Over the past few years, there has been an explosion of real estate agents across America. With how competitive the market is now for anyone looking to start their career or make a living as a real estate agent, it’s important to be aware of just how many people are in this business.
The number of real estate professionals in the United States exceeds both the population and employment numbers! This comes as no surprise given that over 70% of Americans own a home, and therefore need someone to help them find and sell theirs.
While some individuals may not need a professional when selling or buying a house, most buyers and sellers require at least one to ensure everything goes smoothly. That person can be you if you choose to pursue becoming a real estate agent.
There are several ways to become an agent while staying within guidelines set by regulators and state agencies.
Who are the biggest real estate agencies in the US?
The top three is an interesting group of companies, all boasting over 5 million active agents. They are also worth mentioning because they are not necessarily the best at promoting themselves or their agency.
The number one ranked company has the most impressive total income for just being part of the organization. This includes both sales commission as well as advertising revenue!
Number two only beats out first place by about $1 billion in total revenues, making it very close. And while this agency boasts having more than 4.8 million members, only half of these people actually get paid benefits such as mortgage loans or insurance.
And finally, third place doesn’t even make it into the top ten highest earning brands in the industry due to them not sharing exact numbers. But we do know that their member base tops 2.
What are the best cities to buy real estate in the US?
The next place that people look when they want to invest in real estate is where their home will be. They want to make sure that they find a good area, one with lots of potential homes.
Finding a great city to live in or own a house can boost your confidence and help you focus more on buying a property. It’s also an important part of investing. You need to know where the money comes from if you decide to do it.
There are many ways to determine the best cities for real estate investment. Some of the factors include how much space there is per person, whether or not there are hospitals and schools close by, and what kind of climate the area has.
Making these changes can have a significant impact on your life and career.
What are the best neighborhoods?
The best neighborhood for you will depend on your lifestyle, whether you like to have lots of close neighbors or if you prefer more privacy, as well as how much money you have to spend on housing!
Finding the right balance of these things is important, but one thing that never changes is the importance of being in a community.
Living in a quiet area may be ideal for someone who likes to read after work, but not for people with busy social lives.
People choose where they live based on their experiences there, so ask around about the different areas in your potential home territory and do some research yourself by talking to people who live there. You can also visit several homes at once by doing it during working hours when few people are out and about.
By being part of the community, you’ll find that your personal happiness level goes up. A study conducted by Harvard University found that people were happier living in places that they felt belonged to them- even if only half of what mattered to them was positive.
When looking for a place to call home, think about what makes you happy in your current location and then look for those same benefits in another house.
What is the average price of a home?
While many people talk about how expensive real estate has become, what most people do not realize is that we as consumers have been paying higher than ever before for homes!
The average cost of a house was $250,000 back in 2009. It now costs an average of over $300,000! That’s nearly a 20% increase in just five years time!
This can be confusing because while the overall cost of a home may be going up, you cannot compare the cost per square foot.
So why are homes so much more expensive? There are several reasons but one major cause is that big corporations such as owning a McDonald’s franchise or working at Walmart offers very competitive salaries.
Real estate agents benefit from these companies also offering large commission checks which only contribute to their income. This article will go into detail on some ways to make extra money as a real estate agent.
How do I find a good real estate agent?
Finding a great real estate agent is not an easy task, but it is totally worth your time. The person you choose to represent you in the sale of your home will be invested in your success, which can only help you.
They’ll also likely make some uncomfortable conversations more comfortable for you. You want to feel relaxed when talking about money, so choosing someone who has a strong financial background is very important.
Another key thing to look out for is whether or not they are honest. A bad agent may try to convince you that the house isn’t in perfect condition or doesn’t sell as quickly as they say, but eventually you’ll realize that they aren’t telling you the truth.
What should I ask a real estate agent before we start looking?
It’s very important to do your research prior to hiring an agent, but one question that you should never ask is what agents look like in their promotional material or pictures.
This looks great for them, so why not use this as your starting point and then find other ways to verify they are actually good brokers?
It may also be sneaky way to check if the person you plan to hire is really trustworthy, since most people would say how beautiful they are when asked about their personal life.
By asking instead whether they have done business with many clients in similar houses, whether they are honest, and whether they promote themselves, you will get some helpful information.
What should I look for in a real estate agent?
As mentioned before, buying or selling a house is not an easy task. Having the right person to help you through that process can make a big difference in how successful your home-search journey will be!
As such, it’s very important to find someone who you feel comfortable working with and who has their feet on the ground when it comes to the market.
This includes things like asking about the agents’ track record for completing sales, as well as whether they are willing to go into negotiations from a position of strength rather than weakness.
It also means looking at their level of experience – yes, even going as far as checking out reviews and talking to other brokers to get some insights.
Do I need a real estate agent?
Even though it is getting more common to sell your home yourself, having a professional do it for you can still make sense. Professional help will take care of everything for you- from finding a buyer to negotiating the sale price and contract terms.
Some people believe that selling your house quickly is not worth the investment because they think it will cost them money in fees! This assumption is very false since most sellers use a professional agency or individual that covers all of these costs.
The expenses typically paid by agents include their commission, any broker’s licences they have (like mine which allows me to work as an associate broker), other marketing materials like brochures and pictures, the listing service used to publish the property, and our virtual assistant who helps with logistics and communication. These are just some of the costs that are often included.
There are also many free resources available to sellers such as Houzz, Zillow and Realtor.com. By using these sites, buyers can find lots of information about your house and you get credit for revealing little if anything about yours.
Sellers may feel uncomfortable putting themselves out there but creating a beautiful home that fits what potential buyers want goes a long way.
