In an economy that has many people holding their breath and wondering what tomorrow may hold – those individuals that are positioned to make investments in their future are finding the pricing, mortgage rates and housing inventories a great opportunity to build their “business of the future”.  A key element in building any business is surrounding yourself with the right people – those professionals that have a common goals and bring their particular expertise to the table.  From a real estate perspective, selecting the right agent is key – ask the questions, screen your candidates and understand what your “must have’s” in an agent are. 

First Time Home-buyers – look for that agent / partner that asks YOU a lot of questions.  You need an agent that is not only going to step you through the process of purchasing a home but an agent that will HELP YOU understand the HOME that will meet your needs and fulfill your DREAMS.

Step-up / Step-out – Reselling a property in today’s market takes a strategic marketing plan.  Ask your agent the 5 questions….What, Where, Why, When and How – The right agent will have their office numbers ready to review with you and will explain what is currently working and what hasn’t.  Today’s resale market is changing almost daily – make sure that the data that your agent candidate is sharing with you is current, and that the agent actually understands the data that they are showing you.  Experience is always a plus, but you shouldn’t even have to ask about the current technology tools that are being utilized by your agent candidate – that should already be a part of their presentation……DO ask them to share with you how THEY operate with those tools.

Investors – find that agent that understands operating by “the bottom line” – How does that agent run their own business – what is their success rate in the offer process – (note – take time to research the sales stat’s if this is a property you feel strongly about adding to your inventory – remember, you are competeing with other investors) – be willing to share some key elements of your business plan and select an agent that you are willing to partner with for the long-term.  The right agent for you will become a key member of your team that is always on the lookout for the next great investment.