First Time Home Buyers in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, South Daytona areas...

Daytona Beach, Port Orange, South Daytona Real Estate Blog by Lisa Hill, "The Smart Choice"

Atttention First Time Home Buyers: If there's even a chance that you'll be interested in buying a home in the Daytona Beach area; including Port Orange, South Daytona and all of east Volusia county, DO NOT WAIT any longer! Time is running out, to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit!

Although your mortage MIGHT take only 30 days for full financing, in today's real estate market it is highly unlikely! And to receive the $8000 tax credit, you MUST close on your home by November 30, 2009! If you don't close by the cutoff date, you will not receive the $8,000 tax credit.

If you have not yet started your search for your home, call me ASAP! I'll help you with your search, and work for you in finding just the right home for you, and negotiate to help you get the most house for your money.

If you want to view some houses from the Daytona Beach area Multiple Listing Service (MLS), <---follow this link.

If you'd like to view my Featured Real Estate Listings, <---follow this link.

If you'd like to know more about me, I'm a Daytona Beach Native, and REALTOR® with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®, <---follow this link.

For all your real estate needs, make a Smart Choice and Contact Lisa Hill, Daytona Beach native and REALTOR® with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®. <---Click here to contact Lisa Hill.

I look forward to helping you with all your real estate needs.

*All content is owned and copyright protected. (Except for the actual copyright logo at the beginning of this line.)

Daytona Beach House for Sale. Price Reduced!

Walk to the ocean from this beautiful Daytona Beach house, or enjoy swimming in your own screened, sparkling pool, or enjoy the peaceful serenity of your private garden. This home has much to offer. A must see!

Buy your Daytona Beach house today!

Make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®. <--- E-mail Lisa Hill

View this beautiful Daytona Beach house on my real estate web site <--- click here

Visit my primary real estate blog here <--- click here

If you're interested in renting an affordable Daytona Beach area condo, in a great location, and beautiful community with fantastic amenities, then look no further! This fabulous 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo will be available by July 1st (possibly sooner). It has a brand new kitchen, large rooms, bright front eat-in kitchen and much more. Make no mistake; this is a quality community with a strong Condo Association!

This Condo Community has pool, clubhouse, tennis courts, laundry room, private park, assigned parking, located in Holly Hill just minutes from Daytona Beach. All tenants must be approved by the Condo Association! Fee is $50 for background and credit check. One small pet is allowed (under 30 lbs). Deposit is $500 per month and monthly rent is only $500 per month.

If quality, safety and amenities are what you want, this condo is for you!

A Behind the Scenes Look at the Business of Real Estate (Pulling Back the Curtain)

As a REALTOR®, it's easy to forget that the public doesn't always know how we get paid and/or how the real estate business works. They don't see what happens behind the curtain. So I'm pulling back the curtain. I believe the consumer might enjoy learning about the hidden part of the real estate transaction, and at times, just how much can be hanging by a thread. Hopefully, you'll enjoy learning about the process behind the process. To keep this as simple as possible, I'll start by stating that REALTORS® are not employees. We're Independent Contractors. We don't get a W-2, with our taxes partially paid by an employer. We get a 1099 and are responsible for ALL of our own taxes and expenses. Think of every REALTOR® as an individual small business owner. Therefore, we have to itemize our taxes, and write off whatever is eligible for claim as a business expense. But those small tax breaks don't add up to much when each and every expense is our own to pay! Now for some specifics... REALTORS® work strictly on a commission basis. We do not get paid until we actually close on a property. And out of each commission, we have to pay for...

• All gas and vehicle mileage incurred by that transaction
• Any "extras" we may have donated to help facilitate the transaction
• The cost of postcards or paper, ink, envelopes, and postage that was needed to promote a listing, or send notification of a sale
• Paper, ink, color copier, (or we can pay someone else for this service) and yard boxes for flyers, if we've provided this service for a real estate seller
• Costs of all advertising for the duration of a listing, which in our current market, could take 2 years. (That's how much inventory we have in our MLS)
• Lockbox, if the brokerage doesn't pay for it, or a different kind of lockbox, as is sometimes needed
• Name riders or personalized signs, if for a listing
• MANY hours of our time

In addition to the costs incurred for an individual sale, there are the things that are needed just to keep our business running smoothly and professionally (some of these are only what I personally consider necessary)...

