Posts Tagged ‘national’
How to Become a Real Estate Agent
If you’re wondering how to become a real estate agent, the basic process is fairly simple, although it does vary a lot from state to state.. You will need to take classes, pass exams, earn a real estate license, find a broker to work for, then find sellers or buyers as clients.
To successfully practice as a real estate agent in this competitive business can be challenging. You’ll have to stay current on legal changes, understand the real estate contracts and be technologically aware. If you are determined, the payout can be huge.
Here are the basics of what you need to know about becoming a real estate agent.
1) Real Estate Agent Licensing Requirements The Licensing requirements are different for each state. In general, you will have to:
-Meet an age requirement
-Pass a background check
-Complete approved real estate courses from a state-approved school
-Pass a state exam
-Complete an application form
-Submit various fees
Agents just earning their license work for a real estate broker. Most new agents sign up with one of the big company brokerages. If you decide at some point to work for yourself, you will need to earn a broker license. Note that the most successful agents, even those working for a broker, treat the real estate profession as their own business, not just a job. This is one of the secrets to success in this field.
2) A Day in the Life of a Real Estate Agent A real estate agent’s primary job function is to help clients in the (complex) process of buying and selling real estate.
The list of duties includes but is not limited to:
-Interview buyers to determine what kinds of properties they are looking for.
-Submit buyers’ purchase offers to sellers.
-Work with lenders, escrow officers, home inspectors, and pest control operators to make sure that transactions close on time.
-Prepare documents such as listing and purchase agreements.
-Be the intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers.
-Determine a property’s market value by comparing the property with similar properties that have recently sold.
-Schedule appointments to show homes to potential buyers.
-Find properties that are consistent with buyers’ needs and available finances.
-There is so much variety that a real estate agent is usually never bored.
3) What is a REALTOR®? Many people are confused about the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®.
A real estate agent becomes a REALTOR® when he or she pays an annual fee to the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its Code of Ethics. The agent generally joins through the local board or association, at the city level. Membership in the REALTORS® is optional, but highly recommended.
4) How much can you earn? Real estate agents are generally paid on commission. This commission is a percentage of the sales price. The seller will generally pay 4-6% of the sales price as the fee for having a professional sell their property. That will often be split equally between the seller’s broker and broker who brings the buyer to the table.
As an example, if the fee for a $300,000 property is 6%, the buyer’s broker will be paid 3% or $9000 and the seller’s broker will also be paid 3% or $9000. The agent is paid directly by the employing broker, using their agreed-upon commission split. This is often 50-50 for beginning agents, so in that case the agent in our example would receive $4500.
Visit Real Estate Career Info for requirements for obtaining a real estate license in your state.
This article may be reprinted if proper credit is given and all links left intact.
Copyright©2005 Real-Estate-Career-Info.com
Andre McFayden, Ph.D. is a Real Estate Broker and contributor to real-estate-career-info.com
Are Online Degrees Valid to Prospective Employers?
Online distance learning has gained rapid popularity with the advent of the internet, which has proven to offer great supporting facilities and convenience for online education. However, just like everything else with pros and cons, the internet has also opened doors for the widespread sale of bogus online degrees. According a report by USA Today, there were already 400 diploma mills in the year 2003 and the numbers are rising. In fact, many of these unscrupulous operations are run by organizations in an industry that is worth $500 million a year.
However, amidst the negative hype about online education, there are actually many distance learning colleges offering valid degrees and diplomas. These institutions do not sell bogus certificates, but actually aim to provide quality education as alternatives for on-campus higher education. Valid online courses with online video lectures as well as online library facilities and test examinations conducted are often deployed to ensure that students truly qualify in their areas of study and graduate legitimately. Sadly though, many employers only see the negative side of things, and easily brush off online education degrees as equivalent to bogus degrees.
