Just the Facts: The Duties of a Real Estate Agent

As a real estate agent, you will help people buy and sell houses. You will enroll in a real estate license program to get the knowledge you need to accurately and legally perform your job. This will give you the knowledge to know how much a house is worth, and the skills to accurately represent the cities and neighborhoods in their area. You need to have practicing knowledge of the laws involved with the real estate process. You should also know where a buyer can secure financing.

If people want to buy or sell a house, they get the assistance of a licensed real estate salesperson. Your duties may vary, but you will typically perform the following tasks:

Buying a House

You will meet with the buyers to determine what kind of house they want.
You will discuss how much money they can afford to spend.
You will take them to see houses for sale.

Selling a House

You will complete the proper paperwork to list a house for sale.
You will assist the seller with selecting the sale price for their home.
You will create and place advertisements to get potential buyers into the house.
You will hold open houses.

After the Sale

You will fill out special forms to transfer ownership.
You will help the buyer secure a loan from the bank.

As a real estate agent, you will generally work in an office setting. Since much of the information about properties is available over the Internet, you can also work out of your own home. You might need a formal office, however, to meet with current and potential clients. A lot of time will be spent showing potential properties to buyers, as well as finding new business.

After you get your real estate license, you will work for a broker. When you sell a house, you will receive a commission, a percentage based on the total purchase price of the house.

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Heather Brunson
Allied Schools

Real Estate Marketing for New Agents

Expert marketing advice for new real estate agents:

When I talk to real estate agents who are new to the industry, one of the first questions they ask is, "How can I compete with veteran agents?" Or more specifically, "How should I conduct my real estate marketing program to compensate for my inexperience."

My response: "Take experience out of the equation, and focus on lead generation."

Remove Experience from the Equation

Veteran real estate agents were "newbies" at some point. They got past that stage, and so can you. In fact, everybody in the entire world has been new to something at least once in their life. We are new to elementary school, middle school and high school. We are new to the working world. We are new to people, places and social situations.

Everyone knows what it's like to be the new guy or gal. So why sweat it?

As a real estate agent, you'll find that most clients judge you by your knowledge, your personality and your professionalism. And here's the good news -- you can bring those things to work with you on Day 1.

Focus on Lead Generation

Some marketing "experts" will tell you to promote your brand and keep yourself "top of mind" with your prospect area. Those things are okay over the long-term. But if you're relying on them to generate business in the short-term, you better have some living expenses tucked away. It's going to be a long wait.

Here's where you, as a new real estate agent, can actually outperform the veterans you're up against. Build a better lead-generation program. Instead of relying too heavily on branding or top-of-mind awareness (secondary marketing strategies, by the way), focus on generating leads you can turn into clients.

Here are three specific ways to outperform the veterans in your area:

Be More Visible

Get yourself a website and start learning about search engine visibility. Search engines don't care how long you've been in business or how many clients you have. They will rank a popular, well-optimized website over an older, more stagnant website much of the time.

Build a strong web presence, get some people linking to it, publish press releases and articles online, and you'll make your website more visible to the search engines. See the resource mentioned at the end of this article for more.

Be More Proactive

Build an exclusive "must read" report around a hot topic in your area. Make it provocative and thought-provoking, not just another "Tips for Home Buyers." Urban sprawl is a great example. If there's development in your area, create a report along the lines of "How Urban Expansion Affects Your Property Values."

Choose a topic that matches your audience (buyers, sellers, affluent, middle-class, etc.). Build a direct mail postcard campaign to promote the report. Send people to a web page where they can sign up for it with only an email address. Make it easy for them.

You've just built your first lead-generation program, and no experience is necessary!

Be More Creative

Why not partner up with a mortgage professional, a home inspector or both to launch a home-buying seminar series? Make it free, easy to sign up for, and fun! Come up with a creative angle for it, like "The Modern Real Estate Process" or "Mortgage 101 for the Mathematically Challenged." Invite your local news to cover it (that's the kind of thing they look for on slow news days).

Knock people's socks off with the quality of your presentation and your enthusiasm. Give them your business card and other take-away items. Stick around afterward for questions and chit chat. There will be clients in that group, I guarantee it.

Conclusion

I spun off these ideas in the span of an hour. You might come up with a dozen more of your own. But let me ask you this -- how many of the tactics outlined above require vast experience? That's right, none of them. Be creative. Be proactive. Be enthusiastic and positive. Before you know it, you'll be so busy you'll forget how new you are.

