[JJGittes]

I don’t understand gary broker’s point. How would ‘representation’ by a realtor have prevented that lawsuit? And if you think your realtor will jump in the middle and save you in that circumstance, you are dreaming. While there is some utility to having somebody between you and the seller, ultimately it is the homeowner that is on the hook for the disclosures. In fact, once the lawsuits start to fly, your realtor and you will certainly no longer be on the same team. And last time I checked, there is no ‘realtor-client’ privilege in the law.

If you want actual ‘representation’, hire a lawyer.

Gary’s story is a nonsequiter.

[JJGittes]

What are the typical qualifications for a recruit in the Realtor army? And if you are a buyer, how effective is your personal army for you when it only gets paid out of the booty collected by the enemy?

And regarding the dentist analogy, if my dentist got his degree as a result of taking a couple of classes at a community college, and the work he did for me was purely form driven (http://www.winforms.com/) and cost $40k a pop, I would do it myself.

That said, most folks are probably not inclined, or prepared at all to do it for themselves, but they should at least be driving hard bargains with the agents they hire, and should be asking tough questions at every step of the way, considering the large sums forked over (and financed over 30 years w/ interest) for RE services at today’s price levels.

[JJGittes]

What are the typical qualifications for a recruit in the Realtor army? And if you are a buyer, how effective is your personal army for you when it only gets paid out of the booty collected by the enemy?

And regarding the dentist analogy, if my dentist got his degree as a result of taking a couple of classes at a community college, and the work he did for me was purely form driven (http://www.winforms.com/) and cost $40k a pop, I would do it myself.

That said, most folks are probably not inclined, or prepared at all to do it for themselves, but they should at least be driving hard bargains with the agents they hire, and should be asking tough questions at every step of the way, considering the large sums forked over (and financed over 30 years w/ interest) for RE services at today’s price levels.

[JJGittes]

You still have to go through the process and cost to become a broker, and, as I read it, pay $382 to access the mls. You might as well become a Realtor(put little trademark thingy here). Unless you are going to make a business of it, it seems to make more sense to go with Karchin, or housepad.com, for a posting in the mls.

Sd realtor made good points, and is a straight shooter, as usual.

[JJGittes]

You still have to go through the process and cost to become a broker, and, as I read it, pay $382 to access the mls. You might as well become a Realtor(put little trademark thingy here). Unless you are going to make a business of it, it seems to make more sense to go with Karchin, or housepad.com, for a posting in the mls.

Sd realtor made good points, and is a straight shooter, as usual.

[JJGittes]

What, ditch the boomers? Then who would we be able to depend upon to lose yet another war? Oops, sorry, I guess I have to give them the first gulf war, and Grenada…

[JJGittes]

What, ditch the boomers? Then who would we be able to depend upon to lose yet another war? Oops, sorry, I guess I have to give them the first gulf war, and Grenada…

[JJGittes]

$4000 is way high for what you’d pay a lawyer. We are talking a total of half a dozen forms. $1000, $2000 max.

[JJGittes]

$4000 is way high for what you’d pay a lawyer. We are talking a total of half a dozen forms. $1000, $2000 max.

[JJGittes]

Access to CAR forms can be a little difficult. (Legalforms.com sells decent alternative forms, but the escrow companies may want the CAR forms.) But if you shop around, a lot of escrow companies will provide the Cal. Purchase Agreement to a seller and buyer that walks in the door ready to go. There are a few other forms, like the disclosure forms that are important too. Things are also a bit easier now though with the Natural Hazard Disclosure that comes through the escrow company.

Also, re: selling, MLS access is the other biggy. But I suppose you can go with a flat fee listing, and put a 1% to buyers agent on it. Just don’t expect much cooperation from the RE community. They don’t like the flat fee listers, and won’t be motivated much by the 1% to bring their buyer-clients (whom they are working in the best interest of, right?) by your house. In any event, you will still get the widest marketing thru the MLS via realtor.com, and the other brokerage sites that pick up the MLS.

Also, don’t forget CRAIGSLIST, I know two people who sold their home in SD thru craigslist to relocating techies from the bay area, who use it extensively, and don’t much like the traditional 5-6% ($40-48k for a typical decent SD house!) vig that goes to RE agents.

[JJGittes]

Access to CAR forms can be a little difficult. (Legalforms.com sells decent alternative forms, but the escrow companies may want the CAR forms.) But if you shop around, a lot of escrow companies will provide the Cal. Purchase Agreement to a seller and buyer that walks in the door ready to go. There are a few other forms, like the disclosure forms that are important too. Things are also a bit easier now though with the Natural Hazard Disclosure that comes through the escrow company.

Also, re: selling, MLS access is the other biggy. But I suppose you can go with a flat fee listing, and put a 1% to buyers agent on it. Just don’t expect much cooperation from the RE community. They don’t like the flat fee listers, and won’t be motivated much by the 1% to bring their buyer-clients (whom they are working in the best interest of, right?) by your house. In any event, you will still get the widest marketing thru the MLS via realtor.com, and the other brokerage sites that pick up the MLS.

Also, don’t forget CRAIGSLIST, I know two people who sold their home in SD thru craigslist to relocating techies from the bay area, who use it extensively, and don’t much like the traditional 5-6% ($40-48k for a typical decent SD house!) vig that goes to RE agents.

[JJGittes]

Anybody ever seen a chart that smooths out gains since, say, 1985? I’d be interested to see where we are considering the declines/flatness of 1991-1996.

[JJGittes]

Anybody ever seen a chart that smooths out gains since, say, 1985? I’d be interested to see where we are considering the declines/flatness of 1991-1996.

[JJGittes]

Actually, I wouldn’t be that surprised about weakness in LJ (central) Village area. Lots of posers around there who stretched for 900 sf shacks and townhouses, so they too could be one of the beautiful people.

The oldies up the hill who are prop 13’d in will die in their houses though….probably literally.

Also, I concur about the better areas. In my 92009, 92011 and (northern 92024) stomping grounds, lots of pending signs are popping up on properties that were simply not grossly overpriced.

[JJGittes]

Actually, I wouldn’t be that surprised about weakness in LJ (central) Village area. Lots of posers around there who stretched for 900 sf shacks and townhouses, so they too could be one of the beautiful people.

The oldies up the hill who are prop 13’d in will die in their houses though….probably literally.

Also, I concur about the better areas. In my 92009, 92011 and (northern 92024) stomping grounds, lots of pending signs are popping up on properties that were simply not grossly overpriced.

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