Tips to Negotiate Seal Beach Real Estate Agents Commissions
April 19, 2010
Regardless of local customs or what Seal Beach real estate agents tell you, you have to know that their commissions are negotiable. In fact, there are brokers or agents who will even agree to a full percent reduction of their commissions right off the bat. These agents are open to discussing about having their fees reduced. Do not hesitate to ask because rarely would you meet an agent who will take offense. In fact, they expect it and they likely have a speech prepared to dissuade you.
Understand the Local Custom of Transaction
Before you can effectively negotiate your real estate agent’s commission, you need to understand how they are paid. This will depend on various things including company policy. Usually, a good agent expects to be paid more. He will also charge a higher commission fee. An agent who barely closes one deal every month or so will likely charge lower commission fees.
Remember, however, that only licensed brokers can actually charge commission on sale. Usually a broker will have agents working for them. They will pay these agents as independent contractors.
When You Get the Same Agent to Do the Selling and Buying
When you hire the same Seal Beach real estate agent to sell and buy properties for you, you can in good conscience ask for reduction of commission fees without feeling guilty. It is actually permissible to do so. If someone works as your listing agent and he or she earns a commission from the listing side, she will also earn a commission from the selling side of a “buy a home” transaction. He or she gets to work on two deals and earn on both deals. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable to ask for a reduction in commission.
When You and the Buyer Gets the Same Agent
When the seller and buyer of the same property hire the same agent, a dual agency is created. This is not legal in some states because it creates a double-ending transaction. The agent, however, acquires increased liabilities. When this happens, it is a common practice to inquire from the Seal Beach real estate agent to lower his or her commission fees. Be careful about doing so because it might backfire in you. The agent may end up working for the interest of the other party more than your own interest especially if the other party is willing to work with the agent’s asking commission rate.
Indeed, there are scenarios wherein it is acceptable and even accepted to ask for the reduction of Seal Beach real estate agents commission fees.
Seal Beach Real Estate Brokers Secrets
April 17, 2010
There are many reasons why you need to be careful when choosing your Seal Beach real estate brokers. Choosing one can be very tricky, so you have to take some things into consideration. Not all brokers are honest and dependable. There are those who put their clients’ welfare only next to theirs. Choosing a good broker can get you far. It helps to know the secrets they might be holding back. Knowing these things will help you deal properly with them. You will be able to gauge the right broker for you.
Regardless of What They Say, Their Fees are Negotiable
If your broker tells you that his fees are negotiable, don’t buy it. Seal Beach real estate agents are fiercely competitive, so they are often open to lowering their fee even to a full percentage points. Of course, they would not actually come out and say it, but you can definitely try to negotiate. You need to find your leverage, so you can negotiate broker’s fees effectively.
No Offers? Don’t Buy It!
It’s a buyer’s market, so it may be true that it may be hard to sell your home and you may not have offers rolling in. However, do not automatically buy it. There are real estate agents who may think that the offer is insultingly low, so he may not even tell you about it. There are times, however, when the offer is good, but he may feel that it is not big enough for a bigger commission. You need to be clear with your agent that you want to be informed of every offer that comes his way.
Remember, He May Be Working for Someone Else!
If you are looking for a property in Seal Beach, you may likely end up dealing with someone else’s real estate broker. Unfortunately, you may tend to be loose-lipped and forget that he or she is actually working for the seller and not for you. For instance, if you happen to mention that you can afford to pay $500,000, but you would like to negotiate the price to $400,000, don’t count on the broker taking your side. He will take the seller’s side. After all, he will get a bigger commission, so you end up paying for the full $500,000.
Seal Beach real estate agents employ different tricks and they may harbor trade secrets that you may not know about. You have to be aware of these tricks and secrets, so you can get the best service and value for your money.
Why Work with a Seal Beach Realtor® When Buying or Selling Real Estate?
February 11, 2010

Buyers of Seal Beach California real estate that choose to work with a Seal Beach Realtor® benefit from having a professional partner who will not only provide the information they want about the area and lifestyle, but also assess their needs and match them to the right location and property. Your real estate agent is always available to address every question you may have, handle every logistical aspect of the transaction and take care of all of the paperwork so that you can fully concentrate on enjoying the experience.
