What role do real estate agents play?

What do you expect from a real estate agent?  Consumers have much more information at their disposal today with multiple listing search directories such as Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, Texomaconnect.com and Lakehouse.com,  all providing multiple pictures, maps and property details. The public has easy access to tax records, valuation programs and demographic data online. So what role do agents play?

According to a National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers survey conducted in 2012, agents play a vital role but not necessarily the same as in the past. Many buyers come to agents today with a list of homes they’ve already found online, seen videos of the interior, and driven through the neighborhood.  According to the survey, Buyers use a wide variety of resources in searching for a home. 

Home sold

90 percent use the Internet 
87 percent use real estate agents
53 percent yard signs
45 percent attend open houses
27 percent review print or newspaper ads

So, if access to information about homes for sale isn’t the primary role of the agent today, what exactly do buyers expect? Having piles of data, no matter how reliable, is worthless without the ability to organize and utilize it.  Agents are relied upon to connect the dots for clients. Buyers expect agents to ascertain which properties are financially sound purchases, negotiate for the best possible results, and manage the process to the closing table.

Home sellers also have a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips. Like buyers they expect agents to explain that information and put it to use for their benefit. Home sellers expect agents to properly expose their home to potential buyers, assist in pricing the home, and negotiate the terms of the contract for the best possible results. In short, they want the most money with the least amount of turmoil.

Buying and selling real estate has become rather complicated. Mortgage approval has been called one of the most combative and stressful things a person can go through. Agents are expected to alleviate problems here, with the appraisal, inspections, and the myriad of other possible hot spots. The current environment pressures both buyers and sellers and what used to be a somewhat exciting process can often dissolve into a stressful event. Agents are expected to temper this and control the chaos.

The staff at Guild Mortgage takes extraordinary steps to communicate with the borrowers and their agents every step of the way. Weekly updates to the borrowers and their agents keep all parties informed of the progress and alert to any potential problems along the way.

Guild Mortgage is a direct lender to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae which means more loan approvals. One of the largest privately held mortgage companies in the country, Guild Mortgage currently services about TEN Billion dollars. We retain the servicing on an average of 70% of our originated loans.

If now is the right time for you to purchase a new home, let’s get you prequalified now!

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Source: 2012 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Michelle Castle provides mortgage loans to all of North Texas and Southern Oklahoma. Call Michelle Castle at (903) 771-2617 if you are looking for a home loan in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma.  Click here to visit Michelle’s website and apply for a loan.

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