The Real Estate Industry Needs

Green Education to Revitalize

Current Markets

I am not practicing real estate right now but even I see that the real estate industry and all affiliate industries need market transformation and they need it fast. I can remember the days where life was good when I was a real estate agent. Working on 4 and 6 active contracts a month. Attending 4 to 6 home inspections, helping buyers with financing options, meeting mortgage lenders and coordinating everyday 4 and 6 transactions a month.

Then getting paid. Then, in the middle of all of this I had 4 and 5 buyers to work with and 3 or 4 sellers who wanted market analysis on their homes. Who ever said agents in the residential and commercial markets don't work hard? Try a schedule like that. Now, try to picture all of this gone. Can you imagine a world where an agent shows a buyer 20 and 30 homes, and they don't buy or even with great credit the lender turns them down?

Try picturing the fact that agents are doing this for 4-6 buyers? Can you imagine writing contracts and having back and forth communication on situations that you know will not work? Sellers painting on the agents recommendation just to have a home sit and sit. Builders who have land that is not developed? Paying taxes while you can't pay your contractors and your support staff is dwindling.

The Real Estate Industry

Needs Green Education to

Revitalize Current Markets

Agents advertising with their own money and houses just don't sell? Did I mention you, as an agent, pay $2000 a year to stay in the business, for incidentals such as license renewals, ads, association and MLS dues and continuing education credits? How about the loan officer who keeps trying to refinance people and can't get them a loan? Think of the home inspector who waits for the agents to write business. Everyone is hurting.

Is there any end in sight? Is there anything that can turn this around? YES!

Now I have another scenario for you. You are a buyer or seller of real estate. You want an agent who is green certified to help you understand green attributes in homes. You want to put your home on the market or buy and want your agent who is also your friend or relative to help you. They tell you they have a certification 6,000 have and been green certified by Green Real Estate Education.

They like the fact that they only had to pay $99 to learn of what energy efficiency and green these issues have to do with the home you may want to buy or sell. In the current economy, they didn't choose to spend hundreds or thousands (and neither do you) to learn about energy efficiency so you respect their budget conscience mindset. Can you already see the value in working with this agent?

How to Get a Real Estate License in Texas

This Certified Real Estate Professional has been trained to assist you to understand how you can keep your utility bills low and have a healthier indoor air quality. That agent works with 2 or 3 ( GCHI's ) Green Certified Home Inspectors. They have 2 Green Certified Mortgage Professionals (GCMP) who know of ways to finance energy efficient upgrades or special loans for newer energy efficient homes.

This agent likes working with buyers who also want a utility bill that is only $500-$1000 a year. Sparking interest already? You hear that green building ideals offer healthier indoor air quality. Interesting. You find a home that has an Energy Star, Environments for Living, Green Build or LEED green certification. Priced the same as other homes, that home has a low utility bill and energy efficient systems and utilizes solar and is in the perfect area too. What will you choose?

You call a Green Certified Real Estate Agent, a GCREP and say, what can I do to help my home sell in a year or so? They come by, recommend you replace all light bulbs with compact florescent or LED products that are much more efficient and paint with non toxic paint, add healthy and efficient insulation. Aren't these suggestions a bit different than the normal advice. They also have that certification 6,000 have across the country.

In the years to come, you may not want to sell now but that Green Certified agent, inspector or mortgage professional has taken his or her level two certification to learn even more and offer advice that you get an energy audit, and from the results they suggest you upgrade the widows, insulation, the roof and you don't want to get a second mortgage.

Negotiating Real Estate Commission Fees

They begin to tell you about the state offering a program with PACE concepts.What is PACE you ask? Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs are designed to allow property owners to install energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water efficiency projects and repay those costs as a line item on their property tax bill or utility bill (depending on state law and local options).

Wow, half of my family members are in the construction industry and out of work, what a great way for them to have work. Are we thinking job creation? You didn't even know about this. Thank you for green real estate education. Stimulating the real estate industry is possible. I do not feel this has anything to do with democrats or republicans.

A clean energy economy reduces our dependence on foreign oil. Energy efficiency concepts will create jobs. This is not new to other countries, and we need an economic stimulation NOW. So I will ask again, can green education transform the real estate industry? What do you think?

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Real Estate

Having a real estate agent to help you out is essential when aiming for a quick and good deal, whether you are buying or selling your home or property. Selling your house is not just about placing a "for sale" sign in your lawn or placing your house in the classified ads. A real estate agent would be able to help you sell your home for the right price and get the best deal possible.
There are many real estate agents out there, how do you choose the right person?

• Do the interviews yourself
The best way of getting to know an agent is by talking to them personally. You could directly discuss with them what they think about the property, know about their qualifications, ask about their previous transactions, any kind of problems with previous deals and seeing if the personality would be able to match yours. You could directly inform them what kind of communication you are expecting from them and it they would be able to reciprocate that expectation.

• Qualifications and history
Check if they have enough experience and expertise, especially in your location. They may have an impressive record in other places but they would have limited knowledge in your area. Also look for any complaints filed against the agent in the State Board of Realtors.

• Referrals
Ask your friend, family or relatives if they would be able to recommend somebody. If they would be recommending an agent, make sure to ask about their experience with the person. You could ask about how the agent communicated with the clients and of course, their fees. Before hiring the agent, identify first if they would be able to provide your needs and work with you.

• Customer service
Your agent maybe good, but they may be difficult to contact or does not maintain open communication with you. That would surely create problems. If your agent has an assistant communicating with you, it is okay as long as they are present in important transactions and would go over the contracts themselves. How the agent communicates with clients show how they value the property and how serious they are in dealing.

• Familiarity
The agent that you should be getting should be familiar with the market in the area where you are buying or selling your property. The agent should have an idea about the competition in the area, the neighborhood's history of transaction and the usual price range in the location.

• Contacts and access to tools
It is great to have an agent that would be able to find contacts that would match your needs as a client. Your real estate agent should have access to Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This would allow your agent to have access to different properties in different areas to look for houses or properties which would match what you're looking for.

• Attend open houses
Attending open houses would allow you to see real estate agents while working. You would be able to see how they handle transactions. You could observe how they promote the house (if the house is for sale) and you could even get a few business cards from other real estate agents.

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