In view of the confusion, the National Education Board of the U.S. government has authorized 6 accreditation agencies to provide institutional accreditation to education institutions, as a measure to differentiate legitimate universities from the crooks. This means that students choosing their universities will be assured that these universities would have met minimum criteria set forth by these agencies for learning institutions. Additionally, there is also The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) which provides accreditation specifically for distance learning institutions. The DETC is an accreditation agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Furthermore, there is also specialized accreditation for specific programs of different areas of specialization. These programs which are found to have attained excellence will be awarded accreditation by various professional accrediting agencies depending on the area of specialization. For instance, the International Association for Management Education (AACSB) gives accreditation to accounting related programs while health programs are accredited by the American Health Information Management Association. It is also important to know that only accreditation agencies recognized by the Department of Education or CHEA are considered accreditation agencies which are acknowledged.
What does accreditation mean to a student? An institutional accreditation agency evaluates the various aspects of universities or colleges against minimum standard criteria to determine if the particular institution meets their list of basic requirements and quality of education. College accreditation is necessary to ensure that the education, facilities and support provided by a college or university adheres to basic levels. On the other hand, specialized accreditation evaluates excellence in individual program regardless of which institution the program is being delivered within. In this type of accreditation, course content and program curricula is evaluated against pre-set standards of the institution.
All accreditation does is to assure employers, students and parents that the graduates who are awarded degrees from accredited colleges have undergone quality and adequate training in their respective areas of specialization. This also means that colleges that are not accredited by the proper accreditation body would not have met the standards imposed by the agencies. However, courses taken by prospective employees that are accredited by the respective agencies would have met standards imposed on the respective specialized areas.
It is totally up to the judgment and decision of the employers on evaluating the validity of an online or on-campus degree. With the recent hike in bogus degrees, employers can’t help but be stringent in their applicant screenings and consider those with degrees that have been accredited. This may prove tedious and sometimes employers may get confused. Therefore, if your accreditation is provided by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education, then you will need to explain to your prospective employers on the background of the accrediting bodies. This way, you can avoid employers from sidelining your application based on something that they may be unclear about and increase your chances of being short listed for a job interview.
Rose Musyoka is the editor of http://www.distance-learning-college-guide.com where you find answers, information and advice on distance learning colleges, accredited online degrees and online courses. See more related information on distance learning colleges and why college accreditation is important.
Senate Finance Committee Delays FDA Approval of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy for Depression
On June 15th, 2004, FDA’s Medical Devices Panel recommended that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve vagus nerve stimulation as a therapy for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. I was at the meeting, seated in the first row and made a presentation to the Panel.
Yet, one year later, we still do not have a final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
What’s the delay? Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, unexpectedly decided to examine the FDA’s decision to allow this therapy to be used to treat depression. Vagus nerve stimulation therapy has been FDA approved for epilepsy for eight years. Although this is not a formal investigation, it is apparently an impediment to the immediate issuance of FDA’s final approval. I am not aware of the Senate Finance Committee’s scientific and medical credentials. However, I do have first-hand knowledge of certain FDA Medical Device Panel Members lack of familiarity with the FDA’s own regulations and guidelines.
If you would like to express your outrage at the continued delay of final FDA approval, please contact:
U.S. Senate Committee on Finance
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6200
Sen. Grassley Staff: (202) 224-4515
Sen. Baucus Staff: (202) 224-5315
Senator Chuck Grassley
Chairman, Senate Finance Committee
135 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510-1501
(202) 224-3744 Telephone
Web Link for e-mail: http://grassley.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Ironically, this one-year anniversary coincides with the issuance of a $20 million landmark study sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health. This is the most comprehensive mental health study undertaken by the government. The study reported that 25% of Americans suffered a psychiatric disorder in the year prior to the survey, but most failed to get adequate care. Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health commented that “mental disorders are highly prevalent and chronic.” As expected, researchers found that the most common disorder was depression. Depression typically started in early adulthood, 20’s and 30’s, and progressively got worse and more difficult to treat. If you suffer from chronic or treatment-resistant depression, you don’t need a $20 million research study to tell you that depression is difficult to treat.
Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial for vagus nerve stimulation and depression. He testified to the Panel at the Advisory Meeting on June 15th, 2004. After 25 years of chronic depression, vagus nerve stimulation completely cured his chronic depression. The author is most grateful and humbled by this remarkable device. Learn more at his website: http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com or read about this life-saving, life altering therapy in his book:
Out of the Black Hole: The Patient’s Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression.
It is available at on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, 1-888-VAGUS-88 or on his web site, http://www.vagusnervestimulator.com/book/
