Hilda,

Being a first time home buyer can be really scary! You may find that it is hard to know who you can trust. As stated by my fellow Realtors below, you should not have to pay a Realtor to help you find your dream home. You actually get their services for free which is pretty cool! I know you must be saying, "What's the catch?" In this situation the only catch is finding a Realtor who is going to do a fantastic job for you and make you a priority. You should visit the Department of Real Estate web site and check the license status of any agent you decide you would like to work with. This way you will know they are licensed and in good standing with the State of California. You should also have a face to face meeting with your Realtor and let that be an information session where you ask questions and get the answers you need to put your mind at rest. Also this is the time to get to know your Realtor and explain what your home buying needs are. Remember that it is really important to remain loyal to your Realtor and only work with one Realtor during your home buying process. Loyalty between a buyer and a Realtor is so important. The bond you form with your agent will be one of the most critical things that happens and it will make a good Realtor work extremely hard for you to help you find exactly what you are dreaming of! Good luck to you in your search!

Wendy Rich-Soto, Realtor
Main Street Realtors
Long Beach, CA
http://www.WendySellsSoCal.com
wendyrichsoto@gmail.com
(562)606-4040

Hang on, Hilda, it's most likely you won't pay someone to find you a dream home! Real Estate Commissions are nearly always generated by the listing contract, the contract by which a seller hires a real estate broker/agent to sell his house. In other words the seller is paying the entire commission and your representative is getting part of that commission.

Hilda, to your question.and concern.

To find out if the agent you have in mind is a licensee in good standing?

Here is the website of the California Department of Real Estate D.R.E.

http://search.dre.ca.gov/integrationaspcode/


This shows you only if that person has a Real Estate License in good standing.

It’s not telling you, if that Agent is a Realtor.

A Real Estate Licensee (Agent) is not a Professional Realtor, unless he is a Registered Member in good standing of a Board of Realtors.
CAR, California Association of Realtor and NAR. The National Association of Realtors and is complying with the Code of Ethics.

That means that Realtors must comply with the Code of Ethics, the Bylaws and Guidelines of the Board of Realtors.

A Realtor must always act in the best interest when presenting or counseling a Client.

Ryan Gussman, Realtor, SRES, e-PRO
Altera Wilson Real Estate
Northridge, CA 91324 http://www.RyanDreamhomes.listingbook.com

I'd like to make a distinction here - A licensed real estate agent is not necessarily a Realtor. You can verify real estate licenses at the Department of Real Estate website. I'd like to point out that it isn't perfect - my name, due to a glitch on their system, does not appear. I have tried to have this fixed numerous times, and have flown to Sacramento twice to get this resolved. Frustrating. You can, however, verify my license by calling the DRE, if you care to. But mine is the exception - not the rule. I'm concerned that I may have lost business because potential consumers may have checked and not found me listed there. But all of that aside....

A Realtor, is a licensee who is a member in good standing with the National Association of Realtors. There is a definite advantage to the consumer for using a Realtor over simply a licensee, because as a Realtor, I have access to one of the most powerful legal networks on earth for information, updates, forms and guidance to help my clients. Agents don't have to be Realtors to use the MLS or actively sell real estate. Since, as the buyer, you are not actively paying the commission, but rather the seller is, generally, then I would recommend that you insist on a Realtor, and either someone who has many years and hundreds of transactions to their credit, or at the minimum, is teamed up or supervised by someone who has.

Best of luck with your search,

Jeri Creson, Broker
TotalAccess Realty Advisors
jericreson@yahoo.com
(818) 448-1298

Hilda,
If you have someone in mind that you would like to use, but you are not sure if they are a Realtor, you can always go to

http://search.dre.ca.gov/integrationaspcode/

which is the California Department of Real Estate and search by name for the person you are looking to use. You will also find that they have info on any infractions that have been brought against that agent.

As far as looking before you pay some one, as a buyer you are not paying anybody to find that home for you. They work for you and are paid by the seller. It is really a win win for you to contact a Realtor first.

