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“Many people mistakenly believe that a real estate agent and a real estate broker are the same, but this is actually untrue. While both a real estate agent and a real estate broker must undergo schooling and must pass a state real estate exam, there are some very significant differences between the two.

Considering Licensing

From a technical standpoint, the difference between a real estate agent and a real estate broker is the fact that they hold different licenses. In order to obtain the different licensing, a real estate broker must actually complete additional coursework beyond what a real estate agent must complete.

Although many people use the terms real estate agent and real estate broker interchangeably, a broker actually has more schooling and bears more responsibilities throughout the transaction.

Since a broker has more education and experience, real estate agents actually work beneath the broker. Therefore, a person that works as an independent realtor must be a broker as well. A real estate agency with multiple employees, however, may have only one licensed broker and several agents. While the agents will perform many of the same functions as the broker, the broker is the one that is ultimately responsible for ensuring the transaction is completed properly. In exchange for taking on this added responsibility, the broker receives a percentage of the commission the agent earns when selling a home.

The Personal Touch

When it comes to working with a real estate broker versus a real estate agent, you will probably notice little difference if you notice a difference at all. This is because agents are licensed and capable of performing the basic tasks that most buyers and sellers are interested in having completed for them. For example, if you are looking for a home, an agent can easily take you to see a variety of homes and can help you reach a deal with the seller. Similarly, if you are selling a home, a real estate agent will have access to all of the same connections as the broker he or she works for.

If you are working with an agent rather than directly with the broker, you should expect to receive the same level of service you would receive from the broker. If you are unhappy with the agent’s service, however, you can contact the broker and request that another agent be assigned to you. Similarly, if you have any questions or concerns that your agent cannot seem to address, you should contact the broker in order to make sure you are on the right track with the selling or purchase of your home.

The fact that every real estate agent is backed up by a broker is somewhat of a safety net for you as a consumer. In fact, if a crisis situation arises, the success of your transaction may come down to the abilities of the broker. Therefore, when hiring an agent, be sure you are comfortable with both the agent and the broker if they are not the same person. That way, you will be guaranteed the best experience possible.”

Eric Bramlett is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. He has seen considerable success in real estate, and looks forward to many more years in the business. Eric currently invests, renovates, and develops real estate in the Greater Austin Texas Market. He spends his time working with select clients, helps his new agents get started in their real estate careers, helps his experienced agents progress their careers to the next level, %26 when he has time…he takes his dogs to the lake. Visit Eric’s Austin Texas Real Estate Guide %26 visit his Austin Texas Real Estate company’s website. Downtown Austin Condos %26 Lofts


“A mistake that many people make when working with a real estate agent is the belief that they need to stick with the agent once they have contacted them. While it can be more difficult to get out of a contract with a real estate agent that is helping you sell your home, you are under no obligation to work with just one real estate agent when you are looking for a home to purchase. In fact, unless you have hired a buyer’s agent to help you find your home, you are perfectly within your rights to contact multiple real estate agents in order to find one that suits your needs and that you feel comfortable with.

If you have hired the agent to help you sell your home or if you have entered into a buyer’s agreement, getting out of your agreement can be a bit trickier. Nonetheless, it is possible.

Signs that You Should Part Ways With Your Real Estate Agent

Sometimes, you simply won’t see eye to eye with your real estate agent. If this is the case, you might need to part ways. Aside from small differences in views, you might find that you and the real estate agent simply cannot get on the same page at all. This can be a very frustrating and time-consuming experience - and it is completely unnecessary. More than likely, there is a real estate agent out there that will understand your needs and that will be more than happy to help you find what you are looking for.

If you find that you are raising your voice when talking to your real estate agent, you are probably in a bad situation. If you find yourself calling your agent bad names when you refer to him or her or if you are experiencing negative thoughts about your agent, it is time to start looking for a new agent. Similarly, if you find yourself avoiding your agent’s calls or if your agent is not calling you back, you likely have a bad relationship and it would be better for both of you to part ways.

Getting Out of Your Agreements

If you have entered into a contract with your real estate agent, you should try to end the contract based on mutual consent. If the agent refuses to bow out gracefully, you might need to request the help of a lawyer. Ideally, before you ever signed the contract, you should have checked on the agent’s policies for canceling the contract. Most reputable real estate agents will allow you to end the contract if you are unhappy with their services.

