Real Estate

[Bob Sacamano]

I'm thinking about become a real-estate agent

it's pretty easy to get into, only about 215 to take the class (including books and test)

anyone on here in that field?

 

[FloridaRob]

Now is not the time to get into it. I have been an appraiser for over 30 yrs and a lot of friends of mine are agents or they were. Many are now out of the business completely. The successfull ones have paid their dues for a very long time. I had my agent license about 20 yrs ago when it was a requirement for appraisers. Then I let it go when Appraiser regulations changed. The only time I used my license was on a house that I bought.

If you want to get into it and know you probably won't sell a house for a while, have at it. The only sales happening now are short foreclosure sales. It is a sad time in real esate.

 

[DMOB]

Now is not the time to get into it. I have been an appraiser for over 30 yrs and a lot of friends of mine are agents or they were. Many are now out of the business completely. The successfull ones have paid their dues for a very long time. I had my agent license about 20 yrs ago when it was a requirement for appraisers. Then I let it go when Appraiser regulations changed. The only time I used my license was on a house that I bought.

If you want to get into it and know you probably won't sell a house for a while, have at it. The only sales happening now are short foreclosure sales. It is a sad time in real esate.

Yep, don't recommend it.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I thought with cheap housing costs, that people would be trying to buy houses

 

[tomson75]

Now is not the time to get into it. I have been an appraiser for over 30 yrs and a lot of friends of mine are agents or they were. Many are now out of the business completely. The successfull ones have paid their dues for a very long time. I had my agent license about 20 yrs ago when it was a requirement for appraisers. Then I let it go when Appraiser regulations changed. The only time I used my license was on a house that I bought.

If you want to get into it and know you probably won't sell a house for a while, have at it. The only sales happening now are short foreclosure sales. It is a sad time in real esate.

Yeah, I have three friends that got their VA real estate licenses about four years ago. Neither of them are currently active.

How is the market for appraisals out of curiosity? I know that foreclosures still need to be appraised. I would think that that business would still be OK.

I ask because I had briefly thought about looking into that line of work a few years back. I know a guy that opened up a "Pillar to Post" franchise, and he seemed to be doing very well before we lost touch.

...and I'm in the market for a new line of work in the next few months as well.

/end hijack.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Yeah, I have three friends that got their VA real estate licenses about four years ago. Neither of them are currently active.

How is the market for appraisals out of curiosity? I know that foreclosures still need to be appraised. I would think that that business would still be OK.

I ask because I had briefly thought about looking into that line of work a few years back. I know a guy that opened up a "Pillar to Post" franchise, and he seemed to be doing very well before we lost touch.

...and I'm in the market for a new line of work in the next few months as well.

/end hijack.

I told you prostituting would wear you out

 

[bbgun]

How do I know you won't rape me when you're showing me a home?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

How do I know you won't rape me when you're showing me a home?

we have an understanding

 

[Hostile]

I'm thinking about become a real-estate agent

it's pretty easy to get into, only about 215 to take the class (including books and test)

anyone on here in that field?

Yes, don't do it right now. Bad markets.

 

[Hostile]

I thought with cheap housing costs, that people would be trying to buy houses

The banks are not lending.

 

[theogt]

I would suggest becoming a DVD player salesmen. Blu-ray's not gonna last!

 

[tomson75]

The banks are not lending.

Anyone else hear about a rumor of the government trying to pass a $15,000 dollar gift to first time home buyers soon?

Someone said something about this to me a few days ago, but I can't fathom how we've gone to giving a $7500 interest free loan to a $15,000 grant to first timers.

...i hope it's true, because I'm looking, but it sucks you the rest of you poor SOBs.

 

[tomson75]

I would suggest becoming a DVD player salesmen. Blu-ray's not gonna last!

*Curiously looks at PS3 that was just purchased yesterday*

 

[FloridaRob]

...How is the market for appraisals out of curiosity? ....

I make 1/5 of what I did 2 yrs ago and that is probably 400% more than most appraisers in the business. The only decent business out there right now is FHA. If an appraiser is not FHA qualified, I have no idea how they are surviving. I have a good friend that got into the business about 8 yrs ago and he has not had an appraisal to do since last summer.