For a good article with advice on buying your first home I would reccomend you go here:

http://housingbydavid.com/prucaliforniarealty/modules/agent/…

Good Luck,
David Cuevas
Prudential California Realty

Hilda,
Talk to your friends and family, they might know of a Realtor® that helped them find or sell their dream home.


Best Regards,

Jes Sierra, B.Sc.
Realtor®
Century 21 Beachside
Chino Hills, California

One of the best ways to pick an agent is to go to open houses and see which agents you click with. See how they talk to people, how they communicate with you, ask them questions about your concerns and see how feel about the answers they give. Pay attention to how attentive they are to you and your needs. The thing about agents is that they are people and all people are different. You just have to see who is a good fit for you.
Also, I have noticed to some agents telling you to look at their websites and see there accreditations and client testimonials and although this is a good idea, keep in mind that some agents that have done some much and are working with some many other clients may not be treating you as a priority. Sometimes the newer agents are just as knowledgeable, if not more, and are a lot more available to focus their attention on you.
Most of all, just look for some that keeps in strong, easy communication with you and some you feel will hear you concerns and desires and will facilitate a smooth transaction. Buying your first place should be a joy not a headache.
Best of luck with the house hunt and please feel free to contact me if you need any assistance.
Regards,
Samantha Cavallari

Hi Hilda, thank you for your question. A buyer does not pay his or her agent. The agent gets paid by the seller upon successful conclusion of escrow. There are exceptions of course, but in the vast majority of cases, this is how it works. With that said, an agent works for you without payment until s/he finds you a property and walks you through the entire escrow process and then and only then s/he gets paid. If an agent asks for a payment upfront, you know there is something wrong. An agent may ask you to sign a broker-buyer agreement which says s/he is to be paid X% at close of escrow, but the payment comes later and it is ok.
But I guess your main point is how do you know to find a good realtor. First, ask if s/he works full time as an agent. What is the agent's experience, schooling, the georgraphical area of work, where s/he lives & how long. Meet with at least a couple. And don't automatically hire the "listing" agent who represents the seller of the property. A lot of problems occur when the listing agent represents the buyer at the same time. I would love to answer any questions you may have and if you are in West LA or San Fernando, my partner and I would love to help you find your dream home! Hisako Lisa Muramatsu, Keller Williams Westside 310-869-7159. Check out my website http://www.LisaTheRealtor. My e-mail is hmuramatsu@verizon.net. Best of luck to you!

Hi Hilda,
All Agents are licensed by the State of California. Many of us are also memeber of CAR and NAR (California and National Realtor Associations)
I normally will meet clients for the first time at my office (your potential agent should have one). I carry my DRE license with me, which I would gladly show to anyone who would like, it is also required on all printed material including our letterhead and business cards. Also ask to see their references, either letters or by calling previous clients

Hi Hilda, in regards to finding a Realtor, each Agent's website will likely list accreditations and client testimonials. These sites, as well as a review of their Trulia answers will give you good insight into the depth of knowledge and experience of each individual.

Note that DRE licensees are NOT bound to a Code of Ethics; only Realtors take that oath, which can be viewed here:
http://docs.Steven-Anthony.com/RealtorCOE.pdf

You can check to make sure an Agent is a Realtor by going here:
http://www.realtor.org/rofindrealtor.nsf/pages/FS_FREALTOR?O…

Additionally, you can check for Agent DRE violations here:
http://www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp

While not required to receive excellent representation, consider searching for a Realtor who is also an Accredited Buyers Representative here:
http://www.rebac.net/MembershipDirectorySearch.aspx

