Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

    August 2024 Colleen,                       In case you haven’t heard — changes are coming! Did you know that starting August 17th a realtor can no longer show you a property without a signed written agreement? It can be exclusive or non-exclusive but it MUST be signed. This means they can’t even unlock the door without it. Doing so as an agent can result in thousands of dollars in fines.  A buyer's agency agreement legally binds you to that particular agent for an agreed-upon timeframe, spells out their compensation, and details their duties to you.  There is no such thing as a "free service" for using a buyer's agent. Hiring an agent that has many years of experience and continually stays up to date to benefit you, the client, matters more than ever before. Sellers always interview agents, and now so will buyers. Not all buyer’s agents will be offering the same value. Yes, sellers can still pay a buyer’s age...

    Are you aware of the settlement reached by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in a class action lawsuit last week?   This settlement could potentially have significant implications for the real estate market, particularly in regions with high property prices, like ours.   The lawsuit alleged that NAR's rules and practices regarding the sharing of commission between buyers' and sellers' agents stifled competition and inflated housing costs. As part of the settlement, NAR agreed to make changes to its rules and practices, including allowing greater transparency in commission rates and providing more information to consumers.   In high-priced regions like ours, where housing costs are already a concern for many buyers and sellers, any changes resulting from this settlement could have notable effects. Greater transparency in commission rates might lead to increased competition among real estate agents and potentially lower costs for consumers. However, it's e...