Why should you hire a REALTOR?

With shows like BravoTV’s Million Dollar Listings New York, Los Angeles and Miami the perspective of a Real Estate Agent or REALTOR is pretty impressive.  Big houses, expensive clothes, fast cars and tons of money on commissions.  Last month, in the Baltimore Metro area the average sold price for a three bedroom townhome was $172,676.00 and for a 3 bedroom single family home was $244,773.00.  Out of 539 transaction of 3 bedroom single family homes sold, 24 were above $500,000.00!  That is only 4%!  

What does that mean?  REALTORS earn about the same as you do!  The difference is that our profession is about providing a home to our clients, or a business location for your growing business.  Like with anything, it’s about the effort you put into your work that will make the difference in your paycheck.  Like when buying an expensive item, such as the newest television or a car, you will do your research but ultimately you will ask the expert.  The expert that has been to the factory where the car or television that is being made.  For a REALTOR is the same BUT BETTER!  Why is it better?  Because the sale of real estate is regulated by the state and federal government for YOUR protection.

In the state of Maryland a REALTOR or Agent, must be licensed and affiliated with a licensed Broker.  Meaning the Agent cannot work on their own.  An Agent has to be affiliated with a company like Long and Foster, Coldwell Banker, ReMax or Berkshire Hathaway HomeService.  There are other real estate brokerage that are smaller that can and will provide the same services as the big national franchises.  The most important aspect when learning this information is that when you hire an Agent you are the Broker’s client, the Agent is a representative of the Broker to help you during your transaction.

For example, if you choose to hire me as your Agent when either buying or selling your home, I will represent you but you are a client of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty.  My Broker’s responsibility is to make sure I follow the law and represent you as best as we can.  Both the Agent and the Broker has to take classes in order to renew their license every two years and the Maryland Real Estate Commission oversee the rules and regulations of all real estate transactions in the state of Maryland.  This has been created in order to protect the public of anything and everything that can cause the client to lose money and to make the real estate profession an honest one.

Are the services of the REALTOR free?  If not, who pays for them?  A REALTOR is paid, a great number of times, by the seller.  Sometimes, the buyer pays the REALTOR.  Please understand that there is no law regulating how much you need to pay your REALTOR but you should NEVER EVER pay your REALTOR in advance.  A honest law abiding REALTOR will get paid when the transaction closes.  Meaning, when you get or give keys to the home at settlement.  Some brokerage firms ask for a “broker’s fee” which is typically between $250 up to $500 per transaction which covers the cost of doing business.  Again, this fee is also paid at settlement.  It doesnot matter if you want to see 100 houses and decide you will move out of state, you will NOT PAY ANYTHING UNTIL THE DATE OF SETTLEMENT!

You might ask yourself that if you can see houses for sale in the newspaper or in the Internet, why do you still need the assistance of a REALTOR?  Did you know the average contract is about 30 pages long?  Did you know that you may not be able to do a home inspection if you forgot to tell the seller you wanted to do one?  If you are buying a home, did you know you can ask the seller for closing cost help?  If you are either selling or buying a home do you believe your house is priced correctly?  Are you paying too much for a house?  Could you get a little bit more money if you sell your home now?

All these questions and more are answered by a licensed REALTOR.  We have access to accurate available listings in the state of Maryland.  The REALTOR we will write an offer for the house you want, as well guide you in explaining the contract.  We will make sure we protect you in making sure you have the right to inspections and inform you of any defects inside your future home.  Coordinate the home inspections as well as negotiate any repairs.  We will also assist you to get the house for the best pricing as dictated by the market.

Think about it this way, you own a pizza shop and a friend calls you and asks you to use your oven to cook their frozen pizza.  You are capable to buy or sell your home on your own but wouldn’t you rather hire an expert?

Nathalia N. Cruz-Edmonds is a REALTOR with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty.  To schedule a meeting call direct (410) 350-5848, at her office (410) 464-5500 or via email at nathaliaedmonds@gmail.com.  She is also the owner of Clearview Real Estate Management LLC a third party real estate management company in Maryland.

What is Fair Housing? How to Spot a Fair Housing Violation? How to Avoid Discriminating?

Have you ever been searching for an apartment with your kids and due to working nights, you want a third floor apartment because the buildings have three floors but the leasing agent tells you that they only have first floor apartments available?  Or due to not being able to communicate well because you have a strong accent the apartment manager told you there were no homes available?  How about if you practice Islam and when you were wearing your hijab and they sent you to the scariest part of the apartment community?  Are you pregnant and you want a one bedroom apartment but the staff at the apartment community tells you they only have two bedroom apartments?  When you walk the community do you see that the Latinos are in one building, are the Whites in another building and the African American families are on another part of the community?

The United States Federal Government has a law that protects citizens in the United States, regardless of immigration status, of any discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and disability.  This law is called Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended.  Each local and state government may have additional protections.  In the state of Maryland “marital status” and “sexual orientation” are protected classes.

In some instances, owners are allowed, within the law, to discriminate against certain individuals.  Owners of a single family home, that is their primary residence, may reject a tenant for rooms based on sex, marital status and/or sexual orientation.  As well as an owner of a building of five or fewer rental units who occupies one of those units may also reject applicants in the three categories mention above.  Additionally, religious organizations, private clubs, people convicted of manufacture and selling of illegal drugs, communities for people above the age of 55, and owners not renting to families larger than what the fire code dictates.  They can discriminate as well as long as they do it to everyone, in a constant basis and do not violate their own by-laws.

Discrimination against you for seeking a home for sale, rental and financing to purchase a home is illegal. If found to have been discriminated, owners and the person commiting the discriminating offense can be sued and fined millions which may include jail sentence.

If you feel that you have been discriminated against there is help.  Baltimore Neighborhoods Inc is the local non-profit organization that helps promotes justice in housing for all people in the State of Maryland, with the exception of Montgomery County, through fair housing and tenant-landlord programs and public information activities.

If you have any questions, concerns or file a complaint you may contact Baltimore Neighborhoods Inc by visiting their offices located in 2530 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.  Their phone number is (410) 243-6007 or (410) 243-4400.  You can learn more by visiting their website at www.bni-maryland.org.

To learn more about Fair Housing, a federal program governed by the US Department of Housing and Urban Develpment  and submit a complaint you can visit their website http://goo.gl/1BnbN2

The best way to avoid these types of situations is by buying your own home.  If you would like to buy a home please give me a call for a free consultation or meet me in person at the Southeast CDC Home buying workshop in Spanish on Saturday January 17 from 9AM to 4PM.

Nathalia Cruz-Edmonds is a Realtor with PS International Team of Berkshire Hathaway Homesale Realty and she is also the owner of Clearview Real Estate Management LLC.  To speak to her you can email her at nathaliaedmonds@gmail.com or call her at (410) 350-5848.