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Representation:

In Israel, (as in many states in the United States), a real estate agent, may represent both the buyer/renter and seller/leaser. Please bear in mind that this does not free one or the other party from payment. If both sides are represented by the agent, then each side independently of the other, must pay the agent the agreed upon fee (unless of course it was stipulated and agreed upon otherwise).

When you decide to sell, purchase, rent or lease a property, we will usually ask you to sign a form, (which is a binding legal document), in regard to the specific property.

It is wise for you to read this document, which is basically used, in one configuration or another, by all licensed agents in Israel. The form clearly states the agent’s fee (in case of a deal) and stipulates that if one attempts to circumvent the agent by asking a father, mother, sister or brother to purchase the property, you are still obligated to pay the agents fee. It is also important to note that the basic agreement stipulates that once you have signed to purchase, sale, rent or lease the property, from that moment you are obligated to pay the agents fee.

It should be noted that Real Estate Brokers and Agents MUST be licensed. If you demand to see the license of a broker that is up to date (either a piece of paper or a card issued by the Real Estate office which is under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice) and the Broker cannot produce it, there is no legal binding between you and the broker – no matter how many documents you sign.

Fees:

All fees listed here are the basic fees that agents in Israel charge in regard to properties. There are certainly some cases where we will take more than 2% or less. However, these are rare and very specific cases, and usually if not stipulated otherwise you are looking at a normative fee scale, practiced by most Brokers and licensed agents in Israel.

1. Purchase or sale – 2% of the amount Plus VAT (VAT=Value Added Tax and currently it is 16.5%. This is a tax that is added by the government on to any sale of goods or services. This is NOT given to the discretion of the agent to charge or not to charge. No matter what the final price paid, the agent must pay VAT to the VAT authorities.) VAT however, is not added on to the price of the property sale, unless it is a commercial property.

2. Rental or Leasing – is usually one month of rent. Thus if you decide to rent an apartment for $1500 per month, then you will owe twelve months worth of rent to the owner for one year, and $1500 + VAT to the agent. Again VAT is not added on to the actual rental (except in commercial properties), but only to the agents fee as this is considered a “service industry”.

3. Short Term Rentals – Fees for this can vary drastically, depending upon the length of the rental and the actual rental fee. Normal policy is to take between 10-15% of the overall deal.

Can you negotiate?

Most reputable real estate agents have strict policies of non-negotiation in terms of fees. They will, of course, for returning clients, or for those who use our agency for more than one property, discuss a reduction in fees. However, please do not expect them to negotiate a fee before they have any idea about what it is you wish them to do. Also, just because you decided to take the first property you were shown, does not mean the agent should go down in his fee. Actually, in such a case, you should be more than willing to pay the agents fee, as due to their ability and knowledge, they were able to take you to exactly the place that met with your description! You took an agent to save you time and frustration, and that is exactly what they did.

Exclusivity:

If you are familiar with agents in Israel, they love the term “exclusivity”. In essence what it means, is that you contract with a specific agent for a term of 3 or 6 months to be the sole representative to either sell or lease out your property. The advantages of this type of relationship are many-fold. The agent will not hesitate to advertise the property or work together with other agents who may have clients for your property. The agency will also fully advertise the property both in print and on the Internet. In Jerusalem, the apartment will also be listed in Shiran, the multiple listing for Jerusalem properties.

So yes, exclusivity will pay off in many cases. However, and this is critical, agents cannot demand exclusivity nor try to talk you into it. It is the owner’s decision to go that route. You should want to do it if the agency is reputable in the real estate and land investment market and thus you will want to sign exclusivity with more than the agency wants you to sign it! However, not signing exclusivity also works well and most agencies maintain working relationships with many reputable agents on the market, and deal with them on a constant basis.

Real estate agents liaise between home owners and buyers to conduct the sale, purchase or rent of properties. They work for brokers and play a major role in assisting people buy or sell residential, commercial or industrial property. They keep and maintain an up-to-date account of property listing and other relevant housing information to stay abreast with properties available on the real estate market. They subscribe to several listing services to advertise and market properties up for sale. They also contact property and market properties up for sale. They also contact property owners to obtain information regarding a property.

As part of their responsibilities, estate agents present sales and purchase offers to clients for consideration. They advise them on property rates, legal requirements and general market trend. They also interview clients to determine their property preference or specification. Usually, they prepare a list of properties that best match the needs and requirements of clients. They visit and inspect properties in order to establish precise property value. They also proffer recommendations to clients on properties that best suit their budget and preference.

