Many consumers consider selling their home directly but eventually turn to REALTORS®. Smart home sellers realize they need the expertise in pricing their home, making connections with REALTORS® working with buyers, arranging and staffing open houses, and coordinating with other professionals in the sales process.
Only about half of all real estate agents are REALTORS® -- the top half, in our not-so-humble opinion. REALTORS® work independently, for small agencies, or for large brokerages. They help people buy and sell residential or commercial properties, vacation homes, and land; they conduct appraisals; they operate in the United States and in other countries; some specialize in auctions; and others are buyer's representatives.
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has an excellent resource for homebuyers and homesellers. Visit the Home Buyers & Sellers Resource Center for some great real estate tools and tips. Find a REALTOR® now!
Smart Home Financing
The web offers ample resources to build your financial skills and guide you through the home financing process. Learn what you need to know about lending and mortgages before you buy.
Preparing for Homeownership
The process of buying a home requires diligent preparation. This guide can be used as primers for homeownshership.
Guide to Buying vs. Renting
This guide contains statistics and studies on home owners and renters as well as financing options and tips.
Preparing for Homeownership
Buyer's Guide
Before you begin your home search at REALTOR.com, prepare yourself by reading Ten Steps to Homeownership.
Homebuying Guides
Even before you begin looking for a home, the homebuying process requires diligent preparation. Buyers who have been preapproved for a home loan often have their offers taken more seriously by sellers. With advance preparation, you can tackle the process of acquiring the financing you need with more confidence. To help you on the path to homeownership, Neighborworks® offers* free step-by-step guides, developed by the Fannie Mae Foundation, that can help you get closer to achieving your dream:
These authoritative homebuying guides (in PDF format) are available in nine languages, including English, Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. You can download a guide or order a print version online from HomeBuyingGuide.org
*These brochures are free for non-profit organizations, and available for sale to other businesses.