• REALTORS'® Personal Web Site
• Multiple Blogs
• Errors and Omissions Insurance
• Computers: Desktop and Laptop
• Portable Hard Drive/Memory Stick/Jump Drive
• Cell/Smart Phone with Contact Manager, plenty of minutes, text messaging, and internet capability, so we can provide full-service for our clients
• High Speed Internet Connection
• Additional Phone Lines for fax or DSL
• Cable Modem if DSL is not used
• High Quality Camera for taking quality listing photos, or to take extra photos for buyers and insurance companies
• Video Camera for filming listings
• Photo Editing Software
• Video Editing Software
• Word Processing Software
• Contact Management Software
• Power Point Software for miscellaneous presentations
• Personal Printer/Scanner/Copier/Fax
• Personal Brochure, Business Cards, and other miscellaneous handouts
• Extra Vehicle Insurance, since we use our vehicles for business
• More Gas and Vehicle usage, as we travel to each appointment, even if we don't get the business!
• Personalized Open House signs
• Office Supplies
• (We have to replace these items on our own, as they break or become outdated)
• And let's not forget, a true real estate professional is going to be knowledgeable of any recent changes in real estate laws, and is proficient in the Social Networking of Web 2.0

In addition to all this, REALTORS® pay to be members of their local REALTOR® Association, and for access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Then they have to pay for ALL their own taxes, which are higher due to non-employee status. We also pay for our own health insurance and medical costs. And there are always additional marketing materials that are needed, to keep new business coming in. Let's also not forget that with everything I've listed, there are many, many, many hours of work that is done... all without knowing if the work we're currently doing is going to lead to an eventual sale. And some clients may take years before they buy. I recently sold a house to someone I've been working with for 3 years. In order to bring these types of clients to a successful closing, we have to maintain contact with them, and meet their needs for the entire time, until they buy.

With all that being said, I'll finish this post by stating what I thought would be obvious, but apparently is not. And I'll preface this by saying, the next section is not meant to be rude or offensive. It's just the reality of the situation. So here it is... When a REALTOR® works with a real estate buyer, the REALTOR® expects that buyer to be loyal, and not call other real estate agents. Many times, a buyer can unintentionally, with one phone call, or by stopping by one open house, land in the cross-hairs of another agent who is not ethical enough to ask if that buyer is working with another REALTOR®, and end up negating all of the costs, and hours, and dedication they've been given by the REALTOR® who has been working diligently to help them find that perfect home. Actually, when this happens, their former REALTOR® ends up with less than zero... it's worse than ending up with nothing. It's a deficit of the worst kind. That loss of time, income, and expenses paid, not only amounts to bad business, it also means that all this was taken away from our families who depend on us. It's a loss of our time and expenses that could have been better spent on a client who is loyal. This is why many REALTORS® will require a real estate buyer to sign a buyer/broker real estate agreement.

To elaborate just a bit more, if a real estate buyer is going to call other agents, that buyer's agent is not going to be able to do their best work. If we (REALTORS'®) know our real estate buyer(s) are working only with us to find their next property, we'll go out of our way to find the perfect property; we'll set aside extra time for that buyer; we'll always have the needs of that particular buyer in the back of our minds, even when we're on a non-related appointment. Also, with the Multiple Listing System (MLS), all REALTORS® have access to each others' listings. The agent who is working for a loyal real estate buyer, can setup a customized MLS search for that buyer, and keep them apprised of new listings as they come on the market. It's about going the extra mile for that loyal buyer, and doing what is necessary to meet their needs. It's a win/win relationship.

One last note: With all this information, I didn't even touch on all the details of the individual real estate transactions. I guess that will be a future post.

If you'd like to buy or sell real estate in the Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach and encompassing areas, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron&Co., REALTORS® for all your real estate needs.

REALTOR® Safety Awareness

Daytona Beach Area Real Estate Market, Data and Updates. By Lisa Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

I was recently reminded of an incident that happened to a REALTOR® friend of mine, a few years ago. This incident was the type of horror story we all fear.

My friend received a call from a potential buyer who had to catch a flight out of town later that morning and he needed to leave by 9:00 a.m. He was anxious to see a model in a development my REALTOR® friend was representing and the only time he was available was early in the morning. So my friend scheduled an appointment to meet this potential buyer at one of the models at 7:30 a.m.

When she arrived at the model, the buyer was waiting and they proceeded to go inside the house. A few minutes later, another vehicle arrived with a couple in it. The potential buyer told my REALTOR® friend that these were friends of his and they all proceeded to view the house.