While FSBO’s have always interested homeowners who are selling their Seal Beach property , in most cases even the most experienced seller will choose to work with a Realtor®. With the amount of time it takes to stage, show, and negotiate a sale, working with an agent is a cost and time efficient solution that also increases the potential of your home being sold. Their professional experience is unmatched, and can help avoid many common obstacles that owners often face when dealing with a sale.
To learn more about working with a Seal Beach Realtor®, contact Baytown Realty today.
About the Author: Baytown Realty has been a fixture in Seal Beach for over 30 years. His work ethic and perseverance have carried him through and he proudly celebrates his 30th year as a business owner in Seal Beach. Jim has teamed up with his daughter Shana and they are providing superior real estate services that include home sales, property management services, area rentals, relocation services and investment property sales. Ask us about our proven marketing and negotiation strategies.
Article Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2558824
Seal Beach Real Estate – Importance of Using a Local Realtor
February 2, 2010
http://www.NatSellsSealbeach.com Seal Beach is a small town that deserves the attention of a local Realtor. If you considering buying a home in Seal Beach, you’ll want to watch this short video about the advantage of calling me.
Duration : 0:2:14
Seal Beach Real Estate Agents: Your Partner In Owning A Home
January 13, 2010

Buying a new home in Seal Beach can be a very time consuming process. You can literally spend days just looking at listings, and still not be able to pick out anything you think would work for you. All the properties start to blur together in your mind, and it can be a real battle to make progress toward a sale.
You can save yourself a considerable amount of time by partnering with a locally based Seal Beach real estate agent. Your agent’s job is to know what’s on the market now, so you don’t have to waste your precious time clicking on listing links. With around 1500 homes for sale at any given moment, it pay to go with someone who already knows the property market well rather than wasting days trying to give yourself an insiders edge.
A Seal Beach real estate agent should also, on a personal level, share the buyer’s enthusiasm for their impending purchase. Good realtors work for more than money. Though the commissions are oftentimes very impressive, many agents still enjoy the thrill of getting their clients their dream home. There are few, if any, more important purchases in an individual’s life and making a match between the right home and the right owner is something of an art. Good realtors will be personally involved in all of their transactions and will take a particular level of pride in making certain that all their client’s needs are met.
Seal Beach real estate agent services are very much tied into technology. The good realtors use technology to their client’s advantage, making certain that they are informed of the latest houses that come available and that the agent can work market trends to their client’s favor. This blend of the personal and the professional is what makes a relationship with any service provider work. Where real estate is concerned, there are few more important relationships than a good one between an agent and their client. With the right agent, a client can rest assured that they are getting the best deals.
110 Old Ranch Road, Seal Beach, CA
January 4, 2010
For more information about this property, please contact First Team Real Estate at 866-938-5812. View all our videos at http://www.youtube.com/FirstTeamProperties Company website http://www.firstteam.com MLS ID: P652798
Treat yourself to luxury living in this wonderful townhome w/over 2000 SF! Enter through your private courtyard entrance to an open floor plan with a neutral decor and featuring a vaulted ceiling in the spacious living room with mirrored fireplace. The raised level formal dining room is wonderful for entertaining guests and includes a built-in buffet cabinet. You’ll certainly enjoy the expansive kitchen with upgraded corian countertops and a charming breakfast nook area…and an attractive beveled glass door leading to an outdoor balcony which is great for year round BBQing! Enjoy the cozy downstairs den/TV/guest room…Then upstairs you’ll be delighted with the luxurious Master Suite & whirlpool tub, plus a second bedroom which could also be used as an in-home office or exercise room. Conveniently located across from the community clubhouse & pool/spa. Adjacent to the prestigious Old Ranch Golf Country Club & SLB Tennis Club. Acclaimed Los Alamitos Schools.
