Do I need a REALTOR®?

What is a REALTOR®?

Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®, and that matters when you buy, rent or sell your home. REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS®, and abide by a strict code of ethics that protects you every step of the way.

What makes a real estate agent a REALTOR®?

REALTORS® are the real deal when it comes to buying or selling a home. When you search for a real estate agent on OneKey® MLS, you can be sure that everyone featured on our site is a REALTOR® and licensed real estate professional.

To become a REALTOR®, a real estate agent must join the National Association of REALTORS® and maintain high ethical and professional standards, as well as be licensed and in good standing at the local, state, and national level.

But REALTORS® must do more than that to continue being REALTORS®. The are obligated to:

Pass a rigorous examination to demonstrate their knowledge of real estate buying and selling.
Adhere to the NAR Code of Ethics, and complete an ethics continuing education course every 3 years.
Take extensive Continuing Education courses on Fair Housing to ensure clients don't encounter housing discrimination.
REALTORS® are subject to discipline and sanctions if they break the Code of Ethics. That means if something goes wrong, the local association of REALTORS® will be your first advocate in resolving the issue.

Can I buy a home in the New York Metropolitan Area without a REALTOR®?

You are not required, legally or otherwise, to work with a REALTOR® to buy a home in the New York Metropolitan Area.

But do you want to go it on your own? A qualified REALTOR®'s job is to help you:

Understand your options to finance your home
Research homes in your neighborhood of choice so that you know what to offer a seller
Negotiate favorable terms with the seller
Create an outstanding offer that positions you as the best buyer for a home you want to buy

REALTORS® protect your interests when they interpret each contract, disclosure, statement, report, and other documents on your behalf.

When a REALTOR® shops for homes with you, he or she can point out aspects of the property you may not notice, items that end up being important to consider when buying a home. A real estate agent helps you evaluate the many properties you've visited and helps you in the decision making process.

REALTORS® do a lot more than this, but you get the idea. OneKey® MLS REALTORS® can guide you through the New York Metropolitan Area home buying process, making it the dream-building experience it should be.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, the average buyer (and their REALTOR®) searches for homes for about 12 weeks, looking at 10 properties before deciding to make an offer. The real estate agent is not paid until a transaction has taken place, which on average is about 30 days. REALTORS® invest a lot of trust, time and energy into each client's experience.

Can I sell my home in the New York Metropolitan Area without a REALTOR®?

If you don't want to use a REALTOR® to sell your home, you don't have to.

But would you want to? REALTORS® who specialize in representing sellers can help you:

Look at the improvements each of your neighbors has made to their property, and figure them into the home's value.
Put your home on the market with the confidence that your asking price is right. When homeowners over-value their home it can alienate potential buyers because they don't have the guidance, knowledge, and market reports to which REALTORS® have access.
Understand contracts, disclosures, addendums and other legal documents associated with selling a home to make sure your interests are protected.
Get the best deal with the best terms possible.
Be absolutely sure your interests are protected for a smooth transaction.

When a REALTOR® represents your home at an open house, they do a lot more than open the door for visitors. They gather valuable feedback about your property from prospective buyers and other REALTORS® that will help you sell your home at the best price possible. Your OneKey® MLS REALTOR® has a large network of other real estate agents they can share your listing with, and they can even hold “agent only” showings, where other REALTORS® see your property before any buyers do. Your property gets a lot of exposure in the community from your REALTOR'S® network.

Whether you are buying a property or selling your home in the New York Metropolitan Area, your REALTOR® guides you through all aspects of the transaction, answers your many questions, coordinates logistics for showings and communicates with others on your behalf, attends inspections, and makes sure everything runs smoothly.

It's also worth noting that the REALTOR® Code of Ethics governs your transaction when you work with a REALTOR®. That means that your REALTOR® wears your financial interests like a second skin. Every REALTOR® is ethically bound to negotiate on your behalf in good faith.

Your REALTOR® is your advocate, your negotiator, your logistics coordinator, local tour guide, and your expert source of information for everything related to buying, renting or selling a home.