Then they got to the master bedroom. At this point, the original potential buyer pulled a gun out of a briefcase, then used garbage bag ties on my REALTOR® friend, and put her in the closet of the master bedroom. Now while my friend was in the closet, she could hear the 3 people rummaging through the house and talking on what sounded like walkie talkies, but she couldn't understand what they were saying, nor could she understand what they wanted in a model home.

Meanwhile, she could see into the master bathroom from her position in the bedroom closet, through the space where the criminals had left the door open a crack. She kept an eye on the mirror in the master bathroom, which was reflecting the criminal's positions outside the master bedroom. She managed to get the ties off her feet, then summoned her courage and ran out the back sliding glass doors to a neighbors house and called the police.

The criminals left before the police arrived and they never could figure out what the overall plan was, but it was obvious that these criminals were professionals and there were others close by.

I titled this post that buyers needed to read this too, for an important reason. If you're a real estate buyer, you need to understand why your REALTOR® expects you to do things a certain way. For our safety we need you, as a real estate buyer to...

1. Meet us at our office, not at the house you want to see.
2. Take time to sit down with us to give us all time to get comfortable with each other, as well as to help us understand your real estate preferences.
3. Let us make a copy of your driver's license and leave copies with our office personnel.
4. Stick to a schedule, so we can leave a definitive itinerary with our office personnel.
5. Completely fill in all the fields on the forms at an open house. You may think looking at open houses is a fun afternoon outing, but we honestly need to be sensitive to the safety of the seller's possessions, and our lives.
   

Real estate buyers, we understand that you're anxious to start looking at the houses or condos you want to see. But I'm sure you'll agree with me that the safety of the agent is of utmost importance, and you can probably wait just one more hour. Please be understanding of this and cooperate with any requests your agent may make. The story I've just told had a happy ending, as this agent was able to return safely home to her family and continue a successful career, albeit more than a little bit reluctant to return to work. But there have been many others who were not so lucky. Just read Elizabeth Nieves' recent post about Sarah Anne Walker; a REALTOR® who was brutally murdered while holding open a model home in 2006.

Buy Daytona Beach Real Estate

View Daytona Beach Real Estate MLS Videos

Want to Sell Your House? Price it Right!

Daytona Beach Area Real Estate Market, Data and Updates. By Lisa Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

As a REALTOR®, I frequently have the unpleasant job of having to provide information to real estate buyers and/or sellers that is not what they want to hear. It seems that lately I've had this happen more than usual. Now I admit, I work primarily with real estate sellers. And of course I work with the buyers for my listings. I find these buyers through my marketing plan. But I don't generally work as a buyer's agent. Although, Florida law now instructs all real estate buyers and sellers to automatically assume that the agent they contact is operating as a Transaction Broker, unless the agent indicates otherwise. So Florida law allows for real estate agents to transition between real estate buyers and sellers with ease.

In the last couple of weeks, I've had a couple of listing appointments for houses owned by potential real estate sellers who want way too much money for their houses... in other words, listings I don't want in my inventory. I've turned down these listings.

Before I continue, I feel this must be said...

• When a real estate professional does a CMA (Current Market Analysis), it's strictly professional. It's why REALTORS® serve a purpose. We're not emotional about the transaction, whereas buyers and sellers are usually pretty emotional about their "home". I bring this up because of a comment that was recently made on one of my listing appointments. After being presented with the facts (recent sales data), the home owners said "We're getting screwed". (Yes, one actually said that.) You can't be getting "screwed" (so eloquent) when it's just the current market value. You're being given facts... data... numbers. How can you take that personally? And real estate is cyclical. It always has been, and always will be. We have no control over the current market value. A REALTORS'® job is to facilitate the transaction by keeping it strictly business, and lessening the emotions. It's the only way to get the best "deal" for both parties. This brings me to my next point.
• How is it that home owner(s) can reject the factual evidence of value, and start listing everything they've done to the house since the day they bought it... as if the other recent sales didn't have the same, or similar maintenance over the years. But let's proceed with addressing the way to properly price real estate in todays' buyers' market.

Now for the way I prepare for a listing appointment

It's impossible to provide an accurate market analysis for a house, condo, or townhouse without actually seeing the property with my own eyes. But I can get the basic data prepared by looking at what's currently on the market (most are priced too high), and checking what has recently sold (sales are the accurate depiction of the true market value for a particular property).

