Tag Archive for: Associate Broker

What’s A Real Estate Broker? And What Do I Do When I Find One?

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The search for a home begins online. It has for some time. In fact, consumers are surveying the terrain and pouncing on anything that hits the market like a school of piranha, unsure of when their next opportunity to eat will surface. You can’t blame homebuyers either. Today, the ones that remain, still looking to purchase, have repeatedly struck out in their attempts for homeownership. Now, feeling the pressures of inflation, higher mortgage rates and rising home prices, they’re looking to get in before the door closes on their “must-haves” and what they can afford.

The winds of a housing shortage have shifted, new listings with a slowdown in purchases have given way to more selection – finally some welcomed news for prospective shoppers. Yet the search becomes very real for them as they exit the digital environment, previewing actual houses, and doing so in a more urgent manner than buyers did only three years ago. Buyers should rely on the services of a real estate professional whenever possible, because representation is critical for protecting the interest of buyer-clients, especially in this market. And you probably have questions.

What type of real estate professionals exist today and what do they look like? There are four main distinctions homebuyers should be aware of, and they are: real estate agents, REALTORS®, REALTORS® with an ABR® designation and Brokers.

  • Real estate agents – Independent contractors who are connecting buyers and sellers and are licensed to help others rent, buy or sell real estate. Licensure requirements vary from state to state. These professionals should not be confused with REALTORS®, but regularly are.
  • REALTORS® – Licensed real estate agents who are also members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must likewise adhere to this organization’s code of ethics. These professionals can include real estate appraisers, salespeople, Brokers and more.
  • REALTORS® with ABR® designation – Members of NAR who have a particular skill set and frequently work with homebuyers in their day-to-day business. These professionals are usually more in accord with the trends affecting buyers and are equipped with knowledge to help their buyer-clients succeed.
  • Brokers – Licensed professionals who further their education, and if they so desire, can open their own real estate firm, hiring independently contracted agents to work under them. They perform many of the same tasks as the agents they hire, but there’s a distinction between the two.

A handful of real estate agents become Brokers after a period of time in the business. Often those pursuing licensure as a Broker are ready to dedicate more study to this field. They’ve firmly planted themselves within the real estate turf surrounding them. Having said that, real estate agents who aren’t Brokers can and are certainly encouraged to dedicate more time and study to the business as well.

What is it like to be a Broker? “The dynamics of real estate have changed significantly over the past five years, but the standards of practice remain the same,” emphasizes Dianne Montana, Principal Broker for Realty Network Group. “I enjoy working with a talented group of professionals, helping them thrive, ultimately paving the way for our clients to buy and sell successfully.” Being a Broker allows for additional independence (more than solely being an independent contractor), but with that comes greater responsibility. Brokers are responsible for supervising the agents in their Brokerage and ensuring the office/company is in compliance with national and state real estate laws and regulations. Real estate Brokers face their fair share of liability as well, and as such, it’s important for Brokers to possess an advanced skill set in order to be both distinguished and ethical.

As a homebuyer, which of these four types should you seek when actively looking to acquire property? There’s no clear cut choice, but a REALTOR® is definitely a great starting point. Those specializing in servicing buyers generally provide the best opportunity. Furthermore, a REALTOR® with an ABR® designation could be a perfect match, especially for first-time homebuyers. Can you go wrong with a Broker? Usually not, but it’s imperative that those pursuing real estate do their due diligence in finding a professional they can work well with, one who actively listens and has a tract record for success.

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We’re Better Together

For the second time in the past seven years, a leading real estate firm in the Valley area merges with Realty Network Group.  Liberty Realty & Appraisal Services, LLC joins forces with a network of experienced sales professionals, who have been serving the Valley area as well as the Greater Scranton community for over a decade.  This merger without question moves both forward, combining their strengths, positioning the company to better serve the public.

“Our leadership has been strong over the years,” said Mark DeStefano, CEO and an owner of Realty Network Group.  “It’s so dynamic and full of experience. We have a group of professionals who have decades of expertise connecting buyers and sellers.  We have skilled, top-notch leadership throughout our network. It’s nice to see our company expand not only in the Valley area, but also through the Abingtons and beyond as we’ve made some key acquisitions over the past year.”

Six professionals, who are also eager to provide exceptional opportunities for those thinking about buying or selling homes, join Realty Network Group via the coalition.  The agents merging with the firm include Associate Brokers Marina Sewall and Rosemary Ofcharsky in addition to James P. Burrier, Heather A. Luklanchuk, Johnna A. Ofcharsky and Andrew J. Sedlak.  Realty Network Group, is now comprised of thirty-five associates, almost a quarter of which are Brokers.

One of the reasons the company has been successful over the years has been its experienced network of real estate professionals.  It’s experience that sells homes. Furthermore, collaboration and a high tech approach to marketing properties has achieved the results Realty Network Group has hoped for since rebranding in 2011.  “I’m so thrilled to have these agents join forces with us,” emphasized Dianne Montana, Managing Broker of Realty Network Group. “They’re a wonderful fit to who we are, what we do and they complement our team-like approach to how we operate in this business.  This has been a truly exciting time for our brand: We’ve remodeled our office in the Abingtons to accommodate our growth over the past year, we relaunched our Website – realtynetwork.net – to a first-class resource for both buyers and sellers and expanded our locations through the opening of a branch office in Dickson City, all within the last two months.”  Realty Network Group’s new office in the Mid Valley area is located at 814 Main Street, Dickson City, PA 18519.

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Empowering Her Clients, One Transaction At A Time

Realty Network Group is pleased to announce the addition of Ann A. Sheroda, Associate Broker and multi-million dollar real estate producer who’s been in the business since 2005. “I have forty years of sales and sales management experience with some of the largest companies in the country,” declares Ann. “I’ve really enjoyed working for my real estate clients over the past fourteen years. It’s what I’m passionate about. It’s who I am. I find it both challenging and rewarding.”

Ann was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania and has a great handle on the market in the Greater Scranton area. The majority of her experience, time and dedication has been poured into serving clients in NEPA, connecting buyers and sellers. She’s also knowledgeable of other regions as well. Not only is she licensed in Pennsylvania, but is also licensed in New Jersey, servicing those interested in investing in rentals and vacation homes at the NJ shore (Margate, NJ).

“Ann loves this business and she welcomes working incessantly for both homebuyers and sellers,” asserts Dianne Montana, Managing Broker of Realty Network Group. “She’s a tremendous asset to our brand and our network of agents!”

“I chose Realty Network Group because they offer the reputation and professionalism I need from a brand to service my clients,” responds Ann. “Working as a full-time professional, I pride myself on making sure buyers, sellers and cooperating agents have the proper information at their fingertips, and have it in a timely fashion.”

If you’re looking to work with a top-notch real estate professional, connect with Ann A. Sheroda today at 570-498-4990 or via homesanns@aol.com.

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