The govenrment is doing their best to weed out our profession as well.
There is a movement in the Congress that would require any lender to order the appraisal thru a rotating panel within an Appraisal Management Co cutting my fee to probably 1/3 of what I charge now. That would have a significant impact on the small shops such as mine. I get my business because of who I know and the length of time I have been in the business. If the brokers/banks and lenders I have nurtured for the past 20 yrs are not allowed to order directly thru me, then I will probalby just say screw it.

Time to practice my "do you want fries with that order" or "Welcome to Walmart".

I always was fascinated by one job tho. The guy that stands on the side of the road with the Stop/Slow sign that dictates when traffic moves or not. The guy is in total control. I love when I drive up close to him and he has the sign mid way between Stop/Slow. Do I stop-do I go thru? What do I do. But he knows. He always knows. The guy must be highly qualified. To have peoples lives in his hands like that. I bet he had to have significant training. The really succesful workers have a bucket to rest their sign when there is no traffic. And you know you have really made it, when the guy has a walkie-talkie and a bucket. What a life. And I bet when he goes home at night, he will feel satisfied nobody ran into each other.

What a life!

I never saw this cutie tho

And this guy has it all

and this gal has a snazzy work outfit too..

As my gal Ann Murray used to sing, "Dreamin, I must be Dreamin"

 

[Danny White]

Yeah, I have three friends that got their VA real estate licenses about four years ago. Neither of them are currently active.

How is the market for appraisals out of curiosity? I know that foreclosures still need to be appraised. I would think that that business would still be OK.

I ask because I had briefly thought about looking into that line of work a few years back. I know a guy that opened up a "Pillar to Post" franchise, and he seemed to be doing very well before we lost touch.

...and I'm in the market for a new line of work in the next few months as well.

/end hijack.

What line of work are you in?

 

[theogt]

Anyone else hear about a rumor of the government trying to pass a $15,000 dollar gift to first time home buyers soon?

Someone said something about this to me a few days ago, but I can't fathom how we've gone to giving a $7500 interest free loan to a $15,000 grant to first timers.

...i hope it's true, because I'm looking, but it sucks you the rest of you poor SOBs.

It's not a rumor. It's true and happening. The language hasn't been finalized, but the "interest free loan" part is likely out. It's a $15,000 refundable tax credit to all home buyers, not just first time buyers. In certain versions the transaction can be applied retroactively to your 2008 taxes, so you could immediately amend your 2008 return and have the check mailed to you. I was planning on buying a new home in the summer, so this is fantastic.

 

[tomson75]

It's not a rumor. It's true and happening. The language hasn't been finalized, but the "interest free loan" part is likely out. It's a $15,000 refundable tax credit to all home buyers, not just first time buyers. In certain versions the transaction can be applied retroactively to your 2008 taxes, so you could immediately amend your 2008 return and have the check mailed to you. I was planning on buying a new home in the summer, so this is fantastic.

Nice. I might be joining you.

:toast:

 

[theogt]

Nice. I might be joining you.

:toast:

Just doin' our part to stimulate the economy. Get $15k free and feel patriotic about it.

 

[tomson75]

What line of work are you in?

I'm in the waning days of my "dead end dream job"...if you will....at least as far as my full time employment goes. I'm basically clinging to a low level management job at a ski area where I'm essentially the "jack of all trades" guy. One day I'm grooming slopes or welding the frame of a tractor, the next I'm selling timeshares or flying across the country meeting with the higher ups in the ski industry trying to develop an widely extendable industry standard in safety and entertainment for a sport as undefinable and unpredictable as "snowboarding". It's a fun job, but the industry is starting to grow up, and if I can't spend all day riding a snowboard anymore, I'd rather go somewhere where I make more money.

I've got skills in too many areas though, and I'm not specialized in many. Could be a rough road ahead if I leave, but I'm confident it won't be a long one.

 

[Yeagermeister]

It's not a rumor. It's true and happening. The language hasn't been finalized, but the "interest free loan" part is likely out. It's a $15,000 refundable tax credit to all home buyers, not just first time buyers. In certain versions the transaction can be applied retroactively to your 2008 taxes, so you could immediately amend your 2008 return and have the check mailed to you. I was planning on buying a new home in the summer, so this is fantastic.

What about the home owners? Where's our money? I could use that money to fix up my house and become a home seller.