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Whether you are buying or selling property, the experience requires time, effort, experience and skill. A REALTOR® can be a tremendous asset throughout the experience and help you to make informed decisions.
REALTORS® advise and assist clients on a variety of issues including pricing the property, preparing it to sell, required forms and disclosures, negotiating the contract and closing the sale.
And, unlike many real estate agents who are simply licensed by their state to do business, REALTORS® have taken additional steps to become members of the local board of REALTORS® and have agreed to act under and adhere to a strict Code of Ethics. Read more»
Through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), REALTORS® ensure that the greatest numbers of potential buyers are exposed to each property.
Tools for homebuyers
Even before you begin looking for a home, the home buying process requires diligent preparation. Buyers who have been preapproved for a home loan often have their offers taken more seriously by sellers. With advance preparation, you can tackle the process of acquiring the financing you need with more confidence. To help you on the path to homeownership, the Fannie Mae Foundation offers free step-by-step guides that can help you get closer to achieving your dream. Click here to download the guides or order a print version online.
Glossary of Housing Terms
Click here for a glossary of housing terms provided with permission by Fannie Mae.
Central Ohio Home Sales
Homes in the central Ohio area have set records over the past several years. Check out the latest home sale statistics. Read more»
Find a REALTOR®
Looking for professional assistance with buying or selling your home? To find a REALTOR® in central Ohio can help with the marketing, showing, negotiation, legalities and paperwork necessary to complete the process click here.
2009 First-time Home buyer Tax Credit
The First-Time Home buyer Tax Credit contained in the 2009 Economic Stimulus Bill bumped the credit up to $8,000 (from $7,500 in 2008) and the recapture provision (a big impediment in the prior version) was removed. In addition, HUD has announced the tax credit may be used at the closing table. Read more»
Guide to avoiding Foreclosure
Whether you're in foreclosure now or worried about it in the future, HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are available to provide you with the information and assistance you need to avoid foreclosure. Read more»
About Columbus
The Columbus Chamber leads economic growth and development in the Columbus Region. Our economic development team can connect you with the people, information and resources your business needs. Read more»
Fair Housing
Housing discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability is illegal by federal law. If you have been trying to buy or rent a home or apartment and you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint. Read more»
How to become a REALTOR®
In order to become a REALTOR®, you must first get your Ohio Real Estate Salesperson, Broker or Appraiser license. Read more»
What’s up with the alphabet soup behind a REALTORS®' name?
Today’s real estate industry is competitive and dynamic. Successful real estate professionals are always adapting to demographic trends, embracing technology, and staying up-to-date on recent market developments. One way REALTORS® add value to the real estate transaction is by understanding how to best serve the particular needs of different buyers, whether they’re purchasing their first home or have multiple investment properties.
Toward that end, designations and certifications help REALTORS® expand their knowledge base through advanced education. By obtaining a designation or certification (denoted by the alphabet soup following a REALTORS®' name), buyers and sellers will know that a REALTOR® has a particular expertise in a given area. Read more»
Commissions
Under the long-established policy of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®, the Ohio Association of REALTORS®, and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®:
- The broker’s compensation for services rendered in respect to any listing is solely a matter of negotiation between the broker and his or her client, and is not fixed, controlled, recommended, or maintained by any persons not a party to the listing agreement.
- The compensation paid by a listing broker to a cooperating broker in respect to any listing is established by the listing broker and is not fixed, controlled, recommended, or maintained by any persons other than the listing broker.
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