Craftsman-style homes in the Wellesley neighborhood in Lexington feature Earth-friendly amenities. File photos. Does the agent have an active real estate license in good standing? To find out, check with the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. Does the agent belong to a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and/or a reliable online homebuyer’s search service? These cooperative information networks provide descriptions of most of the houses for sale in a particular region. What real estate designations does the agent hold? ABR (accredited buyer’s
representative), CRBsm (certified real estate broker manager), and CRS (certified residential specialist) are just a few of the value-added designations and certifications available to realtors.
Which party is the agent representing, the buyer or the seller? “This discussion should occur early on, at first contact with the consumer,“ Kremydas says. You’re bound to have lots of questions when you’re buying a home, and a good realtor will know more than just house prices. “Realtors are already familiar with current real estate values, taxes, utility costs, municipal services and
Are you ready to be a homeowner? 1st Choice Mortgage has helped thousands of customers to make new home purchases, lower their rates, consolidate their debts, and make home improvements. Call us today!
1021 Briargate Circle • Columbia, SC 29210
8
freetimes
facilities, and may be aware of local zoning changes that could affect your decision to buy,“ Kremydas says. “They can often suggest simple, imaginative changes that make a home more suitable and improve its utility and value. [Buying a home] is a major commitment, and realtors are sensitive to that.“
Burton W. Fowles Jr. The Knight Company, LLC theknightco.com A Columbia native and Midlandsarea agent since 1996, Burton Fowles says buyers have the advantage right now. He manages sales and daily operations at The Knight Company, a
locally owned agency specializing in in-town commercial and residential properties. “Buyers will continue to find great deals in the low and high-end range,“ Fowles says. “Prices are being reduced in all categories, so sellers in general aren’t going to fare as well. Until we see a significant increase in the number of buyers, the market will remain depressed.“ Fowles has worked with many first-time buyers over the years, and says his ultimate goal is helping them make a good investment. “New buyers often have so much emotion tied into finding that first home,“ Fowles says. “They’re not always thinking about resale