Once I've done my research (which usually takes a couple of hours, during which time I don't know if I'll even want the listing yet), I then meet with the potential sellers. Upon meeting the sellers, I first have them give me a full tour of the potential listing, and tell me about any upgrades they've made. When the tour is completed and I've documented all the details, I then present the home owner(s) with the recent sales that are comparable to their property, and are located either within the same subdivision, or within a 2 mile radius (keeping the process as similar as possible to the way an appraiser would work). Last but not least, we fine tune the additions and subtractions, based on the condition, location, and amenities of the subject property in relation to the comparable sales and the upgrades, or lack thereof. (Asking prices of active listings are mostly irrelevant, except to be sure the new listing is properly priced.)

But after all that, we're still not finished. Properly pricing a property for sale requires more than just facts and figures. It even requires more than comparing the subject property (potential listing) to the recently sold listings. And it even goes beyond the condition of the property. There are actually several more conditions to consider. But for the purposes of this blog post, we'll only address one more step, which is; determining the sellers' motivation level. If the seller(s) need to move fast, then obviously, they'll want to price their house/condo/townhouse below the competition so it will sell as quickly as possible. If the sellers are not in a big hurry, the listing still needs to be priced competitively (since we're still in a buyers' market), but it doesn't need to be at a rock bottom price (other special factors not withstanding). *Side note: Viewing the property, determining need, considering location, observing the condition, discussing all options, etc., takes another couple of hours during which time I/we still haven't decided if I'm going to list the property.

To go back to my recent listing appointment, I provided them with a range for what they could expect as their sale price. But these sellers wanted to net about $75,000 more than the market value of their home. It was a listing I could not sell, so I wasn't willing to list it. There were no comps to show a higher value, and even with a complete overhaul, the property would not be worth anything close to what the home owners wanted to net. That particular neighborhood just will not draw a price that high. If a potential buyer could pay what these sellers wanted, the buyer could find a nicer house, AND a nicer neighborhood. It's not an insult to this house or neighborhood. These are just the facts... the numbers... the data. Remember? Your REALTOR® is there to provide you with this information, and facilitate the transaction by lessening the emotion. This helps both parties get a better "deal" by keeping communication open.

Lastly, this is something all real estate sellers need to know. In the last couple of years, about 99% of all buyers I've worked with, have only been interested in getting the best house for the cheapest price. Nobody can afford to overpay. And the banks won't finance a property that THEY feel is over-valued. And until the market has completely stabilized, this will continue to be a legitimate concern for the banks and the real estate buyers. This is why over the last couple of years, when I have been able to get my buyers to take a look at an average priced property, they wouldn't even consider making an offer unless the seller(s) were willing to drastically reduce their asking price. Real estate buyers have not been willing to settle for anything less... or should I say, they won't settle for anything more?

So I'll finish this post the way I titled it. If you want to sell your house, price it right! When a professional REALTOR® presents you with factual data that indicates a lower value for your property, it's not personal. As a REALTOR®, I only get paid when I actually close on a transaction. I really want to sell your house. And it's my job to know the real estate climate, and to be honest with my potential clients. To do otherwise would not only be a disservice to you, it's also a violation of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. So if you want to sell your house, make sure you work with a REALTOR® you can trust, and try not to take the data personally. They're probably doing their best to give you accurate information.

I just sold one of my listings. So if you need a REALTOR® with the knowledge and resources to sell your house, condo, townhouse, or vacant land, and would like a free market analysis, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®.

View Daytona Beach area MLS listings here.

Buy House with Full In-Law Apartment in Beautiful Port Orange FL

Port Orange Real Estate Blog. MLS Listings and Sales by Lisa C. Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

Port Orange FL is a great place to live. Now here's your chance, with this beautiful Johnson built, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, lakefront home with 3 car garage, safe room, and screened, solar heated pool.

I could post a multitude of photos, and try to describe every gorgeous aspect of this one-of-a-kind, unique home, and still not expose the tip of the iceberg of this spectacular home. So look closely at every photo, and read about every fabulous detail, but if this sounds like the home for you, then pick up your phone and call me right now, so you can see this home for yourself!

View more photos of this 4 bedroom, 3 bath Port Orange home with 3 car garage. Check back for video shortly.

If you want to buy real estate, or sell real estate in Port Orange, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®.

Daytona Beach House For Sale: Country Club Community: Open House!

Daytona Beach Real Estate Blog. By Lisa C. Hill, "The Smart Choice"

If you're looking for a beautiful house in Daytona Beach, come to this open house this weekend! You'll love this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on a corner lot and canal, with 2 car garage. Only $219,000. Look at all these offerings!