If you have entered into a listing agreement, you can ask the real estate agent to cancel the listing. If he or she refuses, contact the grocer and request a cancellation. If the broker will not cancel the listing, you can at least ask for a different agent. In most cases, however, the broker will allow you to get out of the listing because refusal to do so can scar his or her reputation. If the broker continues to refuse, let him or her know that you will be contacting a real estate lawyer for termination assistance. In many cases, just the threat of a lawyer is enough to get the broker to back down. “

Eric Bramlett is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. He has seen considerable success in real estate, and looks forward to many more years in the business. Eric currently invests, renovates, and develops real estate in the Greater Austin Texas Market. He spends his time working with select clients, helps his new agents get started in their real estate careers, helps his experienced agents progress their careers to the next level, %26 when he has time…he takes his dogs to the lake. Visit Eric’s Austin Texas Real Estate Guide %26 visit his Austin Texas Real Estate company’s website. Downtown Austin Condos %26 Lofts


“If you hope to have a smooth experience that results in the real estate purchase you are looking for, it is important to take the time to select the best real estate agent for your needs. Although all real estate agents are capable of helping you complete your real estate purchase, there are certain agents that are better suited for certain types of purchases. Similarly, there are a few signs to watch for that will indicate whether or not you have a quality real estate agent at your side.

Consider Your Purpose

When selecting the real estate agent for you, it is important to consider the type of real estate you intend to purchase. For example, if you are interested in purchasing an apartment complex as an investment purchase, it is generally better to work with a real estate agent that specializes in selling these types of properties. Of course, you can use a real estate agent that deals mostly with selling homes, but one that specializes in the type of property you are looking for is more likely to have the types of connections you need to purchase the type of property you are looking for.

Consider Qualifications

While it is fine to work with a real estate agent, you should look for someone that is a real estate broker or a licensed realtor. An agent that is a member of the National Association of Realtors will have a displayed REALTORS® logo that will let you know that he or she has achieved this licensure. It is important to look for someone that is certified by the National Association of Realtors because this means the agent has pledged to follow a Code of Ethics that holds them to a higher standard than what is required by law.

Consider Referrals

Of course, it doesn’t matter how many great qualifications the real estate agent has if he or she does not work hard for clients. Therefore, it is always a good idea to listen to referrals from other people. If someone you know had a good experience with a particular real estate agent, the chances are pretty good that you will have a good experience with that agent as well. Remember, good real estate agents stay in business because they have satisfied clients - give your business to someone with a proven track record.

Do Your Research

If you don’t know someone that can refer a great real estate agent to you, you are going to have to do a bit of research. A good place to start your research is on the Internet. Visit the web sites of various real estate agents and get an idea of the types of services they provide. Look up the profiles of the real estate agents in order to get a better idea of their qualifications and experience. A site that contains customer testimonials is a good start as well - read the testimonials in order to get an idea of what other people are saying about the agent before making your final decision.”

Eric Bramlett is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. He has seen considerable success in real estate, and looks forward to many more years in the business. Eric currently invests, renovates, and develops real estate in the Greater Austin Texas Market. He spends his time working with select clients, helps his new agents get started in their real estate careers, helps his experienced agents progress their careers to the next level, %26 when he has time…he takes his dogs to the lake. Visit Eric’s Austin Texas Real Estate Guide %26 visit his Austin Texas Real Estate company’s website. Downtown Austin Condos %26 Lofts


“Renting an apartment can be a good financial decision. If you do not plan to stay in the area or a long period of time or if you simply don’t want to deal with the costs of upkeep associated with homeownership, renting an apartment just might be right for you. At the same time, many apartment renters find it difficult to make an apartment feel like “home.” This is particularly true if your landlord is very strict about the type of decorating you can do within your apartment. With these simple tips, however, you will get your apartment feeling like home in no time.

Creating New Rooms In Your Apartment

One way to personalize an apartment and to alter its appearance is to find ways to divide larger rooms into smaller ones. This can be easily accomplished with folding screens, which are available in a wide variety of colors and designs. Not only can you create more rooms when you buy these dividers, you can also choose one that suits your personal style. If you are feeling creative, you can even buy old doors at a flea market and then decorate them yourself with wallpaper, fabric, or paint.

