SILVAR  :  Newsroom  : Real Estate Articles

Real Estate Articles

REALTOR®: There is Value in Using a REALTOR®

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

As home prices decline to more affordable levels and credit standards tighten, it's become more important for prospective home buyers and sellers to seek the assistance of a trusted and knowledgeable real estate professional, such as a REALTOR®, for their needs.

All real estate licensees are not the same. What differentiates a REALTOR® from other real estate agents? The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Realtors are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. They subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate.

"Buying a home is one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Consider the small upside cost and the large downside risk, if you would consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a Realtor," said Leannah Hunt, president of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR).

SILVAR is a professional trade organization representing over 4,500 REALTORS® and affiliate members engaged in the real estate business and serving clients on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. The association's members are also members of NAR.

"Few, if any, other professional organizations in the nation have put in place such rigorous ethics training requirements for their members as we have done," said Hunt, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Palo Alto.

Here are more reasons to use a REALTOR®:
1. Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power. Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders.
2. Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your agent to find all available properties. Agents who are REALTORS® have access to a variety of informational resources. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, etc.
3. Your REALTOR® can help you negotiate. There are myriad negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.
4. Your REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, etc. Your REALTOR® can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports.
5. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.

"Today's home buyers and sellers want and deserve to know that their real estate professional is someone they can trust and who has their best interests at heart," said Hunt. "You don't have to do it alone."

To find a Realtor in your area, visit www.silvar.org.


The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, email , or phone (408) 200-0109.

» Back to Real Estate Articles

Site Navigation