• Home is immaculate
• Furniture is negotiable
• Rear screened porch has beautiful canal views
• Huge, galley-style kitchen has abundance of cabinets and counter space
• Entry has welcoming foyer
• 3rd bedroom has window seat and south facing front window. Makes a perfect office if 3rd bedroom is not needed
• Indoor laundry room
• Large living room with fireplace and built-in bookshelves
• Roomy breakfast nook also has peaceful canal views
• Also has formal dining area with plenty of room for all your dining furniture.

All this, in a secure, gated community with entry guards, clubhouse, restaurant, golf courses and fantastic location near I-4 and I-95.

Open House this Sunday, January 25, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

101 Morning Dove Ct., Daytona Beach, FL (Pelican Bay)

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com

DESCRIPTION

Pelican Bay is a completely secure, country-club community, boasting 2 guarded entrances, 2 golf courses, clubhouse, restaurant, and much more, including fantastic location near shopping, and I-4 \ I-95 interchange.

This beautiful, immaculate home on corner, canal-front lot, has a comfortable flow with high, half-oval windows in several rooms, decorative moldings and shelving, recessed lighting, lighted niches, a fantastic great room with dining area, plus a fireplace with half-oval mirror over the top, canned spotlighting, built-in bookshelves, and sliding glass doors to the rear screen room with tinted windows, where you can relax and enjoy the view of your fruit trees, Crepe Myrtle, and the peaceful canal. The large galley-style kitchen has plenty of cabinet and counter space, extra-long breakfast bar, built-in microwave, new refrigerator, and all appliances included in the sale.

The lovely master suite boasts plenty of space, walk-in closet, and master bath has double sinks, garden tub and roomy step-in shower. Other notable features of this fabulous home include an indoor laundry room, tiled foyer, garage shelving, a more than adequate 40 gallon water heater, and many more desirable offerings. The 3rd bedroom with window seat can be used as a family room, bonus room, office or whatever meets your needs. The Islandia HOA dues are $748 per year and include lawn care. The Pelican Bay HOA dues are very reasonable at only $575 per year. This fee includes coverage by the security guards. This home is a must see! Pelican Bay offers the ultimate in amenities and if you check the recent comps, you’ll find this spotless home to be a great buy! Furniture is negotiable as well. Be sure to view all photos and the full video tour.

The REALTOR® Code of Ethics: An Expanded Perspective

Daytona Beach Area Real Estate Blog. Information and Reports by Lisa Hill, "THE SMART CHOICE!"

Over a year ago, I wrote a blog post about the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. In real estate, our Code of Ethics is something that sets us apart from other industries, and even other arms of the real estate industry. There are so many misconceptions of REALTORS®, but the guidelines for every REALTORS®' actions are spelled out in our Code of Ethics. So I wanted to provide this information that will educate the public, and put some misconceptions to rest. You'll also find out how YOU (the consumer) can stand up for your rights!

Last week, I completed my recent CoE requirements. The best part is that with the progression of technology, we now have the option of taking the course online instead of having to sit through a classroom course, at the Daytona Beach Area Association of REALTORS®, during specific hours that have been pre-set by an instructor. (Why do they always want us there early in the morning!?!) The only negatives of taking the course online are that it takes a lot longer to complete than what you're told, and there is a test at the end of the online course that is not required when the course is taken in the classroom. (Maybe the test is actually a positive?)

Now for some public education.

First of all, REALTORS® are required to complete 14 hours of Continuing Education Credits every two years. And in addition to the 14 hours of CEC's, every 4 years we're required to take an additional course on the Code of Ethics. So as I spent my New Year's Eve finishing my Code of Ethics course (No, I don't procrastinate. Why would you ever think such a thing?) before I even got deep into the actual Code, as I was browsing through the Preamble, I underlined one section, and wrote "Blog" beside it. And as I continued with the course, there were several other sections that tied together in my mind.

If you're a real estate buyer, a real estate seller, or maybe you're a new REALTOR® who has not yet had to take your first Code of Ethics course, or maybe you're coming up on your 4th year and you've forgotten some of the Articles of the Code, or maybe you're just not aware of some potential changes that may have occurred since your last Code of Ethics course.

In just the Preamble to the Code you'll find a lot of information. Here are a few quotes...

• "REALTORS® should recognize that the interests of the nation and it's citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership. They require the creation of adequate housing, the building of functioning cities, the development of productive industries and farms, and the preservation of a healthful environment."

• ...REALTORS® are expected to be "zealous to maintain and improve the standards of their calling and share with their fellow REALTORS® a common responsibility for it's integrity and honor."