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Brandon Cornett
Arming Your Farming

Boracay: Paradise on Earth

The island paradise of Boracay in the central Philippines is one of the few remaining unspoilt places on earth. It has remained largely untouched by modern civilization despite the droves of tourists that visit it every year.

The first hint of this idyllic hideaway's remoteness comes upon arrival: there is no airport or pier. Travelers are taken on small, wooden outriggers to the island, where they disembark by jumping into thigh-deep water and wading ashore.

Located at the northwestern tip of Panay in the Western Visayas region 345 kilometers from Manila, Boracay boasts 30 beaches and about 200 private resorts that cater to the more than 300,000 tourists that descend on the 630-hectare island annually.

It's not clear how the island emerged from obscurity to become one of the world's best beaches. But it's said that a group of foreign travelers stumbled upon the place by accident in the early eighties and word quickly spread about the modern day Eden tucked away somewhere in the central Philippines..

Boracay has since become a beacon attracting sun-worshippers from the four corners of the world. Its crystal-clear waters and powder-fine white sand make it second to none.

Boracay offers more than just sun, sea and sand.

The mouth-watering smell of barbecue and freshly cooked seafood lingers in the air as tourists sample the local culinary taste. Fruits are also in abundance. And for those who prefer foreign food, international cuisine is always available.

There's also a host of relaxing activities for all kinds of tourists, including sailing on an outrigger to the other side of the island, diving, exploring by bike and hopping from one beach to another.

If you're the less energetic type, you can comb the beach on horseback, lie in the sand and soak up the sun or simply watch the sun set while you finish a cocktail or a beer.

The fun doesn't stop after nightfall. In fact, the action is just beginning as travelers get ready for a night of dancing and partying until the wee hours of the morning.

If you're a sun-worshipper, Boracay is the place. If you want to forget about the cares of the world and be close to nature, Boracay is the ticket. If you just want to get away from it all, Boracay is the answer.

Indeed, Boracay is paradise on earth.

But it may not remain one for long. Civilization is fast catching up. Already the island has access to cable television and the internet.

In a world of instant communication and jet travel, the isolation that the island has enjoyed for centuries is finally coming to an end.

This has raised fears that Boracay will ultimately become a victim of its own success as development takes its toll on the once virgin territory. That day may just be around the corner.

But for the island’s residents and the many foreigners who have come and made it their home, Boracay will always remain a paradise.

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Nat Pinero
http://www.orenip.com

All New Q&A with Zac Efron

Just when you thought we had quizzed Zac Efron everything we could think of, we came up with a few more questions we just had to ask Teen's Summer coverboy.

TEEN:Were you at all interested in singing before you got the part in High School Musical? Was that something that you envisioned yourself doing?
I've always been singing. Since day one. I started doing musical theater and you have to sing in musical theater and so that's where I got most of my training. So singing on stage, you just inevitably, when you're around other vocal artists, you get better at singing. And after that, I started taking lessons. I've done a lot of voice stuff and slowly when you hit puberty, your voice sort of disappears in a weird way but I'm starting to get it back. And hopefully when I'm done training it will be stronger than ever.

TEEN: Is singing something you would want to pursue one day?
Possibly, but it's gonna take a long time because I would really put my heart and soul into an album. I wouldn't just have other people write songs and me go out and sing it. I would sit down with a guitar and write 11 or 12 good songs for an album and that is gonna take a long time.

TEEN: How long have you been playing guitar?
Well, I'm working on it. Gibson just gave me a free guitar. I'm starting to hopefully write songs.

TEEN: So what music do you like to listen to?
Everything. I wish Lucas (from High School Musical) was here, he knows all the artists' names. But anyone on the Garden State soundtrack. Who else? Jack Johnson and John Mayer.

TEEN: What qualities do you look for in a girl?
I think if a girl is easy to talk to then that's the first thing I look for. It's great when you meet a girl and three hours later you're like, "Oh my gosh, we've been talking for three hours, what happened to the time?" I just think that is a great connection and you know there is potential there.

TEEN: If you could choose any actress to work with, who would it be?
Reese Witherspoon or Catherine Zeta-Jones.

TEEN: And...If you could ask any celebrity a question, who would it be and what would you ask them?
I would probably go to Kobe Bryant and ask, "How did you get so good at basketball?"

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Teenmag.com

Annika Sorenstam- The Legendary Female Golfer

Even those not normally interested in golf, usually recognize the name Annika Sorenstam. Her acclaimed position in golf has come to Annika for many reasons…skill, persistence, determination, fortitude, and more. Another highly discussed reason for Annika’s success is her dedication to fitness and conditioning.

