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When Is a Real Estate Agent a REALTOR^®?

A real estate agent is a REALTOR® when he or she becomes a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®, The Voice for Real Estate^®, the world's largest professional association. The term "REALTOR^®" is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® and abides by its strict Code of Ethics.

Founded in 1908, NAR has grown from its original nucleus of 120 members to more than 1 million today. NAR is composed of REALTORS^® who are involved in residential and commercial real estate as brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors, and others who are engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry.

Members belong to one or more of 1,700 local associations/boards and 54 state and territory associations of REALTORS^® and can join one of our many institutes, societies, and councils. Additionally, NAR offers members the opportunity to be active in our appraisal and international real estate specialty sections. REALTORS^® are pledged to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

Working for America's property owners, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® provides a facility for professional development, research, and exchange of information among its members. Check out the Public Awareness Campaign television and radio spots that encourage consumers to rely on the expertise and integrity of REALTORS^®.

The NAR advertising campaign runs February through November on network and cable television and network and satellite radio, helping consumers understand the real value of working with REALTORS^®. From their voluntary adherence to a Code of Ethics to their incomparable knowledge of real estate processes, REALTORS^® are the experts of residential and commercial property transactions.

The Ternullo Real Estate Team of RE/MAX Heritage is a proud member of:
The National Association of REALTORS
The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS
The Eastern Middlesex Association of REALTORS

What is a CBR?

Purchasing a home is one of the largest financial investments most Americans ever make. Though traditionally the REALTOR^® was hired by the seller and acted in the seller's interest, a Certified Buyer Representative (CBR^®) is specially trained to represent the buyers, helping them get the best possible price for the home they desire.

How Can a Buyer Agent Help Me Buy a Home?

A buyer agent works to protect your best interests by providing complete and professional guidance to you.

To buy property, you need to:

• locate and evaluate properties in your price range,
• exercise a level of diligence on the proposed purchase,
• determine an offering price,
• document the contingencies you will need,
• and develop a negotiating strategy based on the competition.

You will then prepare an offer to purchase contract and enter into negotiations.

Going through this process with the help of a buyer agent will enable you to purchase the property at the lowest possible price and on terms that meet your specific needs.

Once you have the home under contract, you'll need an agent to:

• recommend inspectors,
• walk through the property with the eye of a professional,
• and to provide options and guidance through the problems that often arise.

What Are Some Benefits of Using a Buyer Agent?

When a relationship is created between the purchaser and the real estate agent, the agent must work in the buyer client's best interest at all times, thereby providing purchasers with the same level of representation traditionally given only to the seller. Here are just a few of the benefits you will receive from having your own personal representative when seeking to purchase property:

~ Confidentiality. The agent you hire to represent you will not disclose confidential information regarding motivation, price and terms, or anything else of a personal nature to the seller or seller's agent without your permission to do so.

~ Loyalty. The buyer's agent must work in the buyer's best interest at all times, even if it is not in the agent's personal best interest to do so. This means that the agent will virtually do for you what they would do for themselves in the transaction.

~ Full disclosure. The agent you hire to represent you will fully disclose any information gained from the seller or the seller's agent that could be used by you in the transaction. In addition, the buyer's agent will undertake a level of diligence and discovery that will give you the necessary information to make an informed decision as to the property you wish to purchase.

~ The buyer's agent will search for all available properties for sale by owner, unlisted properties, new construction, foreclosures, and others and will not limit their showings to properties they have listed. A listing agent's job is to move the inventory of their seller clients. A buyer's agent's job is to locate satisfactory properties for their client. Any limitations on this search will be documented in the buyer agency agreement.

~ As the buyer's agent goes through the properties with you, they will assist you with analyzing the properties and determining their strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to make informed comparisons. A lifestyle analysis will be performed to determine whether or not the property would suit your particular needs.

~ The agent you hire to represent you in the transaction will do a market analysis on the chosen property and will provide you with an offering range for that particular property. They will then set a negotiating strategy for you to assist you in acquiring the property at the lowest price and best terms possible for your situation.

~ The buyer's agent will complete an offer to purchase that is "buyer friendly" and contains the contingencies and protective clauses you need.

These are just a few of the benefits received from having your own personal buyer agent when purchasing. Considering that the majority of buyer agents are paid through the transaction or by the seller's agent, doesn't it just make good sense that you have the representation you deserve?
Why Should I Be Sure My Buyer Agent Is A Certified Buyer Representative? A recent survey completed by the National Association of Realtors shows that over 40% of the buyers are now represented in the real estate transaction. In some states, the figure is over 80%. Considering the rapid growth of buyer agency, it is imperative that a buyer find an agent who has been trained to professionally represent them in the transaction.

