All Forum Posts by: Nicole Goss

Ryan DeLange as an investor and a Realtor I’d recommend finding a new agent (one that understands what investors are looking for and is attentive to you). As Lynn M. suggested look for agent via your local investment group, ask other investors for referrals (who do they use?). You can also look for Realtors with certain designations, specifically CIAS (Certified Investor Agent Specialist), which means they have completed additional training to understand what investors are looking for.

As @Lynn M. also said in some states a listing agent will refer you to another agent in his/her office (designated agency). In the case of Maryland, their law does not allow dual agency so they must do this. I don’t know about Arizona, though, so you’d have to check.

Where I am – Virginia - is a buyer agency state and a Realtor can represent the buyer’s interests and will negotiate on the buyer’s behalf during the transaction if they have entered into a buyer agency agreement. These agreements can even be one-day agreements so the agent can show a perspective buyer homes. As of July 1st 2012 we are required by Virginia law to have these agreements if we do anything more than ministerial acts for a perspective buyer. A buyer can also elect to sign a non-agency agreement, which would allow the agent to perform only ministerial acts for the perspective buyer (basically things that do not require a RE license). And while technically the seller pays the Realtor’s fees in reality that fee is built into the price of the home so the buyer is really paying as part of the home purchase.

As Jesse Rivera said if you find a great agent they can make a great addition to your team. Yes, you can do it yourself but if you’re dealing with a listing agent that means the Seller has professional representation and unless/until you are comfortable with the nuances of offers and contracts I’d humbly suggest you do too.
Best of luck to you!

Jennifer Lee What MLS do you use in Pittsburgh? I'm looking to invest in Pittsburgh (where I grew up and hope to move back to by 2015). I'm currently living in Virginia and I'm an agent here...we use MRIS...but judging by the fact that nothing shows when I type in "15XXX" I'm guessing you're on another multi-list....

Dev Horn - thank you for the recommendation I'll check them out too! I'm not in a hurry so I have time on my side. I hadn't thought about the fact that all the "rush" charges could amount to such a considerable percentage of the total cost of a campaign. I'll always keep that in mind from now on and plan accordingly.

Sharon Vornholt I absolutely loved BP Podcast 12 that you did on Wholesaling and Marketing. Your experiences with its effectiveness is actually what inspired me to try this. I would have never thought about it otherwise. I'm new real estate agent who lives in a large subdivision (still under construction) that began development in 2006. The base price for townhomes in my community is 386K, SFHs start at 414K and the next home (new construction) scheduled to close in June is closing for 699K (just to give you an idea of range). I know a lot of my neighbors (I'm on the HOA board) but I wanted to get the word out to all of them if they need help selling their homes. I'd be very interested in your, and anyone else's, opinion and recommendations on how to do so!

Thank you all for the recommendations! I'm looking into all your suggestions now. Blair H. I plan to send in full color.

Hello BP Community,
I'm researching my first direct mailing here in Northern Virginia. In addition to being a beginner investor I'm also a new real estate agent and want to send postcards to all the homes in my subdivision (I have the list of addresses). I'm looking for recommendations for providers where I can go online and design a post card, upload images, upload the address list and they take care of mailing it for me. I've seen that Vistaprint and PostcardMania provide these services but I wanted to know if anyone had recommendations and positive experiences with bulk mail providers.
Thanks you so much for your time!

Hi Everyone, I'm a total newbie but Pittsburgh is my hometown and I'd like to start investing there. I was hoping to connect with other investors in the Burgh and learn everything I can to invest wisely (and eventually give back).