If doors aren’t your thing, you can separate a large room with a sofa as well. With this trick, you can create a dining area and a sitting area all within one room while still making them appear separate from one another.

Having Fun with Cabinets

You can also add a personal touch to your apartment by turning your attention to your cabinets. The cabinets in your apartment will likely have plain and basic knobs, but you can easily change these out with something a bit more decorative and suiting to your personal style. Just make sure to hang onto the original knobs so you can replace them when you move to a new apartment.

You can even remove the cabinet doors and buy something more suiting to your style. Again, these can be easily replaced when you move out of the apartment. So, even if your landlord is a bit strict when it comes to redecorating, this little trick should still be perfectly acceptable.

Making Changes to Floors and Walls

Although you may not be able to tear out the carpet or repaint the walls in your apartment, you can still make some changes to the way these parts of your apartment look. For example, you can attach flat sheets to your wall with Velcro or you can even make wall forms that fit snuggly against your walls. For your floors, area rugs can make a big difference or you can simply make your own rug with carpet samples in order to create a new look.

It’s the Little Things That Make All of the Difference

There are many little things you can do in your apartment to help make it more personalized. Attaching a stylized fabric skirt around your wall-mounted bathroom sink, for example, will add storage space as well as help you create a new look in your bathroom.

Artwork and plants can also go a long way toward personalizing an apartment. You can hang pictures in your apartment without putting holes in the wall by hanging lightweight art from fishing lines that are tacked into crown molding. Or, you can display your art on easels or on shelves and consoles. The same is true of plants, which can add variety to your apartment while also helping to keep the air clean.

With a little imagination and creativity, you can make your apartment more personal while creating a look that is truly unique and special to you and your taste.”

Eric Bramlett is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. He has seen considerable success in real estate, and looks forward to many more years in the business. Eric currently invests, renovates, and develops real estate in the Greater Austin Texas Market. He spends his time working with select clients, helps his new agents get started in their real estate careers, helps his experienced agents progress their careers to the next level, %26 when he has time…he takes his dogs to the lake. Visit Eric’s Austin Texas Real Estate Guide %26 visit his Austin Texas Real Estate company’s website. Downtown Austin Condos %26 Lofts


Identity %26 Community

Middle age, they say, brings about many questions including “Who are we?” Scholars claim this seeking as a reason for a strong uptrend in interest in religions during these years and some are even making a connection to present American trends toward faith. This book has no interest in this debate, but it I am curious as to the question of how boomers will answer this question of identity and how the community in which they live or desire to live reflects their view of who they are. For instance, if you live in an upscale town and you raised your children in this uptown neighborhood, do you long now for a simpler life in retirement or a gated golf community that reflects the values of your chosen hometown? Or as many boomers relocated often during their lifetime, was there an idyllic small town in the past and future they want to return to? Do boomers in mass dream of a cabin in the woods, a cottage on golden pond, an Andy Griffith style Mayberry small town, or do they want to be movin’ on up to a penthouse in the sky?

The answer may be, boomers want it all. They want choice and they want to have experiences. They desire experiences that are both different from the first half of their lives and comfortably the same. The rise of homogenous luxury resort experiences may be a key to understanding that no matter where American’s go, they want the same things and they want a consistent base level of amenities and luxuries - they want The Best they can afford.

Another sure fact is that the boomer generation has comfortably changed housing at a faster velocity than any previous generation. Boomers on average have moved homes 4 times during their first 50 years, and there is no reason to believe their next move will be their last move. Mobility has been a hallmark of this generation. Change in housing demands has followed each of their life’s stages. Wide ties, narrow ties, short skirts or long - the style of housing will evolve faster as the boomer generation experiences freedom unencumbered by the demands of raising families and staying in prime school districts.

