Thinking about buying a home? What’s important and what’s not.
In the all-too-real journey of buying a home, your REALTOR®–a licensed professional who’s familiar with local home values and neighborhood perks, understands real estate trends, can write an offer on your behalf and negotiates with home sellers so you don’t have to.
Think of your REALTOR® as a consultant for your home search. A collaborator. A co-conspirator. A mentor. Someone who amps up your confidence and counsels you through big decisions. And, someone who wants you to find a house you can be happy in because they’re invested in your happiness.
If the housing market doesn’t line up with your needs and budget, your REALTOR® will go back to the drawing board with you. They interpret raw housing data through the filter of your unique search, then tell you what’s important and why. They help you map the path to your goal and connect you with trusted experts who can get you into your dream home.
That’s a lot of responsibility. And a lot of pressure. There’s obviously a lot at stake: money and time, of course, but also your happiness. So reach out to an agent sooner in the process rather than later, and you’ll be on the fast track to picking out paint swatches for your new kitchen.
Agents, Brokers, and REALTORS®: What’s the Difference?
“Agent” is a catchall phrase that is used, in casual conversation, to describe the three types of professionals who buy and sell real estate: agents, brokers, and REALTORS®.
No, they’re not really the same. And yes, you should care about what makes them different. Here’s a breakdown:
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps people buy, sell, rent, or invest in homes. To become an agent, a person must take pre-licensing training from a certified institution and pass Ohio’s real estate licensing exam. Once they have their license, an agent must affiliate themselves with a real estate brokerage.
Some agents specialize in representing buyers, some specialize in representing sellers. Some do both.
A real estate broker is a professional who has additional education beyond the agent level, as required by Ohio law, and who has passed a broker’s exam. In some cases, brokers also have more years of experience than agents. The biggest difference between a broker and an agent is that a broker may work independently. An agent must be overseen by a broker.
A REALTOR® is a broker or agent who belongs to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), the largest trade group in the country. A REALTOR®commits to following a strict Code of Ethics intended to protect buyers and sellers; for example, REALTORS® pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client. Agents and brokers who are not NAR members can’t call themselves REALTORS®. There are more than 1 million REALTORS® in the United States and more than 100 in members of the ASHLAND Board of REALTORS®.
And remember, when you’re looking to buy or sell a home, contact a REALTOR® member of the Ashland Board of REALTORS®.