• "In recognition and appreciation of their obligations to clients, customers, the public, and each other, REALTORS® continuously strive to become and remain informed on issues affecting real estate and, as knowledgeable professionals, they willingly share the fruit of their experience and study with others. They identify and take steps, through enforcement of this Code of Ethics and by assisting appropriate regulatory bodies, to eliminate practices which may damage the public or which might discredit or bring dishonor to the real estate profession."

• ...REALTORS® are not to "attempt to gain any unfair advantage over their competitors" and "in instances where their opinion is sought, or where REALTORS® believe that comment is necessary, their opinion is offered in an objective, professional manner, uninfluenced by any personal motivation or potential advantage or gain."

• REALTORS® are to embody "the Golden Rule. "'Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them.'"

• "The term REALTOR® has come to connote competency, fairness, and high integrity resuting from adherence to a lofty ideal of moral conduct in business relations. No inducement of profit and no instruction from clients ever can justify departure from this ideal."

• Regarding the Golden Rule, REALTORS® should "pledge to observe it's spirit in all of their activities whether conducted personally, through associates or others, or via technological means, and to conduct their business in accordance with the tenets set forth below."

(End of Preamble) Now for a tiny tidbit of the actual Code itself...

Article 1: ..."REALTORS® pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client. This obligation to the client is primary, but it does not relieve REALTORS® of their obligation to treat all parties honestly."

Now for the reason I decided to write this post. As I was reading through the Preamble and the Code, and studying for the test, I noticed a theme running through it all. No, I don't mean just the theme of how The Code applies to the business practices of REALTORS® in general (which is the theme it's supposed to project), I saw a different theme. What I saw was how frequently we apply the Code, in so many mediums, without even knowing it. Let me demonstrate, using the portions I've provided ...

The end of my first example from the Preamble says "the preservation of a healthful environment".

This has been in the Preamble to our Code of Ethics for many years. But only in the last couple of years, has the construction end of the real estate industry starting "going green". So until now, REALTORS® hands have been tied on how much we could do about preserving a healthful environment, aside from encouraging buyers of commercial real estate and/or parcels of land to complete their due diligence by having a soil test. But with more and more "green" options available, REALTORS® are able to better uphold the Code of Ethics.

As our Code instructs REALTORS® to be "zealous to maintain and improve the standards of their calling and share with their fellow REALTORS® a common responsibility for it's integrity and honor", I immediately thought of our blogs, and the way we share experiences and information with each other through our posts and comments. Technology has opened up so many new ways to uphold the Code! And this same line of thinking applied even more to the next paragraph of the Preamble that I shared... "as knowledgeable professionals, they willingly share the fruit of their experience and study with others."

The next two segments of the Preamble that I chose to share, were for the education of the public, and to serve as a reminder to REALTORS®.

"REALTORS® are not to "attempt to gain any unfair advantage over their competitors" and in regards to that same line of thinking, we also have... "REALTORS® are to embody the Golden Rule; "Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them."

And lastly, in light of the opinions of a large number of Americans who have had the unfortunate displeasure of working with real estate agents who, not being REALTORS®, were not obligated to do business under the guidelines of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, or even worse, actual REALTORS® who did not uphold the Code in their transactions, I believe Article 1 of the Code is of the utmost importance. So once again... (Article 1) "REALTORS® pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client. This obligation to the client is primary, but it does not relieve REALTORS® of their obligation to treat all parties honestly."

Once again, for absolute clarification. REALTORS® are to protect and promote the interests of their clients.

And with that, the only thing left to add, is directed to real estate buyers and sellers. As a buyer or seller of real estate, if you the consumer, have been misrepresented by a REALTOR®, and/or believe your REALTOR® has violated the Code of Ethics while representing you, YOU can contact that REALTORS'® local REALTOR® Association and file a grievance. Not only REALTORS® can file grievances against other REALTORS®.

Regardless of what your personal experiences have been, one thing to always remember is, under NO circumstances can a REALTOR® or real estate agent, EVER violate the HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) laws regarding a protected class. These protected classes are... "race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, and national origin." So DO NOT request your REALTOR® or real estate agent to in any way discriminate against a protected class!

Now that you know more about the laws, and your rights, you (the consumer) know what to expect, and can rest assured that you CAN trust your REALTOR®. And if your REALTOR® does not uphold the Code of Ethics, you know your rights as well. To be more knowledgeable, feel free to fully educate yourself by reading the entire Code of Ethics. (Some changes have been made since the Code you'll find at this link. I believe the most recent changes were in 2004/2005.)

For all your real estate needs, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®.

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com