How to Become a REALTOR®

Advice on how to become a REALTOR® in Minnesota.

The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR “®” logo on their business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again. Enter your real estate career as a REALTOR® by following these steps:

Living in Limbo: What to do Between Houses

Tips on how to live between selling and buying a home.

Every home buyer and seller would love a seamless transition from the old home to the new one.

Minnesota housing inventory is at a record low, meaning houses are selling quickly as buyers struggle to compete for homes. Sellers are continuing to discover it takes less time than anticipated to sell their home. The average number of days between when a property is listed and when an offer is accepted is 96 days.  This is a 12.7 percent decrease from March 2012 to March 2013. Sellers are satisfied, but are being left in an awkward stage of homelessness as finding their new home becomes a struggle. How do you live if you have to move out before you can move in? The Minnesota Association of REALTORS® provides some options to continue living your life despite being left in limbo.

Minnesota Classics: Neoclassical

The history of neoclassical homes in Minnesota.

Neoclassical, or “new” classical, architecture describes buildings that are inspired by the classical architecture of ancient Greece and Rome.

Neoclassical, or “new” classical, architecture describes buildings that are inspired by the classical architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. If you look closely at a neoclassical building you may see echoes of the Parthenon in Athens or the Pantheon in Rome. You may not expect to see Grecian aspects in Minnesota, but these worldly inspiration can be found throughout the state in historical homes.

First Impressions: Open House Tips

Open house tips you may not have thought of.

There are basic tips for a successful open house that many people are aware of. Stage the home. Clean clutter. Remove overly personal objects. In this competitive housing market, it is important that no detail is overlooked. Follow these often ignored guidelines for an open house that will exceed expectations.

Apps to Add Value to Your Home

There’s an app for that. There are thousands of smartphone applications, including ones that can help you decipher which upgrades will add value to your home. Virtually sample home adjustments before spending time and money on renovations. If you’ve ever sat on your couch and wondered how it would look across the room, or whether the walls would look good in red, these apps will offer a quick way to imagine design changes that will appeal to buyers.

Avoid Homebuyer’s Remorse

Ask your REALTOR the right questions.

A home is the most expensive thing most of us ever buy and we all want to be sure we’ve bought the “right” one.

Homebuyer’s Remorse: noun. 1. A condition that sometimes affects homebuyers post-purchase resulting in a feeling of disappointment and second-guessing.

You may be suffering from homebuyer’s remorse if you ask yourself one of the following questions:

1. What if I acted too quickly and a better house comes on the market next week?
2. What if I paid too much for the house?
3. What if something happens to my finances and I can’t make the house payments?

Best Time to Host an Open House

Save time by offering minimal open houses at opportune times.

Weekends present opportune times to host open house.

REALTORS, sellers, and buyers are equally stressed for time. It is important to host an open house during times that are optimally effective and efficient.

The open house is not to be discounted as a home selling tactic. Older buyers, 65 years and older, are more likely to find their home through an open house than other age groups. As age increases the likelihood of using open houses as a search tool increases—45 percent of buyers aged 45 to 64 used open houses, compared to only 28 percent of buyers aged 18 to 24. Appeal to these buyers by presenting opportunities timed for their schedules.