Michele Lerner has been gathering expertise about real estate for the past two decades, writing for regional, national and international publications for consumers and industry professionals. Email her with your real estate-related questions or concerns at Mlerner@gmail.com

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College towns compete over home prices

Existing home sales slow down

New mortgage rules should lower consumer costs

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When is a Realtor not a Realtor?

2 comments

August 20, 9:35 AM

by Michele Lerner, Residential Real Estate Examiner

For first-time home buyers, the last few posts (focusing on potentially increasing home values around the country), have probably not felt relevant. But even renters need to pay attention to home prices, because everyone wants to buy low and sell high. In order to do that, you need to know a little about prices in your community.

For that deep knowledge of a real estate market, first time buyers and repeat buyers alike often turn to a real estate agent. According to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) 2007 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 79 percent of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker.

Notice I used the term “real estate agent”, not Realtor. That is because not all real estate agents are Realtors. Only sales professionals who join NAR may call themselves Realtors.

Why does this matter? NAR members meet high professional standards and are required to take continuing education classes and, most important, they must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics.

While consumers may not need to read every word of this Code of Ethics, they should be aware that by choosing to work with a Realtor, a member of NAR, they are protected by the association’s strict rules. Realtors who do not measure up to these rules are punished with fines or even a loss of license.

So, the first question any potential home buyer or seller should ask of an agent should be: Are you a Realtor?

NAR's web site offers plenty of consumer information for both buyers and sellers. Go to www.realtor.org

For more info: Contact Michele Lerner at mlerner@gmail.com

Topics: Consumer Advice

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College towns compete over home prices

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November 26, 7:13 AM

The Fourth Annual College Home Price Comparison Index (HPCI) has been released by Coldwell Banker just as college football rivalries are heating up. The index ranks the most expensive and most affordable college towns across the country, grouping them... Read More
Topics: Housing Data , Fun and games

Existing home sales slow down

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November 25, 7:05 AM

Existing home sales slipped across the country in October, according to statistics compiled by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).Existing-home sales—including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops—fell 3.1 percent to... Read More
Topics: Housing Data , Latest News

New mortgage rules should lower consumer costs

1 comment

November 24, 8:58 AM

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued new mortgage reforms that are designed to help consumers shop for lower cost mortgages and avoid harmful loan offers. For the first time HUD is requiring a simplified version... Read More
Topics: Consumer Advice , Latest News

Foreclosures take a holiday

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November 21, 8:52 AM

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac agreed yesterday to temporarily suspend all foreclosures and evictions from November 26 to January 9. The holiday break will allow borrowers in trouble to enter into a new loan modification program.According to The Washington... Read More
Topics: Consumer Advice , Latest News

New home construction slows further

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November 20, 9:00 AM

New home construction and requests for permits to start new residential developments have now dropped to the lowest rate since 1959, when these number were first tracked by the government.In other words, for almost 50 years, the home construction business... Read More
Topics: Housing Data , Latest News

Selling your home during the holidays

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November 19, 6:14 AM

The real estate market notoriously slows down from Thanksgiving past New Year's, as families turn their attention to holiday entertaining, shopping and travel rather than house hunting.But home sellers can't always take a holiday from keeping their house... Read More
Topics: Consumer Advice

Generating green building ideas

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November 18, 7:33 AM

While money matters may be at the top of the list of concerns for most consumers, most also share an interest in protecting our environment and preserving our resources. Builders around the country are pursuing ways to make homes more energy efficient... Read More
Topics: Consumer Advice , Latest News

VA loan limits for 2008

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November 17, 6:58 AM

Time is running out on the current loan guaranty amounts for veterans who live in high-cost areas of the country. The Veterans Affairs Department will likely revisit these limits and make changes in 2009.These limits apply to all loans... Read More
Topics: Consumer Advice

HGTV wants you

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November 15, 7:10 AM

You would think that someone who writes about real estate all week long would avoid television shows about real estate like the plague, but, actually I am a huge HGTV fan.That's why I am mentioning for a second time their casting call for first-time... Read More
Topics: Consumer Advice , Fun and games , Latest News