Just as Tiger with his emphasis on golf fitness training, Annika has paved the way enticing more and more female golfers to add a regular golf fitness routine to their arsenal for competing on the course. One look at the chiseled arms of Annika Sorenstam -- the player considered the gold standard for fitness on tour -- is enough to understand that muscle is not just for football and baseball players anymore. Golf-specific programs are designed to target muscles most often used in the swing, involving both building lean muscle and increasing flexibility to incorporate that new strength.

Fitness for golf is becoming much more functionally designed to accommodate movements required for the golf swing. Muscles are targeted in a way that uses similar motions involved in the swing. This helps with neuromuscular coordination as well as strengthening and increasing flexibility.

All women golfers, amateur or pro can benefit greatly by using Annika’s model of commitment to fitness to achieve lower scores on the course. No longer are women scared of “bulking up.” We’re better educated to the physiques of women and how best to optimize the strength and flexibility of our bodies by committing to regular fitness and flexibility training.

The benefits of her dedication to golf fitness can not be overlooked. All golfers can benefit from what she has proven about the effects of fitness on the golf swing and her ability to consistently end up at the top of the leader board. Make plans to begin your fitness regimen today. You’ll love the results!

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Susan Hill
http://www.fitnessforgolf.com

How to Select a Real Estate Agent

The purchase of a home, for the vast majority of individuals, is the single biggest financial decision made in their lives. Clearly, then, it becomes evident that the selection of a real estate agent is a serious consideration which should not be taken lightly. But what factors should be considered in the selection of a real estate agent?

Reputation

Not all real estate agents are the same. Some real estate agents have a reputation for being difficult to work with. For example, an agent that is pushy, argumentative, unprofessional, is late for appointments, or misses deadlines can frustrate the buying process. A real estate agent should have a reputation for getting along well with all parties to a transaction, buyers and sellers included. An agent that takes a lawyer-like approach of zealous advocacy for one side in a real estate transaction cause the other side to walk away from the deal. Communication and “people” skills are important, as well as diplomacy and tact in the event a difficult situation should arise. And clearly, honesty is tantamount.

Communication skills involve more than just communicating information – in fact, the primary test of effective communication skills is the ability to listen. An agent should listen to your needs, consider them, and then use that information to guide you to the neighborhood and home that is perfect for you.

Ascertaing the reputation of a real estate agent requires some detective work. It is wise to ask for references, on both sides of the transaction. Ask about problems that occurred during the process, and how they were handled. Talking to both buyers and sellers about their experience in dealing with a particular agent can provide insight as to how you can expect your real estate experience to unfold.

Geographical Area of Expertise

It is important as well to ensure you are dealing with a real estate agent who is a “local specialist”. Many states technically allow licensed real estate agents to participate in real estate transactions anywhere within the state. However, a local specialist will be familiar with local selling practices. For instance, property transfer taxes vary by locale, as do the party responsible for paying them. In some locations, there may be different customs for the division of city and county property transfer taxes. You want to be sure that you are dealing with an agent familiar in local custom so as to avoid paying unnecessary fees.

One idea is to canvass the neighborhoods in which you are considering buying. If you see lots of yard signs for a particular agent in those neighborhoods, it is a good bet that the agent is a local specialist.

A local specialist will also be able to provide you information on schools, recreation, churches and synagogues, shopping and entertainment options in the area.

How to Select a Real Estate Agent

Word of mouth is usually the best and most reliable source of information regarding any particular real estate agent. This type of information is reliable in that it has not been “spun” by the agent and the source of the information has no particular motivation one way or the other, except to relate his or her experiences.

Be sure to interview more than one agent. Prior to conducting an agent interview, make a list of items that are important to you. These items might include proximity to freeways or commuter rail lines, style of home, age of home, proximity to schools, local tax rates, or any other number of items which may or may not be “deal breakers” in your mind. Additionally, you may be interested to find out whether or not the real estate agent has support staff which will assist in the handling of various aspects of transactions. Additionally, making a list of these priorities will assist your agent in finding the perfect home for your family.

Ask the real estate agent you are considering for referrals to other real estate agents for you to interview. An agent that is secure in his or her quality of service and reputation will have no hesitation to provide you with the names of competing agents for you to consider. An agent that provides this information to you is likely an agent with whom you would want to do business.

Other factors to consider are whether or not real estate is the agent’s full time career, the number of years of experience the real estate agent has, and any real estate designations possessed by the agent.

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Catherine Nguyen
http://www.dallasrr.com/