The 180,000 homeowners that missed the June 30, 2010 closing deadline to receive their federal tax credit are breathing a sigh of relief. Congress has announced an extension of the deadline through September 30, 2010 to allow these homeowners the opportunity to receive the federal tax incentive for first time homeowners and existing homeowners who purchased a new primary residence that was under contract prior to April 30, 2010. The National Association of Realtors is celebrating the closing deadline extension, and people who earn their living with a real estate license are celebrating the stabilizing real estate market.
Cities across the nation are showing stabilizing home prices and strengthening sales figures. The lowest interest rates in history are not expected to last and buyers want to take advantage of the added affordability while home prices are still low. Buyers with good credit know that they have an amazing opportunity to make the deal of a lifetime in real estate right now. Real estate agents and brokers will be in demand as these buyers seek professionals with the real estate training to find them navigate the market to find them the right home at the right price.
The need for real estate licensees makes careers in real estate an excellent field to explore for those who are seeking some career stability with great income potential. Each state has their own requirements to qualify to sit for the real estate exam, however in most states they can be completed in just a few weeks. Many states also offer the added ease and convenience of online real estate courses, making the time it takes to complete the courses even less for those who have more time to dedicate to them. For those who do not have a lot of time they can study at their own pace and at their convenience from anyplace with an internet connection.
The cost of a career in real estate is remarkably less than any other license or degree program offering comparable income possibilities. For individuals who are struggling to make ends meet and want to train for a career where they will not have to, the idea of spending tens of thousands of dollars and more than a year for a degree, only to be right back in the job market struggling to find work to pay off the debt is just unthinkable. With a career in real estate you can hit the ground running in a matter of weeks and many times make back the cost of your education and licensing in your first commission.
The real estate market is making its rebound and that makes it an ideal time to get in on the ground floor. Whether you have been looking to buy a home or start a new career, it is a great time to make your move into real estate.
We are not the FHA, VA, USDA, HUD or any other government organization. The content on this blog is intended for information purposes only. 
Having scanned many of your topics, I was wondering if there are any articles related to Realtors who also do BPOs and work for banks and mortgage companies. In particular, I am looking for information on the need of developing a certification training program that could satisfy all or the majority so that we brokers and agents are not having each company require us to individually take their specific training and pay them fees or they will keep us from getting any of their work or listings. We have been in business for over 30 yrs and have done BPOs since the 80′s for the VA & HUD and now for more than 30 different companies. Many have threatened us before but we do not get enough in our fees to cover our expenses especially if we have to keep paying them an annual fee or per zip code fee on top of other expenses. We do BPOs to stay up on the market and to supplement our income and we usually get a certain percentage listed. The one time I did pay Premiere and take the class they required I found that no one else did it and they gave them the listings anyway. I am looking for a fair way to do business with some ethics. Now they are threatening that if I do not pay Aspen (who now runs their system) that they will not pay us for what we already have listed or sales we have pending or things we have prepaid for them like all of the mowing and utilities. Does anyone know if this sounds ethical or legal as we already had agreements with Wells Fargo/Premiere prior to this? Doesn’t Premiere have to honor what is pending or ordered prior to this? Who can I report them to for this breach of contract? They did get bail out money so they should have some responsibility to treat their vendors appropriately, shouldn’t they?? I know this space isn’t probably for this but I need to be directed to someone for help on this topic if anyone knows others having the same problem. Others have been trying to get us all to pay fees or they would take our listings away but so far none have done that as no one else here wants to work for so little.
Sherry/Bob Andrews, Broker/owners
Countryside Realtors
991 N Henderson St.
Galesburg, IL61401
309-343-5138 office
309-368-2470 cell