If You Are Thinking
Real Estate…Think REALTOR
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Consistently, real estate has been considered an unparalleled investment. An integral part of that investment over the years has been the involvement of REALTORS.

When buying, a REALTOR will help you find a home that is both affordable and meets your needs and lifestyle. When selling, a REALTOR will help negotiate a fair price for your property and can inform you of the tax benefits to which you are entitled. A REALTOR will carry out and follow through on every phase of this important and complex transaction. Before investing in real estate, invest in the knowledge and experience of a REALTOR.

As a Buyer 
Getting started is immeasurably important and choosing to work with a REALTOR is the first step to a prosperous investment in real estate.

Working with a REALTOR, you'll make decisions that lead to maximum returns on your investment - decisions involving affordability, financing, lifestyle, and location. A REALTOR can help assess the retail value of a home and research the history of home sales in the neighborhood.

Values of home ownership
The value of home ownership is measured by tangible benefits that include equity built over the years and the tax advantages realized from the time you buy until the time you sell.

Other values of home ownership include privacy, independence, roots established in the community, and a special sense of abiding satisfaction.

The investment you make in real estate can be both profitable and fulfilling. Any way you measure home ownership, you'll confirm the positive feelings about one of the most important investments a person can make. A real estate agent who is a REALTOR works hard to help make this investment happen for you.

As a Seller 
You are about to see your investment pay off. The benefits of home ownership began the moment you became the owner and probably increased every time you made a home improvement. Tax benefits also continue up until the time you sign the last document at closing. To help you realize the full measure of your investment it is important to be aware of some tax basics. Keep the following in mind:

Tax facts when selling 
Because of a new tax law passed in 1997, married homeowners will not have to pay taxes on up to $500,000 in capital gains realized on the sale of their homes ($250,000 for individuals). This provision applies to homes sold on or after May 7, 1997.

There are a number of other real estate tax benefits available to the seller. A REALTOR can answer your questions or refer you to someone who can.

Remember, too, home sellers often qualify for deductions for home search costs prompted by a job transfer to another city, or by a job-related move not reimbursed by a new employer.

You're wise to work with a REALTOR 
By including your home in a multiple listing service, a REALTOR works to assure the widest possible market exposure of your home to serious, qualified buyers. Familiar with the local housing market, a REALTOR can suggest financing methods suitable to those seeking to buy your home. Besides making every endeavor in the selling effort, part of a REALTOR's service is to be there to show your home at the buyer's convenience, even if you cannot.

A REALTOR maintains objectivity in responding to buyer concerns when discussing price, terms, possession, and other factors. Though generally representing the seller, a REALTOR is equally obligated to be fair to the buyer and to any cooperating real estate agent.

In short, a REALTOR combines the commitment to real estate, professional service, and the integrity you look for in a real estate professional to carry out on every phase of this important transaction.

A home is where you and your family are most often together 
It's last Saturday's unread newspapers under an end table; a haven, after a tough day; the place you come back to when vacation is over. It's the memories of all this and more for the home seller - and dreams of such things for the homebuyer.
A house, on the other hand, is real estate. It's property. It's walls and a roof, halls and a front yard. It's a commodity.

Selling a home can be traumatic; selling a house is not. However perceived, its purchase or sale can be one of the most important investments you'll ever make. A REALTOR can be counted on to make it one of your best.

Selling Your Home? How YOU Profit by Working with a REALTOR 
You're selling your home and you make an appointment with a REALTOR. You are impressed with the listing presentation and the agent asks if you want to contract with him/her; i.e., his/her assistance in exchange for a commission. At this point you may be asking yourself, "Exactly what do I get for my money?" The following are just some of the wide array of services you may receive when you enlist the help of a real estate professorial:

• A REALTOR can compile information about your home in preparation for the listings. This information can include your home's square footage, type of heating and cooling, proximity to schools, and so on.

• A REALTOR can estimate your property's value, taking into account comparable sales in your area. This is done in order to help you establish the asking price.

• A REALTOR can prepare, coordinate and pay for advertising and marketing efforts for your home. This can include putting advertisements in the paper, conducting open houses, and placing a sign in front of the home.

• A REALTOR can screen prospective buyers so that only qualified buyers with serious intentions are shown your home.

• A REALTOR can list the property on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and work with other agents to let the maximum number of qualified buyers see your property.

• A REALTOR can write offers, placing the buyer's deposit in escrow and taking care of other necessary documentation such as title reports.

• A REALTOR can advise you on aspects of the sales contract and deal with the buyer on various elements you may want to negotiate. This includes negotiating with the buyer on price, if necessary, in an effort to obtain the full value of your home.

• A REALTOR can help the buyer locate financing, arrange for home inspections and an appraisal, and other details in preparation for the closing.

• A REALTOR can accompany you to the closing or attend in your place.

Working with a REALTOR can save you time, money and headaches. When you enter into a contract with an agent, you have the security of knowing that your agent is legally representing you and acting in your best interest throughout the property transaction. Additionally, choosing to work with a real estate agent who's a REALTOR can give you added peace of mind. As members of the National Association of REALTORS, REALTORS subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics and pledge to provide fair and ethical treatment to both buyers and sellers.

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