SELLING YOUR HOME?  It's a complex transaction that takes time, effort and expertise. It takes a real estate professional. REALTORS® are real estate professionals who belong to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all real estate brokers and agents are REALTORS®. To be sure you're working one, look for the federally registered membership mark REALTOR®. Here's how a REALTOR® can help you: 1. A REALTOR® knows the current real estate market and can help you set a realistic and competitive price. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. A REALTOR® is familiar with the local home loan market, knows if seller assistance is advisable and can help you decide the type of financing that's best to expedite your sale. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. A REALTOR® knows how to figure the approximate net proceeds from your sale, based on types of loans, your outstanding loan balance and closing costs. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. A REALTOR® knows how to add sales appeal to your home at low or moderate cost. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. A REALTOR® knows where to find prospective buyers. Most homebuyers prefer to work with a real estate agent and serious prospects are "qualified" as to their affordable price range before they are shown through your home. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. A REALTOR® can tap an even larger market, if necessary, through referrals and marketing techniques. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. A REALTOR® frees you from the problems associated with showing your home. The realtor handles all phone inquiries, makes appointments, does the actual showing and follows up. Your time is your own and your home is not exposed to anyone who has not been pre-qualified. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. A REALTOR® is a skilled salesperson who knows how to merchandise your home effectively. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. A REALTOR® maintains objectivity in responding to possible criticisms by the buyer and in presenting offers and counter-offers until an agreement is reached. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. A REALTOR® knows how to help the buyer meet local financing requirements and go about obtaining a mortgage loan. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. A REALTOR® can familiarize you with the closing procedures by explaining them all in advance. A REALTOR® usually attends the closing with you.     BUYING A HOME? It's probably the biggest investment you'll ever make, with long-term financial ramifications. It calls for many informed decisions and for good advice from a real estate professional. REALTORS® are real estate professionals who belong to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribe to its Strict Code of Ethics. Not all real estate brokers are REALTORS®. To make sure you're working with one, look for the federally registered membership mark REALTOR®. When buying a home, here's what you can learn from a REALTOR®'s knowledge and skill: 1. A REALTOR® helps you determine how much home you can actually afford. Often a REALTOR® can suggest additional ways to accrue the down payment and explain alternative financing methods. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. A REALTOR® can help you work out a realistic idea of the home best suited to your needs - size, style, features, location, accessibility to schools, transportation, shopping, etc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. A REALTOR® has access to listings of available homes, can evaluate them in terms of your needs and affordability, and doesn't waste your time on unsuitable homes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. A REALTOR® can often suggest simple, imaginative changes that could make a home more suitable for you and improve its utility and value. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. A REALTOR® can supply information on real estate values, taxes, utility costs, municipal services facilities, and may be aware of proposed zoning changes that could affect your decision to buy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. A REALTOR® has no emotional ties to the homes, can be objective about them and can point out advantages and disadvantages while answering your questions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. A REALTOR® is the seller's agent but acts a liaison between you and the seller to present offers and counter-offers until an agreement is reached. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. A REALTOR® can tell you if local law requires an attorney at closing and can provide you a list to choose from if you don't have one. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. A REALTOR® usually knows the local money market and can tell you about financing. A REALTOR® can also tell you what personal and financial data to bring with you when you apply for a loan. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. A REALTOR® can help familiarize you with the closing process by explaining it all in advance.