What is a REALTOR®?
A REALTOR®
is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®
(NAR), a real estate trade association of which all members agree to abide by a 17 article Code of Ethics. A REALTOR®
has many resources to assist you in that search. Sometimes the property
you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market,
and it will take some investigation by your agent to find all available
properties.
According to NAR, only about half of all real estate agents
are REALTORS®. REALTORS® work independently, for small agencies, or for
large brokerages. Mainstreet REALTORS® have access to MRED LLC, the local
Multiple Listing Service that spans over 17 counties in Northern
Illinois and Northwest Indiana, services 37,517 REALTORS®/Appraisers and
has approximately 118,000 listings at any given time. Licensed agents
that are not REALTORS® do not have access to this service nor are they
required to abide by a strict Code of Ethics.
On the Buying Side
Making the decision to purchase a house is one of the biggest
financial decisions you may ever make. Utilize the expertise of a
Mainstreet REALTOR® to assist you in the entire process from figuring out
what you are looking for in the community to negotiating the deal.
Working with a REALTOR can ensure you will get the most value not only
with your money, but the time and effort it takes to find that perfect
place to call home.
According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home
Buyers and Home Sellers 2010, 85 percent of home buyers used a real
estate professional when purchasing their home and real estate agents
were viewed as a useful information source by 98 percent of buyers who
used an agent while searching for a home.
To view 10 ways a REALTOR
® can help you Buy a Home
MORe >
On the Selling Side
Are you planning to sell your house? The current market brings new
challenges to the selling process with short sales and foreclosures in
the mix. Do you have the patience, time and expertise to get the most
money out of the sale of your home?
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, only 5% of those
that sold a house recently did not use the expertise of a REALTOR®. And
of those that listed with an agent, the selling price was 29% higher
than houses that sold without a REALTOR®.
To view 9 ways a REALTOR
® can help sell your house,
MORe >