That, specifically, is the reason the certification mark CBR^® Certified Buyer Representative was created. Issued in 1993 by the US Patent and Trademark Office, this mark allows consumers to identify a buyer agent who has been trained and who possesses the skills necessary to represent purchasers in a legal, ethical, and non-adversarial fashion.

Those agents who have acquired this designation have demonstrated their commitment to full client level service to the buyer. They are armed with forms, checklists, and disclosure documents to perform a level of diligence in the real estate transaction that is unparalleled in the industry.

When deciding on an agent to represent you, ask about their credentials and training. Many real estate agents attempt to practice buyer agency without acquiring the skills necessary to perform professional representation. The CBR designation assures you that the agent you hire has been trained and will perform to the level of the competent professional, working in your best interest to meet your personal needs in your next real estate transaction.

Michelle Ternullo of The Ternullo Real Estate Team of RE/MAX Heritage has earned the prestigious designation of CBR assisting buyers in the communities of ANDOVER MA, READING MA, NORTH ANDOVER MA, NORTH READING MA, STONEHAM MA, WAKEFIELD MA AND THE SURROUNDING TOWNS.

What is a CDPE?

A Certified Distressed Property Expert^® is a real estate professional with specific understanding of the complex issues confronting the real estate industry, and the foreclosure avoidance options available to homeowners. Through comprehensive training and experience, CDPEs are able to provide solutions for homeowners facing hardships in today’s market, specifically short sales.

The prospect of foreclosure can be financially and emotionally devastating, and often homeowners proceed without guidance of any kind. The developers of the CDPE Designation believe that the best course of action for a homeowner in distress is to speak with a well-informed, licensed real estate professional. They have the tools needed to help homeowners find the best solution for their situation. Often, when other options have been exhausted, CDPEs can help homeowners avoid foreclosure through the efficient execution of a short sale.

While enduring financial difficulties is challenging for any family, the process of finding a qualified real estate professional should not be. Selecting an agent with the CDPE Designation ensures you are dealing with a professional trained to address your specific needs. For more information, contact a CDPE in your area.

CDPEs don’t merely assist in selling properties, they serve and help save their clients in need.

John Ternullo of The Ternullo Real Estate Team of RE/MAX Heritage has earned the prestigious designation of CDPE serving the communities of ANDOVER, READING, NORTH ANDOVER, NORTH READING, STONEHAM, WAKEFIELD MA AND THE SURROUNDING TOWNS.

Why RE/MAX Exists

In 1973, Dave Liniger was fairly fresh out of the U.S. Air Force and not too far removed from his rural Indiana boyhood. He had found his niche selling real estate, energized by the gratitude he received from the families he helped.

But as he learned more about his profession, he realized, "There's a better way to do this." Unable to find an office ready for his ideas, he started RE/MAX as a one-agent office in Denver.

His dream was pretty big: Create a real estate organization that any buyer or seller could approach anywhere in the world knowing that only experienced, career-minded professionals worked there.

No part-timers. No dabblers. No wheeler-dealers.

The concept, strikingly simple in hindsight, caught on; and the competition never caught up. RE/MAX grew from 21 agents in 1973 to more than 100,000 by 2004. Today, the RE/MAX Balloon stands for trustworthy, results-oriented real estate sales help in more than 70 countries.

RE/MAX Sales Associates help more families buy and sell real estate every year than any other brokerage organization in the world. And remax.com is the first of its kind to display all of the listings in thousands of cities and towns, sets the pace for the industry.

And Liniger?

He's still in charge. And he inspires everybody in the organization to keep thinking, "There's a better way to do this."

Why Choose RE/MAX?

When you choose a RE/MAX Sales Associate to sell your home or help you in the homebuying process, you''ll experience an exemplary level of service.

RE/MAX agents are The Hometown Experts With a World of Experience^®. They are the most knowledgeable agents, with the experience and community connections to assist you in the homebuying process. Across the globe, they're the people next door, or just down the block.

RE/MAX agents have the experience to get the job done in today's market. That's why customers going through the homebuying and selling process know RE/MAX Associates as The Real Estate Leaders^® and why no one in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

Customer Satisfaction

The proof of quality service is in repeat customers and in customers who refer RE/MAX Associates to friends. RE/MAX Sales Associates typically generate a large percentage of their business from past customers and referrals.

