen in any industry in many years. While the nation’s unemployment numbers skyrocket, having a real estate license is about to become the ticket to a solid financial future. The state and federal incentives available to those who purchase a home will bring in the sheer numbers of buyers to build a clientele that you can make a fantastic living on. The number of sales and continued stabilization will start to drive up the home values. Higher home prices will bring in even higher commissions per sale.

The timing has never been better to get a real estate license. Making the move into the housing sales market right now will ensure that you are ready to take your share of the incredible financial possibilities that licensed agents and brokers are seeing every day. The market has only just begun to turn around and the upswing promises to last longer and make the market stronger than ever before. Getting your real estate license now is the fastest and easiest way to become successful in a career that offers unlimited income potential. With the housing market showing the signs of stabilization, it is a great time to be a licensed real estate agent or to become a licensed real estate broker.