The choice of homes we chose or built to shelter our growing families, played a pivotal part in how we identified ourselves and the outlook our children took forth in how they will live their lives. Which suburb or school district did we chose was a decision we undertook with great care. Even the style of home we raised our children in was a decision of magnitude that had less to do with us, than them. Maybe you chose a traditional home, but wanted a loft condo or a yurt? Personal identity in the next phase of life will be reflected in housing choices, and boomers are looking outside the normal scope of choices. Reinventing norms of housing have just begun, as rules are no longer restrained by location or family sizes.

Will the boomer generation, which once embraced communal, living as youths, reinvent retirement in a more social community form? Some of the same generation has spent 30+ years in subdivisions where neighbors often moved in and out of town without knowing each other’s names. Will higher cost of land and housing materials force boomers to share more amenities in condominium communities? Will small town America, and Main Street, rise again in an attempt to revert to a simpler life of the boomer generation’s childhood? Will rural America once again be dotted with hobby farms from ex-urbanites who want to get closer to land and hold childhood fantasies about living the Green Acres lifestyle? It is easy to believe that all of these housing possibilities will flourish in the coming decades. It’s likely that with the size of the boomer generation that all these trends in retirement housing will take root. This generation will make their next house after empty nesting their Best Nest yet.

This is from a new book called: “Besting - Better Nesting” www.betternesting.com

Bob Waun is the author of a new book on this trend called: Besting http://www.betternesting.com . He is CEO of Vacation Finance, America’s First Second-Home Lender http://www.vacation-finance.com and a leader in the resort and second home industries.


“When you decide to build a home rather than to buy a home or when you make the decision to remodel the home that you already have, you most likely intend to get the job done with the help of contractor. Unfortunately, contractors have earned a somewhat bad reputation as some have failed to live up to their contracts or provide the quality of work homeowners expect when they buy their services. In order to keep yourself from being disappointed by your contractor, it is important that you follow these simple tips.

Tip #1: Ask Your Friends and Family

The single best way to select a contractor is to ask around. If your friends or family members have worked with a contractor that did a good job for them, you should put that contractor high on your list. The more recently the friend or family member hired a contract to work on their real estate the better. After all, if a contractor just did a great job a few months ago, he or she is likely to still be able to provide the same level of service.

Tip #2: Check References

Of course, you may not know anyone that has recently purchased real estate or that did any remodeling to their homes. If this is the case, you won’t have much of a starting point when choosing a contractor. Therefore, it is essential that you check the references provided by the contractor. Ideally, you should check into references for jobs that are completed as well as for jobs that are in progress. This way, you can check out the real estate in varying levels of completion in order to determine the quality of the work.

Before you buy the services of a contractor, you should also talk with some of the references. Ask the references important questions, such as:

• How well did the contractor stay on schedule?

• How happy were you with your real estate when the job was completed?

• Did you feel as if the contractor listened to you when you ran into a problem?

• Were your concerns easily resolved?

Talking with past clients is an excellent way to get an idea of the type of work the contractor does as well as his level of commitment to customer satisfaction.

Tip #3: Check the Contractor’s License

If you are going to buy the services of a contractor, you certainly want someone that is properly educated in the craft. Before you sign a contract and buy the materials for the job, check with your Contractors State License Board in your state. By checking with the board, you can confirm that the contractor is licensed and you can also find out the areas of specialty in which the contractor is licensed.

When checking on licensing, ask the contractor for his or her pocket license as well as another form of identification. Then, check the license against the other form of identification in order to make sure the names match up. Since it is illegal for a contractor to use another contractor’s license, a reputable contractor will have matching identification.

Tip #4: Make Sure the Contractor is Insured

As the buyer, you shouldn’t be expected to buy insurance to cover the job. Rather, the contractor should have insurance in place. Check to make sure the contractor is insured against property damage, worker’s compensation, and personal liability. Ask for a copy of the certificate of insurance to verify coverage as this will protect you if something goes wrong while on the job.

Deciding to buy real estate in order to build your own home or to remodel your current home is an exciting time in your life. Make sure you do your homework before selecting a contractor in order to prevent your dream from turning into a nightmare.”