Education

At RE/MAX, advanced education is a priority. RE/MAX Associates dominate the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) ranks.

Home of the Best Agents^®

RE/MAX agents average more sales than other real estate agents. They are better qualified to set the right price for the homes they list, better equipped to market those homes, and likely to find clients engaged in the homebuying process in a shorter period of time. That experience and education also means they are better qualified to find the right home for any buyer. The homebuying process can be a daunting task. But with the expertise of a RE/MAX agent, buyers can rest easy.

Competitive Advantage

The real estate network that has the most competitive advantages to offer homebuyers and sellers will be an industry leader. RE/MAX is that leader. Thanks to its global network and stellar reputation, it's no wonder people turn to RE/MAX when they embark on the homebuying or selling process.

When you look for the highest quality real estate service, look to a RE/MAX Associate. RE/MAX Associates are The Real Estate Leaders^®. You can depend on RE/MAX Associates to make the sale or purchase of a home as effortless and seamless as possible.

Advertising

Extensive advertising by individual RE/MAX agents, combined with national television advertising and broad Internet exposure, inspires buyers and sellers to seek out RE/MAX Associates. When you list your home with a RE/MAX agent, it will receive wide exposure.

Miracle Home^® Program

Why list your home with a RE/MAX Associate? Your home may be designated as a Miracle Home^®. If it is, your RE/MAX agent will make a contribution to the local hospital affiliated with Children's Miracle Network once the transaction is complete. The funds raised in your community remain in the area to benefit local families.

Sold for the Cure™

Sold for the Cure gives your RE/MAX agent the opportunity to designate your home as a Sold for the Cure property to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Upon completion of the transaction, your RE/MAX agent will make a donation to the local Komen Affiliate to help support the breast cancer movement. Programs like these make the homebuying process an even sweeter deal for buyers who are indirectly contributing to the Komen mission of finding a cure for breast cancer.

Premier Market Presence^®

The real estate network with the greatest market share has the most to offer buyers and sellers. The sum total of all RE/MAX momentum, growth and Associate production over more than 35 years is reflected in current RE/MAX market strength. RE/MAX has achieved 30-percent-and-higher market share in area after area across North America and is growing in market share around the world. A measure of business leadership, Premier Market Presence (PMP) results from community-minded, high-producing Associates giving superior customer service under a respected brand.

The RE/MAX Balloon Logo

The red, white and blue RE/MAX Balloon, with its “Above the Crowd^®" slogan, is one of the most recognizable business logos in the world. RE/MAX boasts a global fleet of more than 100 Hot Air Balloons, which make more than 6,000 appearances around the world each year.

The Sign That Brings You Home^®

The red-over-white-over-blue RE/MAX yard sign and your RE/MAX agent lead you to properties in areas in which you'll want to live and work. If you want to sell your property, the RE/MAX yard sign attracts those in the homebuying process. Nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

Global Expansion

With offices in more than 75 countries worldwide, and nearly 100,000 agents, the power of the RE/MAX name boosts business and attracts homebuyers.

More Than 35 Years "Above the Crowd^®"

RE/MAX – now an established industry leader - celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2008 and looks ahead to even greater real estate achievements in the years to come. Whether you're in the homebuying process or looking to sell, choose a RE/MAX Associate. When you choose a RE/MAX Associate, you'll have a real estate agent for life.

The Ternullo Real Estate Team of RE/MAX Heritage is a proud member of the RE/MAX organization serving the communities of ANDOVER MA, READING MA, NORTH ANDOVER MA, NORTH READING MA, STONEHAM MA, WAKEFIELD MA AND THE SURROUNDING TOWNS.

THE TERNULLO REAL ESTATE TEAM at RE/MAX HERITAGE
248 Main Street, Reading, MA
162 Park Street, North Reading, MA
25 Tuttle Street, Wakefield, MA
536 Main Street, Melrose, MA
781-517-4224

~ Real Estate Services in all communities North of Boston ~ John Ternullo • 617-275-3379 • Email John • Michelle Ternullo • 781-507-3529 • Email Michelle SiteMap Proudly Serving the Communities of: Andover MA, North Andover MA, North Reading MA, Reading MA, Stoneham MA, Wakefield MA, and all surrounding towns. OFFICES: 248 Main Street, Reading MA • 162 Park Street, North Reading, MA • 25 Tuttle Street, Wakefield MA • 536 Main Street, Melrose MA