• SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): Completed training aimed at helping buyers and sellers in the 50-plus age range. As mentioned above, a real estate agent can also be a REALTOR®, which means he/she is an official member of the NAR (National Association of REALTORS®). Tip 5: Look at the Agent’s Recent Home Sales and Current Listings Look at their recent home sales. How successful have they been? Do they specialize in the type of home you’re interested in purchasing? This is key, because their successful track record in home sales and specialization means that there’s a good chance that they’ll have plenty of properties for you to look at, as well as get you an “in” with the sellers to negotiate a great deal for your home purchase. Check out an agent’s listings online, says Stephen Brobeck, director of the Consumer Federation of America (Bankrate). Some specific places you can look include the real estate agency’s website as well as Realtor.com. On such sites, you can use a searchable online database of properties available. Adept and tech-savvy agents will list their sales and information online because they know that most buyers start their search online. When you view an agent’s listings, look at how closely they mirror the type of property you wish to purchase, including area/neighborhood as well as price range.
Tip 6: Reach Out to the Agent’s Recent Clients
Both excellent and less-than-stellar real estate agents will receive plenty of feedback and reviews; however, not all will have
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