Eric Bramlett is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. He has seen considerable success in real estate, and looks forward to many more years in the business. Eric currently invests, renovates, and develops real estate in the Greater Austin Texas Market. He spends his time working with select clients, helps his new agents get started in their real estate careers, helps his experienced agents progress their careers to the next level, %26 when he has time…he takes his dogs to the lake. Visit Eric’s Austin Texas Real Estate Guide %26 visit his Austin Texas Real Estate company’s website. Downtown Austin Condos %26 Lofts


“The Internet has quickly become a valuable resource in a variety of ways, and apartment searching is no exception. In fact, using the Internet can be the ideal method for apartment hunting, particularly if you are interested in moving to a new area that is quite a distance away from where you are currently located.

Of course, searching for an apartment online is not without its risks. Therefore, there are a few things you should keep in mind when searching for an apartment through the Internet that will help guarantee a pleasant experience resulting in an apartment you love.

Use Many Sources

One of the biggest mistakes that apartment hunters make is using just one resource when searching for an apartment online. Keep in mind that different web sites will have different listings. Therefore, in order to achieve the most comprehensive look at the available apartments, you will need to check with many different sites.

When looking for sites with apartment listings, you should also utilize different search engines. Since each search engine has its on method of bring back search results, using more than one search engine may help bring back some different results. At a minimum, you should use the major search engines, including Yahoo, Google, MSN, and Ask.

Perform Searches

In many cases, you can get feedback from current and former residents of apartments by conducting a search of the apartment name. When doing a search of the name, it might bring up review sites or simply websites that that current or former residents may have set up. Read this feedback in order to give you a better idea of whether or not the apartment complex is a good fit for you. A nice perk to reading this type of feedback is the fact that it can give you an idea of the type of people that live in the apartment as well. On the same note, do some research into the area where the apartment is located in order to determine its level of crime and how close it is to the conveniences you desire, such as the proximity of the apartment to public transportation.

Look Before You Lease

No matter how perfect the apartment might look on the Internet, it is essential that you take a look at it before you enter into any type of leasing agreement. In order to make things easier on you, you should thoroughly research all of the available apartments and then narrow your choices down to less than ten apartments. Then, contact those landlords and arrange to see all of the apartments on the same day or within a couple day time period. This way, you can arrange for a trip to see all of the apartments in order to make your final decision.

If it is impossible for you to arrange a trip to see the apartments, ask someone you trust that lives in the area to look at the apartments for you. If this is not possible, make arrangements with the landlord to sign a lease that allows you to break the lease within a certain number of days without repercussions if the apartment fails to meet your expectations.”

Eric Bramlett is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. He has seen considerable success in real estate, and looks forward to many more years in the business. Eric currently invests, renovates, and develops real estate in the Greater Austin Texas Market. He spends his time working with select clients, helps his new agents get started in their real estate careers, helps his experienced agents progress their careers to the next level, %26 when he has time…he takes his dogs to the lake. Visit Eric’s Austin Texas Real Estate Guide %26 visit his Austin Texas Real Estate company’s website. Downtown Austin Condos %26 Lofts


Bigger, Better, Besting…

The housing, automobile, media and consumers products industries have catered to the evolving needs of the boomer generation. Products and lifestyles of all generations during their 50-60 year lifespan have to date targeted this generation over all others. The original Me Generation is reaching an age of where they have the wealth, freedom and time to demand even more catering and luxury. This trend for housing could not be any more clear, present or apparent. Since the birth of the first boomers in 1946, no product has been left unchanged by their demands.

Retirement housing will not remain just mediocre and basic. Retirement communities of mobile home parks with pleasant weather and simple amenities like shuffleboard are ancient history for the boomer generation. They will resist retiring to a trailer park the way they rejected an Oldsmobile station wagon in favor of an SUV (note: the Oldsmobile brand retired in 1998, even after trying to sell itself as “Not your Father’s Olds”). Station wagons got the job done, and were functionally identical to an SUV, with some slight changes. Future retirement communities will be changed in similarly slight, but exciting ways.

SUVs are hipper than station wagons because you can go off-road in an SUV, never mind if you never get off-road. Another hip feature, with limited real benefit for most consumers is the gourmet kitchen. Top line kitchens have become the most requested upgrade in housing today, even when fewer people cook. The key benefit to these luxuries is having the option to do new and exciting things. Boomers have an appetite for the luxury of optional features. Besters will seek options.