Most estate agents oversee the preparation of closing statements, purchase agreements, representation contracts and other necessary documents required for estate trade. They conduct negotiations between property sellers and buyers to establish price and other terms of sales. They also liaise with pest control operators, home inspectors etc. to ensure the terms and conditions stated in a purchase agreement are met prior to the closing of sales.

In fulfilling their role, real estate agents oversee the closing of property sales, they ensure payment is complete and appropriate documents signed. They maintain contact with clients to offer them real estate services/products and assist with the resolution of issues. They also provide consultation services to clients to recommend strategies for the speedy sale of property. They often conduct training programs for junior/trainee sales agents to enhance their sales skill. This job position requires at least a high school diploma, state license for practice and an aptitude for sales. Qualities needed for the job include persuasion, interpersonal skills and problem-solving skills.

Real Estate Agent Job Description Sample

Given below is a sample of the job description usually handed real estate agents by most employers:

• Act as liaisons to conduct real estate trade between property buyers and sellers
• Present sales offers to clients as well as bid on available properties
• Carry out investigations to determine client credit status and ability to complete payment
• Inspect properties to appraise its value and estimate the worth on the property market
• Interact with clients to identify their requirements and proffer recommendations on properties that best suit their budgets
• Assist home sellers in promoting their buildings on property listing services to attract clients for purchase
• Prepare and deliver sales pitches to clients in order to secure real estate contract
• Provide clients with a list of properties available for sale to assist them in making choice selection
• Conduct price negotiations between property buyers and sellers to ensure a fair bargain for both parties
• Provide clients with a tour of residential, industrial or commercial properties to showcase and explain property features
• Carry out investigations to confirm clients have clear property titles
• Provide appropriate reply to client’s enquiries concerning property appraisals, financing, maintenance etc.
• Examine property premises to recommend maintenance measure required to improve the face value
• Assist clients in evaluating mortgage options to obtain the best rate and terms
• Attend conventions, conferences and seminars to improve existing job knowledge and expand personal network.

If you are a recruiter needing the best real estate agent to hire, you can use the sample job description above in making one for your company, for use in hiring and assigning duties to the successful candidates.

Although, there are over 1.3 million, real estate agents, in the United States, only, a small – minority, of them, are responsible, for the vast majority of the transactions, which occur! Since, for most of us, the value of their house, represents, their single – biggest, financial asset, wouldn’t it make sense, to very carefully, choose the individual, to hire, to represent you, and your best – interests? How should quality agents, demonstrate, and prove, their value? Doing so, demands a variety of skills, assets, attitude, persistence, discipline, integrity, etc, and, there is no such thing, as one – size – fits – all! Before, hiring the right person, to serve and represent, one’s interests, it is essential to, clearly, prove, he is worthy of their respect, etc! With, that, in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, 8 ways, quality agents consistently, prove their worth/ value!

1. Effectively listen to prospective clients: Observe, when interviewing agents to represent you, whether, the individual, effectively, listens, to you, and your personal needs, concerns, priorities, etc. How can anyone, represent your best interests, unless/ until, he commits to doing so?

2. Thoroughly, discuss, and discover, what prospective client, seeks, and needs: While some proceed, by trying to, merely, tell someone, what he believes, they want to hear, I strongly believe, in my service – mark, I’ll always tell you what you need to know, not, just, what you want to hear! It is wise, for client and agent, to know, trust, and believe, in – each other, throughout the process!

3. Discuss/ explain suggested marketing plan: What makes one’s marketing plan, different, in a meaningful way, from others? Since, one’s house, is so financially (and, other ways) relevant, it’s essential/ important, for both sides, to work together, on the same – page!

4. Explain concept/ teamwork/ strategy: Real estate agents, owe it, to their clients, to thoroughly, explain their concept, strategy, reasoning, action plans, and, the importance of well – considered, teamwork!

5. Commitment/ discipline/ efforts: Agents can’t, and should never, go – through – the – motions, and proceed, forward, with the level of consistent, true commitment, and the discipline, to maximize their efforts, for the client’s best – interests!

6. Regular updates: Communication, and providing regular reviews, and updates, must be an obligation, for agents! An essential component of representing someone, during stressful times/ periods, is holding – their – hands, throughout the entire period/ process/ transaction! From the onset, it’s important to pre – plan, for, regular, periodic updates, to thorough discuss, all relevant components, and/ or, necessary adjustments, during the period!

