Home Buying Process

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Buying Step 3: Choosing a REALTOR®

Real estate is a tough business with a steep dropout rate, and although many people have earned real estate licenses, only a small percentage of them actively help buyers and sellers.

Real estate brokers and salespeople who belong to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) are bound together with a strong Code of Ethics, extensive training opportunities and a wealth of community information. NAR members are routinely active in a variety of community organizations. Active community involvement provides REALTORS® with a better understanding of the area in which they are selling.

Why Use a REALTOR® When You Buy A Home?

Buying and selling real estate is a complex matter. At first it might seem that by checking local real estate magazines or Web sites you could quickly find the right home at the right price. But a basic rule in real estate is that all properties are unique. No two properties - even two identical models on the same street - are exactly alike. Homes differ and so do contract terms, financing options, inspection requirements and closing costs. Also, no two real estate transactions are alike.

In the maze of forms, financing, inspections, marketing, pricing and negotiating, it makes sense to work with professionals who know the community and much more. At NJHouseHunter and Friedberg Properties our team actively serves the Bergen County vicinity, providing our clients with insights into this market area.

How Do You Choose a REALTOR®?

Many communities have independent real estate agents and realty brokerages. You can find a local REALTOR® in local advertising, on REALTOR.com® and other Web sites, and by referrals from other agents, neighbors, lenders, attorneys, financial planners and CPAs. Recommendations of past clients can be valuable.

Many buyers interview several REALTORS® before selecting one to work with. These interviews are a good opportunity to consider such issues as experience, track record, market knowledge, marketing approach, professional network, representation, certification and fees.

What Should You Ask a REALTOR®?

  • What services do you offer?
  • What type of representation do you provide? Different states have different forms of representation: some agents represent buyers, some represent sellers, some facilitate transactions as a neutral party, and in some cases different agents in a single firm may represent different parties within a transaction.
  • What experience do you have in my immediate area?
  • What is your track record?
  • What is your market knowledge?
  • What kind of professional network do you have?
  • What are your certifications/designations?
  • What disclosures should I receive? State rules require agents to provide extensive agency disclosure information, usually at the first sit-down meeting.

What Should You Expect When Working with NJHouseHunter and Friedberg Properties to Buy a Home?

The NJHouseHunter team and Friedberg Properties will explain the options available to you, describe how our team works with individuals and provide you with complete agency disclosures (the details of your relationship with the agent) as required in New Jersey.

Our team will work with you to find listings and homes that match your requirements. You will get detailed information on current market conditions, financing options and negotiating issues that might apply to a given situation. But remember that since market conditions can change and the strategies that apply in one negotiation may be inappropriate in another, this information can vary from situation to situation.

During your time in the marketplace, our NJHouseHunter team will keep you updated and alert you to each step in the transaction process. Our team will also help you find a conveyance lawyer, an inspector, as well as recommend other professionals in our Friedberg Properties network. As part of our concierge services, we will help you understand, evaluate, write and deliver offers and counteroffers.

Friedberg Properties’ expertise and experience is a valuable resource in a complex undertaking of buying a home. We will help you every step of the way.