All Forum Posts by: Jon Deavers

Chances are the seller has signed an "exclusive right to sell" listing agreement with their agent, which means they would still have to pay the listing agent commission even if they sold to you one on one . Even if they haven't. cutting out a buying agent doesn't save you or the seller any money. It just opens the door for negotiations to go wrong.

Think of a buyer's agent as a free lawyer. They bring expertise and good advice to a deal and it doesn't cost you anything as the buyer. Example: what @Tom Reynolds states above is the kind of advice or knowledge your buyer's agent would have when shopping for a piece of land to build on. Not all parcels are suitable for development.

I hope this helps. Best of luck with your purchase and future enterprise!

Welcome Christopher!

I love visiting your neck of the woods. Made the pilgrimage to York many times in my former life as a Harley employee.

BP is a great resource and I second the podcast recommendation. It has been invaluable for me in helping shape my goals and inspiring me to take action.

Best of luck!

Hey Jerome,

I would also suggest a smaller firm, especially if you are focusing on becoming/working with investors. The training and culture at most national houses is geared nearly 100% towards retail sales. Interviewing multiple firms is key, but the best advice is to make sure you lay out your goals during the interview. If you want to work with investors, try searching for local brokerages that also provide property management solutions and reach out to them to see if they're taking on more agents. The commissions splitting is far less important now than getting onto a firm that specializes (or has a team that specializes) in what you're interested in becoming. For an investor focused Realtor, having a mentor in your chosen area of focused is far more valuable than the retail/primary residence focused training regimens of the big national houses like KW and L&F.

Best of luck!

Hi Kay and welcome to the forums. I would start by downloading the back catalog of BiggerPockets' podcasts. There are tons of interviews with real-life success stories from the forums here on topics that will critical in getting started. Everything from deep dives into the economics of flipping to creative financing and getting started with none of your own money.

Also, dig around this forum. There are tons of knowledgeable investors on BP that have done it all and many from a starting position just like yours. 

Best of luck in finding your own path. You've made a great start by joining the BP community.

That's spot on. The culinary scene is one of the biggest draws to multiple revitalized neighborhoods in the city limits. My favorite restaurant (Mamma Zu's) is smack dab in the middle of Oregon Hill. OH never quite reached the lows of Church Hill or Jackson Ward, but it also hasn't seen the same level of rehab love that those neighborhoods have either, so there is some great investment there too.

Congratulations Brianna!

It's always a good idea to follow the investment advice of a reality TV star. They're known for having accurate and expert opinions. :)

I think it's just like any other time in the history of money. Invest in what you know or get to know what you plan to invest in. Sure, stocks and bonds could generate higher returns cash on cash, but not in a mutual fund and not by an amateur just picking something off of e-trade. Plus, if his idea of investing in RE is buying a home and hoping to bank on a certain percentage of appreciation, then he's probably doing it wrong.

I think it depends on your situation, your level of involvement with your investments, your tolerance for risk, and a thousand other factors. This just sounds like a sound-byte from a talking head looking to bolster ratings.

Your best bet would most likely be to search local listings for local firms and property management brokerages. A lot of brokers may be hesitant to bring you on board if you don't plan to be working listings/buyers as a primary focus (at least to get started). The big investments on the broker's part for hanging your license would mainly be in education provided and the assumption of liability for your deals. 

Remember that when selecting a broker to hang your license, you are conducting the interview of that broker and their firm as much as (or more than) they are interviewing you to determine if you're a good fit for them. Write down a list of questions and talking points that outline your goals and be open and honest with the brokers during the interview phase. Taking the time to talk to multiple brokers in order to find one that will fit your needs and help you accomplish your goals is a big investment that will save you lots of trouble in the future.

Congrats on completing your pre-licensing education and good luck finding the right firm. Cincinnati is a big town and there's bound to be a perfect match for your goals in the area. 

Hello Brendan! Welcome to the site. Richmond is a great market and full of opportunity. I'm a Realtor in the Richmond area and would love to catch up sometime to discuss your criteria and keep you posted on opportunities here in the River City.

That's a great point about the values. I think it's due to the revitalization efforts that investors and homeowners have undertaken in some of the city's historic neighborhoods that had fallen into disrepair during the 80's and 90's.

When I was at VCU in 99-2000, you wouldn't want to be anywhere near Jackson Ward, Church Hill, Oregon Hill, etc. but with the stabilized job market and the massive investment VCU has made in midtown and downtown over the last 10-15 years, all of those neighborhoods (and more) have been mostly restored to their former glory. Unfortunately, the boundaries aren't well defined between the nice part of a neighborhood and the still struggling part of the same neighborhood so you really need to have first hand experience on the ground if you're moving in or investing from out of town.