6 reasons to contact a REALTOR® in 2016

Does your list of New Year's resolutions include real estate-related goals? One way to ensure you achieve them is to work with a professional. So, if one of these situations arises, be sure to reach out to a Texas REALTOR®. You think you're ready to buy a home. A Texas REALTOR® can walk you through the process and ensure you get answers to your first-time-homebuyer questions. You're considering selling your home. He or she can help you determine how much your home is worth and what you can do to best prepare your home to attract buyers. You want to buy a second home or investment property. Whether you're planning to be a landlord or you'd rather hire a property manager, a Texas REALTOR® can explain the best practices and requirements in your market. You're new to the neighborhood. If you have questions about the community or want recommendations for local businesses, contact your Texas REALTOR®. You'd like to protest your property-tax appraisal. If you think your appraisal was off-base, your Texas REALTOR® can help you collect evidence that supports your claim. You have a home improvement to-do list. He or she can help you determine which upgrades will generate the biggest return when you're ready to sell. Plus, your Texas REALTOR® is tapped into a network of service providers, including contractors, landscapers, and repairmen, that you may want to consult.

Why is my brother asking me to sign this document?

My brother, who's a real estate broker, asked me to sign a buyer-representation agreement before he helps me find a house. I trust him completely. Why do I need to sign some paper? The short answer: to protect both of you. The buyer representation agreement spells out many aspects of a broker-client relationship, including how he will be compensated, your agreement to work exclusively with him, and his agreement to help you find a property and negotiate the deal. In addition, as a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, your brother is obligated to comply with NAR's Code of Ethics, which sets strict standards on REALTORS®' duties to clients and customers, the public, and other REALTORS®. The code requires REALTORS® to assure whenever possible that agreements-like a buyer representation agreement-express the specific obligations of the parties in writing and in clear and understandable language.

The phone number new homeowners will want to keep handy

Shaking hands at closing doesn't have to be your last interaction with your Texas REALTOR®. In fact, you may want to keep in touch for a while. Here are a few instances when you'll glad you kept his or her number on hand. • To tap into a valuable contacts list. When you need help with repairs or maintenance, your Texas REALTOR® can recommend service providers she or her clients have worked with. • To learn about your community. Your Texas REALTOR® will know the location of nearby businesses and information about local agencies, like the school district and city or county offices. • To solicit general homeownership knowledge. This could even include the process for filing for a homestead exemption or protesting your property tax appraisal. • To learn about your new home. If your Texas REALTOR® can't answer your question about the property-like which day the trash is picked up or which utility companies the sellers used-he or she will know who to call or where to look to find the answer.

I’m the back-up buyer. When does my option period start?

A seller accepted my back-up offer on a home that’s currently under contract to another buyer. I paid for a 10-day option to terminate, but when do my 10 days start? I don’t know if I’ll even get the chance to purchase the house. You have the option to terminate at any time while you’re in the back-up position. The option period specified in Paragraph 23 of the contract-10 days, in your case-doesn’t start until your contract becomes the primary contract, which is the date you receive notice from the seller of the termination of the first contract.