Boomers are entering their peak earning years, childrearing expenses are behind them and they have more money. More money gives choices, options and access to better stuff. Housing is becoming more option laden, and more options simply make lifestyles better. People naturally seek a better retirement, of comfort and luxury. Selecting housing that gives amenities and options like gourmet kitchens, party size grotto style hot tubs, equestrian centers and rock climbing walls are valued-added by 21st century consumers.

The term, ‘retirement’ will also be reinvented by boomers. In the next 15 years 78 million U.S. boomers, will “retire”.

this is an expert from a new book: ‘Besting - Better Nesting’ about important trends in retirement and second home retirement housing.

Bob Waun is the author of a new book on this trend called: Besting http://www.betternesting.com . He is CEO of Vacation Finance, America’s First Second-Home Lender and a leader in the resort and second home industries.


Empty Nesting is so yesterday.

“Downsizing is less about size, than about expectations, no one expects less in retirement.”

In 1957 4.3 million babies were born more than any year before or since. Many experts believe the Baby Boom phenomenon is a single event that will not be repeated. 2022 will mark their 65th birthday. Will they retire or continue to work? If they choose to retire, they will be late to the party as the rare-air retirement environs will be well populated by the proceeding 52.6 million older Boomers. The demand for key vacation/retirement markets has been growing at a double digit pace for several years.

The Law of Supply and Demand absolutely applies to real estate markets, and retirement havens in all forms will be affected by this shift. As will traditional suburban communities.

As Clear as a Sunny Day

The affects of demand for second home real estate is already being realized in America and around the world, because these are not second homes, these are future primary residences. There were 36 million people aged 50 to 59 in the United States in 2005, and the median age of second homebuyers was 52. The lines between what is a primary home and a second home are being blurred. Traditionally, a second home was a vacation spot, more than 50 miles from your primary home. A primary home was a residence near work, where you spent the majority of your time. Technology and commuting opportunities at work have allowed some people to work from anywhere, once the kids are out of school, home is where the heart wants to be. Trends toward owning multiple residences are rising, 12% of these second homebuyers will buy multiple vacation homes. Today, 2% of these buyers own a third or fourth home, expect this figure to rise. If even a low percentage of the 78 million boomers choose to own multiple residences, the demand for vacation homes have just begun to be realized.

Bob Waun is the author of a new book on this trend called: Besting http://www.betternesting.com . He is CEO of Vacation Finance, America’s First Second-Home Lender and a leader in the resort and second home industries.


Better Nesting or Besting is a new trend for Baby Boomers. Fractional ownership is playing a role in this generations ability to live a higher lifestyle at a lower cost.

Calvin’s passion is skiing. His business is growing, as is his family. He is a late boomer, with years to retirement, but already he knows that one home in retirement will not satisfy his love of travel. There is a short list of places he might want to retire to, but they all have high price tags, and if history is a guide, they will double or triple in value again before he is ready to be there for more than a couple weeks at a time.

“Owning a place in Summit County, Colorado was the initial dream, but a basic condo there costs $1 million. We could afford it, but it simply didn’t make good financial sense” Calvin said.

Small business people learn to make good financial sense, and they are also typically open to new business opportunities. Calvin met a local Realtor who showed him how to buy a whole $1.02M condo and sell off quarter shares, or 25% ownership interests. The Realtor handled all the heavy lifting of legally structuring the fractional interests, and finding the buyers at $339,000 per ¼ share. By selling 3 shares - 75% of the properties use time and ownership - Calvin and his family were left with a quarter share for their own use with little to debt or cost. 13 weeks of vacation ownership in Vail.

“We try to go once every other month, at this point I can’t use it all the time we own, so I share it with friends and occasionally rent it out. We have a management company so it is truly a hassle free investment for us.”

The deeded quarter share interests can be resold independently of the other owners, so the value of the fractional ownership interest rising with local property values. The Vail Valley has appreciated at double digit rates since the late 1990’s.

This is an expert from a new book called: ‘Besting - Better Nesting’ www.betternesting.com that will change the way real estate professionals view the second home market.

Bob Waun is the author of a new book on this trend called: Besting http://www.betternesting.com . He is CEO of Vacation Finance, America’s First Second-Home Lender and a leader in the resort and second home industries.


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