Best, Steve

Hi Hilda,
First of all, congratulations on stepping up and becoming a first time homebuyer. Your timing could not be better: interest rates at historic lows, along with buyer incentives and values at some of the best we've seen in almost a decade.
Finding a Buyer's Agent that really knows there stuff is important.
The first thing is, trust your instinct. How do you feel in their presence? Are they genuinely interested in your process? Can they take the time to answer your questions? Do you like them?
Second, are they a member of the board of Realtors? The REALTOR® you work with could be one of your most valuable resources. Under state law, you must have a license to represent a buyer in a real estate transaction. While all Realtors are licensed, not all licensees are Realtors. Unlike many real estate agents who are simply licensed by their state to do business, REALTORS® have taken additional steps to become members of the national and local board of REALTORS®, have taken additional training and have agreed to act under and adhere to a strict Code of Ethics. And having a Realtor in your corner may just be the edge you need to get the home you want.
Third, do they have a team in place of other professionals to help you with each phase of the transaction? You will need a lender, an escrow office, a title officer, a notary and a transaction coordinator. It's a good idea to review each of their qualifications to be sure that excellence of service is the standard.
Fourth, be very clear about how much you will pay for each service. Is the seller paying for any services? Be sure you get an estimate of costs up front, known as an "estimated closing statement".
Fifth, after you have chosen your Realtor and the team, ask for references from them, and call those people. Ask about their experiences, and if they were satisfied. Did the Realtor deliver as promised?
Sixth, check with the local board of realtors or the Department of Real Estate to be sure that their license is in good standing. The Realtor you're interviewing should give you their license number and a phone number for you to contact to verify them.
Last of all, do they work with first time home buyers? How often? First time homebuyers have special needs, for information, knowledge, and explanation. Nothing should be taken for granted. Make sure the Realtor you choose will be able to meet those needs.
By doing this homework up front, you can be confident you will have an exciting and joyful home buying experience.
I would love the opportunity to interview for the job of working as your Realtor. Would you give me a call?

Deborah Bremner
REALTOR
Certified Short Sale Professional
Coldwell Banker Brentwood West
11999 San Vicente Blvd. Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(D) 310.571.1364
(C) 310.422.4288
(F) 310.820.1457 http://www.TheBremnerGroup.com
debbiebremner@themls.com
Blogging at: http://TheBremnerGroup.com/blog

Well you can always Google them!

Search the name and license of the Realtor you are considering and see what comes up.

I recommend meeting the agent at his or her office to see if your personality types match up. You will be spending a lot of time with your Realtor and should be able to communicate well.

If you are interested we can meet this week at one of our 22 offices in the Los Angeles area.

It's your move!

Victor Quiroz
(213)245-1440

Hilda,

Both responses are nearly correct but I need to make some clarifications. First, in 99% of transactions the seller pays the commission to both the listing and buyers agents. If you purchase a FSBO (for sale by owner) then you will be responsible for paying your agent their commission.

Second, do you mean how do you verify if someone is a real estate agent or a REALTOR? Not all agents are REALTORS, but all REALTORS are agents. The REALTOR designation is held by only about 50% of real estate agents. They hold themselves to a higher standard of excellence and ethics. I highly recommend that you hire a REALTOR not just a regular agent.

I would be happy to help you in your home search and can answer any other questions you may have. I am a licensed agent and hold the REALTOR designation. You will find my contact information on my website:
http://www.bestonthewest.com

Thank you,

Peter Stewart
Keller Williams Realty

Hi Hilda,

You can go to the California DRE site at http://www.dre.ca.gov and enter the person's name to verify they are an agent. As a buyer you NEVER pay anything up front to find a home. If and when you find a home you are qualified from your lender to buy, your buyer's fees are paid through escrow when your loan is funded.

Hilda,

Alexandra is correct that you can find out if someone is licensed by going to the state website. However, if you are looking for a Realtor, then you would need to search the CA Association of Realtors website. http://www.car.org Here you will be able to search for people have specializations or speak particular languages and have taken the time and made the commitment to become a Realtor, not just an agent.

Linda is also correct in that in our market the seller pays the commission in about 99% of the residential transactions.

Your job is to interview agents to find the one that is the most knowledgeable about the home you are looking for and knows your area. Make sure that you talk to him/her about the area you are interested in and be sure that you are comfortable with him/her.

Good Luck,

Ray

Hi Hilda,

You can go to http://www.dre.ca.gov and then click on "REAL ESTATE LICENSE LOOK UP"

If you are looking to interview another agent here is my contact info.

Alexandra Parra Rivera
lic# 01763911
(323) 482-0705
alexandrasellshomes@yahoo.com