7. Quality negotiating: It takes quality negotiating, and an understanding of market, and economic conditions, in terms of supply – and – demand, etc, to make a significant difference, for the better!

8. Close the best deal: Meaningful representatives listen to potential deals, and help, bring them, forward, and, then, have the skills, and self – confidence, etc, to close the deal, with the best combination of minimizing the amount of time needed, enhancing the price offered, and addressing, any, and all conditions, etc.

Hire an agent, who will strive, to clearly, demonstrate, and prove his value, consistently, by a combination of skills, efforts, and a positive, can – do, attitude. Before you, buy, or sell a house/ home, doesn’t it make sense, to hire, the right agent?

The city of Long Beach, California is a very ethnically diverse area with many cultural attractions including the Long Beach Museum of Art and Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. It is the southern end of the Los Angeles Blue Line light rail, which runs to downtown Los Angeles about 20 miles away. It has a good public transportation system and access to the southern California freeways.

The Blues Festival and The Jazz Festival are just two of the many festivals held every year. California State University of Long Beach is the biggest school in the city. El Dorado Regional Park is the largest of many public parks.

Average home sale prices were about $300 thousand in June 2010, a $20,000 increase over a year earlier. Home sale volume was 391 homes sold in April and 431 sold in May 2010. Vacancies are likely to remain low in the rental market as unemployment and high house prices erode purchasing power, although these factors will also place downward pressure on rents.

Popular areas include Downtown, Belmont Heights, Eastside, Plaza, and Belmont Shore, where the average sale price is a million and a half. The population is about half a million within an area of 57 square miles. Large employers are health care, manufacturing and construction, which have been shedding jobs.

Mortgage rates are at an all time low, 3.88 for 15 year fixed and 4.38 for 30 year fixed. Foreclosure rates are high, with one in every 254 homes receiving a foreclosure notice in June 2010. Though the local real estate market shows some signs of recovery, it is still clearly a buyer’s market, for those who have the resources.

Whether buying, or selling a home, choosing the right real estate agent or buyers agent, is the most important step to take. The process of buying or selling a home is very detailed and difficult. In addition to the fact that mistakes can cost a great deal of money?

Your assets are on the line, and losing through the purchase or sale is the last thing you want to do. There are many real estate agents around. The ones that are dedicated and stay with you every step of the way, or the ones that farm out the work to other brokers.

The areas of expertise you need to look for are:

· How much education in the area of real estate does the agent have?

· How much knowledge does the agent have about the homes in the areas you are looking at?

· Do they have a wide variety of homes for sale for you to view?

The title that carries the most education and experience is a real estate broker. The real estate broker has a real estate license, training, and is recognized by the National Association of Realtors. This professional would likely be able to assist you with all of the needs you would have for buying or selling a home.

After the real estate broker is the realtor. This professional received the real estate license, and some additional training. He or she has also received recognition from the National Association of Realtors.

Finally the real estate agent is a person who has received the license, however may not have the same amount of experience as the more seasoned broker.

Most states have minimal requirements for being a real estate agent and this is the cause for some of the issues that are incurred during the transferring of ownership of a home. However keep in mind that at all levels of this expertise there are good agents, realtors and brokers. Doing a little checking can help you find the right one for you.

Most of the time a real estate agent is representing the seller of the home. If you are looking to buy a home, you are looking for a real estate buyer’s agent. This is important because you want to be represented in the best interest of your needs. Not those of the person on the other end of the deal.

When you are doing your research about the right agent for you, you will want to look for the commitment you deserve. There are many agents on the market just like there are many homes to be sold. If you do not get the attention and prompt response you deserve, go looking for someone else. They will make a profit from your purchase and they should be treating you with a reasonable amount of respect and professionalism.

The rule of thumb is that you want a real estate agent that has been around for a couple of years. With the turn around in the real estate market the way it is, this is the reason it may take you contacting a couple of agents.

You want to start your search by getting the right real estate representative for you. The home you are looking for will come along. There are bait and switch agents out there who specifically use a house within a price range and look that is appealing to the average home purchaser and then when they get the call, they may tell you it is sold, but there is another they have that you will love also. Keep this in mind so as to not get stuck by a tricky agent, instead look for the representative, agent, or broker that will show you what is available at all levels of purchasing and will keep your best interest in mind.