By Anonymous September 24, 2009
"I was so fortunate to have selected Dave Prouty as my Agent, as I begin the search for my next home. I had not been in the market for over ten years, and found Dave's contact information on his website. I called to speak with him, and could tell that he was the one! I especially appreciated that Dave was a good listener, and very attentive to understanding my wishes for my next home, including location, price range, and amenities. In no way did Dave try to "sell" me into a home that did not exactly fit my needs. He displayed very high integrity, was astoundingly responsive, and though I found the home I wanted relatively quickly in our search, Dave was ready and willing to look at any potential property that we found together. His knowledge of the market was very much appreciated, and his insights were extremely valuable. Dave interacted with my mortgage banker, assured clear and timely communications with the seller's agent, and "held my hand" right through the final closing. ...read more
So you go and buy a large screen tv and you are offered a rebate for buying it... you get an iPod and you are offered a rebate... you get a cell phone and are offered a rebate... you buy a computer and are offered a rebate... well, you get the point. Well, did you know that in Minnesota (and several other states) it is 100% legal to get a cash rebate when you buy real estate? As long as you work with an agent that their brokerage allows a rebate, you, as a party to the transaction can get a rebate of part of the commission they receive. You must be the buyer or seller, for example, the Realtor is not allowed to rebate someone that referred you to them, or a mortgage loan officer or title closer, etc. But it is 100% legal to get part of the commission back as long as you are the buyer or the seller.The Department of Justice promotes cash rebates because it lowers to cost of home ownership. So if you know anyone looking to buy or build a home, have them look for a Realtor that will give them a cash rebate after closing. Nothing would be different, but getting the cash back. Commissions are 100% negotiable in Minnesota and by working with an agent that will give you a rebate, you save money. In this economy, who couldn't use some extra money:)Good luck with your house hunting!Dave ProutyDavid Prouty is the broker and owner of Get a Rebate Real Estate. Prouty can be contact via email atdavid@davidprouty.comor by calling 612.860.1537 www.GetaRebateRealEstate.com ...read more
By Get a Rebate Real Estate December 24, 2009
In the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, the seller or builder nearly always pays the commission of both the listing agent (the broker or agent that has the home listed for sale) and the selling agent (the agent that brings the buyer to the transaction). Sellers and buyers can be represented by different brokerages, however, if the company that has the property listed for sale and the company that your Realtor works for are the same, you could get in to what is called Dual Agency. Dual Agency is a conflict of interest since true representation is not possible. For example, a listing brokerage promises to work to get the seller the highest price and best terms for the seller... and the selling brokerage promises to work to get the buyer the lowest price and best terms for the buyer. Impossible to do both.Some buyers think if they bypass a Realtor and go straight to the listing agent or builder that they will somehow be able to save money on the commission. Unfortunately, a buyer is much better off having a Realtor on their side to negotiate and look out for their best interests. The listing contract is already in place when a home is listed on MLS, and if a builder sells a property for a lower price then another buyer with a Realtor may come along and want the same house for the same price. Since Realtors sell the majority of builder's homes, they will not jeopardize the relationship and will always have commission factored in. As a buyer, the seller or builder pays the commission, so there really is no out of pocket cost to you.In fact, a good Realtor on your side could save you thousands by negotiating on your behalf.Good luck with your home search.Dave ProutyDavid Prouty is the broker and owner of Get a Rebate Real Estate and can be contacted atdavid@davidprouty.comor by phone at 612.860.1537 www.GetaRebateRealEstate.com ...read more
By Get a Rebate Real Estate December 24, 2009
Are you looking to buy a house? When you go to look at houses, you will quickly see that realtors do not use street addresses as a method of identifying houses. They use an MLS number which allows them to quickly access information about a property for sale. Using a street address gives you some infor... ...read more
Finding the perfect place for your business can take a great deal of time and research. You may want to lease a building rather than rent it. Leasing a building helps you build equity in the building. Depending on your location, commercial property may be listed for lease differently than traditional ... ...read more
