*To avoid being easily searched online by her boss or high-end clientele, We will call my interviewee Agent M.
How does one become a realtor? How would you explain your job to someone you just met?
To become a realtor you have to take a course. It could be online or in a class. After passing those courses you get a cert notifying the DRE you finished the courses. You can schedule an app to take the test at one of the DRE (Department of Real Estate) offices located near you. While the DRE is collecting your certs you also need to get your fingerprint scanned. BTW you need a clean record in order to be a Real Estate salesperson.
I’m the salesperson who helps you find your dream home, your forever home, or property investments. I can help my clients sell their house and protect their interest
I am also hired to make sure no one is cheating my clients out of a fair buy/sell.
I see. A lot of personal information and money being handled here. What happens when the other party crosses the line and tries to cheat your client?
It depends on who cheats. If it is the agent you can report them. You report them to their association. And the association will have a hearing. And depending on how bad the situation is there are different levels to it. If it is a federal thing like a scam then that is a big no no. Your license can be revoked. Sometimes the seller/buyer tried to cheat. And it is the job of the agents to explain why it is not legal. And if the clients still proceed to do the illegal thing, it is highly suggested that the agent drops the client. It is the salesperson’s responsibility to protect not only their clients but the interest of others too. Basically we are the middle man making sure everything is fair and not too one-sided and legal.
The salesperson can not do anything illegal. Everything must be legal, even splitting the commission with the other agent, if there is another agent involved.
So you just told me about what happens is someone tries to pull a fast one. I’m glad there are strong regulations in place for when I am ready to move out. Right now we are experiencing a global pandemic with the Coronavirus currently halting the world economy. Your services have been labeled as essential to the state. How has work been for you if you don’t mind me asking?
There are def strong regulations. The government takes this super seriously. California’s government mostly protects the tenants more than the landlord. But again it also depends on the situation. Work has been slow. For me specifically, my boss said its best and safer if we didn’t work unless it is to finish a sale we started before the lockdown. But that paperwork is usually done online and emails. No contact what so ever. We can have clients E-sign. But no new clients and no showing houses. The DRE is having strict regulations during this period of quarantine. Trying to keep everyone’s welfare safe.
Can you name the top 3 cities with properties you’ve sold in you would recommend living in CA if money is not an issue?
If you have kids three cities would be Either Cerritos, Arcadia, San Marino. ABC Unified is a good district near Long Beach area. And Arcadia is also a great school district because they have a graduation rate of 100% for quite some time now. And San Marino also has great programs for kids. Also in these three cities, they all have tons and tons of after school programs that help preps kids for Ivy League colleges. But if you don’t have kids but you want somewhere nice and away from the city but yet kind of close. I would pick Bradbury, Arcadia, and Thousand Oaks. But for properties that I’ve sold to clients, it would be Arcadia, Glendora, and Whittier because it’s nice and quiet. Easy access to the freeway and not too far from the city. They also have great food too. And a good school district nearby. Great shopping center. And close by theme parks such as Universal Studios.
That is only if money is not an issue. You can always move to Beverly hills but I personally won’t. The streets are under construction all the time and I don’t like the winding hills. And there is always traffic there. Hahaha. I avoid that place unless I have to go.
Thanks for the real estate secrets! I’ll make sure to pick one from one of those locations. Have you ever sold a property to an international buyer? If so, how much of a difference is there in the process? I’m sure plenty of paperwork is involved but is there anything else?
Hahaha. And not yet. It’s getting harder for some international buyers to get money out. I had a few clients but the deals fell through due to some issues. And yes there are different paper works. Usually, international buyers buy with all cash. If they have loaned it’s going to cost them more on their mortgage. higher % rate.
All cash? wow.
They also need a bigger down payment and its tougher for approval. yeah. That’s why its easier to buy with cash instead of loans from banks.
Thank you for the deep insight! That being said, would you consider living in another country? Would your career transfer as smoothly as possible without a major change?
I would def like to live in another country. But I would have to retake my license again. Take the class and learn that specific state/country’s law again. Each country of course has different laws. Same with the US. If I would like to move to NY for example I would have to learn their real estate rules and take their test in order to get my licenses. My former Real Estate teacher said to me if I can pass California and or NY test, then it would be easy to pass the test at any US states because NY and CA has the toughest real estate laws
And I’m sure other countries you have to be citizens in order to take the test or to become a real estate agent. In the US you have to be a citizen with no criminal records in order to take the test.
Last question. Sunset or sunrise
Sunset. I’m a night owl. HAHAHA
Thank you for your time!
You’re welcome.
Writer’s comment
I met “Agent M” while we were both in school…for audio recording! It looks like we both took different paths at the end!
