01-19-2009, 01:38 PM
"I am astounded that Realtors in this country make 6% on houses and I've been told up to 10% commission on land. With the increase in prices over the last few years their commissions have increased far beyond the normal wage increase".
And now those same Realtors commissions are far below normal wage eh there mate? Real estate is a gamble for investors and agents as well. One client may look with an agent for a year. Some listings take longer. Every once in a while one sells quick or ez like some guy walking down the street calls on a sign. What people don't understand is how much that sign cost, it's much more than the 45 dollars worth of metal that you might think.
I like the way people say we can just go on and " find our own house on MLS" who needs a realtor and then they're saying "just go for sale by owner" Hmm.. First off, I pay for that MLS that you think is so free and yes your welcome. Second, if they do go FSBO their home won't be on that MLS will it? Oh and BTW I pay for the Realtor.com as well.
There's much more to buying a house in the US than compared to the UK. Honestly clients that have previously tried "for sale by owner" make the best client in that they're more knowledgeable and grateful for the time I put in. Legal fees jump up real fast, throw in a title search, that the lawyer does himself cuz "he don't trust a Title co", and you're usually always over 6%. I think your first deal went so well because you had a Realtor [8D] and granted you probably did your homework. But honestly, a few call to a very receptive title company is far different than calling a lawyer begging for your finished contracts. Hell, I've seen RE lawyers that charged their clients every time they pick up the phone.
Myself, I usually sell land and ranches small/large. Some commercial dirt from time to time. Don't see many DIY (do it yourselfers) in Ranch sales. Most people don't know clay from soil or what kind of cover is best for deer and what pasture works for a cow calf operation. Throw in horses, goats, sheep, pigs and the assorted crops and rolling stock and it can be kinda tricky for a buyer. But I'm sure someone such as yourself if they wanted could jump on the internet and do the research and eventually make great buy. [
] But it's not like looking up the taxes on a couple of houses etc..
I'm sure there are some agents out there that are "sign sitters". And I'm sure there are some liars and I know there are some that don't call you back. LOL... welcome to my world! But I don't knock that as much as Rabbi because frankly.. they keep decent agents such as me in business, [
]
I charge 4-6 percent and I have yet to have someone tell me I didn't earn it and most of my clients come from referrals and repeat business. Example: My investor clients (11) have 94% of their cash in their pocket/banks right now from the result of a letter/email I sent out in June. The fact that I was an appraiser for 6 years and am currently a TREC certified Home Inspector means I bring a lot more to the table, for that 4-6% than most agents. I'm honest and I sleep like a frickin baby at night. The older I get the more proud I am of what I do.[:0]
The reason I started in this thread was because I don't think Realtors are responsible for this current debacle. As for your long diatribe about not needing agents I say you go ahead with the do-it yourself maybe you'll never have a problem or maybe you'll miss an exception on your title and get your ass handed to you. Who knows? but I bet eventually you make someone a really good client.[:o)]
Blessings,
dave
"It doesn't mean that much to me.. to mean that much to you." Neil Young
And now those same Realtors commissions are far below normal wage eh there mate? Real estate is a gamble for investors and agents as well. One client may look with an agent for a year. Some listings take longer. Every once in a while one sells quick or ez like some guy walking down the street calls on a sign. What people don't understand is how much that sign cost, it's much more than the 45 dollars worth of metal that you might think.
I like the way people say we can just go on and " find our own house on MLS" who needs a realtor and then they're saying "just go for sale by owner" Hmm.. First off, I pay for that MLS that you think is so free and yes your welcome. Second, if they do go FSBO their home won't be on that MLS will it? Oh and BTW I pay for the Realtor.com as well.
There's much more to buying a house in the US than compared to the UK. Honestly clients that have previously tried "for sale by owner" make the best client in that they're more knowledgeable and grateful for the time I put in. Legal fees jump up real fast, throw in a title search, that the lawyer does himself cuz "he don't trust a Title co", and you're usually always over 6%. I think your first deal went so well because you had a Realtor [8D] and granted you probably did your homework. But honestly, a few call to a very receptive title company is far different than calling a lawyer begging for your finished contracts. Hell, I've seen RE lawyers that charged their clients every time they pick up the phone.
Myself, I usually sell land and ranches small/large. Some commercial dirt from time to time. Don't see many DIY (do it yourselfers) in Ranch sales. Most people don't know clay from soil or what kind of cover is best for deer and what pasture works for a cow calf operation. Throw in horses, goats, sheep, pigs and the assorted crops and rolling stock and it can be kinda tricky for a buyer. But I'm sure someone such as yourself if they wanted could jump on the internet and do the research and eventually make great buy. [
] But it's not like looking up the taxes on a couple of houses etc.. I'm sure there are some agents out there that are "sign sitters". And I'm sure there are some liars and I know there are some that don't call you back. LOL... welcome to my world! But I don't knock that as much as Rabbi because frankly.. they keep decent agents such as me in business, [
] I charge 4-6 percent and I have yet to have someone tell me I didn't earn it and most of my clients come from referrals and repeat business. Example: My investor clients (11) have 94% of their cash in their pocket/banks right now from the result of a letter/email I sent out in June. The fact that I was an appraiser for 6 years and am currently a TREC certified Home Inspector means I bring a lot more to the table, for that 4-6% than most agents. I'm honest and I sleep like a frickin baby at night. The older I get the more proud I am of what I do.[:0]
The reason I started in this thread was because I don't think Realtors are responsible for this current debacle. As for your long diatribe about not needing agents I say you go ahead with the do-it yourself maybe you'll never have a problem or maybe you'll miss an exception on your title and get your ass handed to you. Who knows? but I bet eventually you make someone a really good client.[:o)]
Blessings,
dave
"It doesn't mean that much to me.. to mean that much to you." Neil Young
Blessings,
dave
"It doesn't mean that much to me.. to mean that much to you." Neil Young
dave
"It doesn't mean that much to me.. to mean that much to you." Neil Young