Duration : 0:1:25
417 Galleon Way, Seal Beach, CA
January 4, 2010
For more information about this property, please contact First Team Real Estate at 866-938-5812. View all our videos at http://www.youtube.com/FirstTeamProperties Company website http://www.firstteam.com MLS ID: P709346
One of a kind beautifully expanded Bridgport 2-story with 3 garages. Complete remodeled includes 2 bedrooms downstairs one enlarged to create a play area & a loft. The 2nd floor master bedroom suite includes a private office, spa tub & separate shower, plenty of storage w/ walk-in closet. The open floorplan with vaulted ceilings give this home a spacious feel. Remodeled kitchen w/ Wolf oven/range, opens to the large living room dining room plus den. Fireplace in living room This area opens to the private patio. The full bath features the homes second spa bath. The floors have the look of beautiful dark wood but with the convenience of tile. New windows throughtout with some beveled glass. This quiet community with little turn-over offers all the benefits of beach living with none of the drawbacks. Walk to the ocean & charming Main St with restaurants & shops. Only 5 minutes to 3 major freeways
Duration : 0:1:21
Seal Beach, CA Downtown Shore
January 4, 2010
Photos taken on a stroll around town. All originals. Music (hopefully) is by Cyndi Lauper.
Duration : 0:2:48
Seal Beach
December 23, 2009
Seal Beach, California – If you’re looking to visit, vacation, to shop, enjoy a beach, dine, watch a classic movie, fish on the pier, kitesurf and just hang out, by all means go to Seal Beach. Of the Orange County beaches, it offers the best blend of shopping and beach-ing that you’ll find. Why? There’s lots to do in Laguna Beach but the traffic can be daunting. Newport Beach doesn’t offer enough shopping along Main Street near its beaches, unless you seek souvenir gifts. Huntington Beach Main Street shopping offers a few gems but lacks those great antique stores, garden shops and clothing for the over-25 crowd. San Clemente’s shopping isn’t at the beach, per se. So after checking them all out, we choose Seal Beach as our favorite beach experience with the premier beach shopping, free parking and shops offering something for everyone at affordable prices.
Duration : 0:2:35
Buying Real Estate – How To Be Smart When Attending Open Houses
December 4, 2009
If you’re planning on buying a new home, attending open houses can be a good way to find a home you want or pick up useful ideas from what you find. Visiting open houses should be an enjoyable and fun experience, but you also have to keep focused on the reason why you are there. Primarily you’re trying to get home buying information and maybe even find that special house that you have been looking for.
With that in mind, you need to approach visiting open houses with an organized mindset. Very often, you’ll be visiting several open houses in the same day. And over the course of a few weeks, it can add up to quite a few homes that you have visited. As a result, it can be very easy to forget important points from one house to the next. So to ovoid this problem, it’s a good idea to take very good notes on each home that you visit and perhaps even take along a digital camera to get a few snapshots if you wish. Of course, make sure that it is agreeable with the householder before taking photos of the inside of their home.
Whenever you visit an open house, jot down a few things that you like and dislike about it as soon as you arrive. What is its overall appearance from the outside? Is it close to nearby schools if that is a necessity? How about shopping malls? And how far away would it be from your job? Sometimes these are questions that home buyers fail to take into account early in the buying process.
When inside the home, be sure to check everything and take plenty of notes as you go. A few things to watch for are the condition of the cabinets, the carpet, the walls, the ceilings, and so on. Take good notes on any items if you feel may need repair.
Consider the size of all the rooms in the home, and determine if they will meet the needs of you and your family. If necessary, even take a tape rule with you to be able to measure out individual rooms and see what kind of space is available. Pay particular attention to storage and closet space, as this is an area that is quite often overlooked by new home buyers, but will become very important if you should decide to buy.
It’s also a good practice to spend a few minutes outside the home and listen for noises that could be bothersome. Perhaps there is a train that passes nearby, or freeway noise that seems excessive. Just taking the time to listen can sometimes be very illuminating, and can help you ovoid moving into a home where noises could be constantly irritating.
Of course at most open houses, a real estate agent or broker is likely to be present. If so, feel free to ask plenty of questions, but keep in mind that the answers may not always be straightforward. If you try to make notes though as the questions are answered, there is a good chance that you’ll get more honest answers. Don’t be shy about asking questions either, as the purchase of a new home is a very large investment, and you want to be sure that you are well informed about all aspects of the home before you even consider it as a purchase.
Sometimes you may even find some mortgage lenders attending certain open houses as well. But just be sure to stick to your original schedule, and not fall for any special deals that they offer you if you buy right away. Remember, open houses are just for looking, not for buying.
Sometimes you can find the home you want within a short period of time, and other times you may have to visit several open houses before you find anything that seems to appeal to you. Just be sure to take your time and be patient as you go through the process of visiting local open houses.
Jim Johnson
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/buying-real-estate-how-to-be-smart-when-attending-open-houses-26970.html