my realtor sold 15 hourse last year - Good/Bad ? (Dallas: sales, real estate)

[mom2DFW]

First time poster !

Moving to DFW area in summer, from out of state. Looking (like everyone else) at Flower Mound and Coppell. My real estate person in DFW area told me she sold 15 houses last year.

Is this on the "good side" or "bad side" of the sales range ? Aka a super star at sales or a "dud"

Do I need to get a real estate person with "local neighborhood expertise" aka a Flower Mound realtor to hunt for Flower Mound houses ? Mine, a nice lady, has no Flower Mound sales in two years (her words). Mostly Colleyville, Southlake

She is recommended by others but is out of Colleyville

what should I expect from a good realtor ? she sends me listings it is some sort of robo-email but can't I just look at Zillow and get same thing ? Just wondering what I should be expecting from a "good" one.

thanks everyone

[Rakin]

15 is barely 1 a month. A really good agent will average 30-60 a year just by themselves with no assistants.

I showed FM this weekend and there were maybe 6 homes (not under contract) on the market where there used to be 30-40. ($300-450K)
The direct feed from the MLS is the best way to get listings.

Zillow is terrible and out of date most of the time. Do not rely on Zillow, it's just a site to sell advertising.

[CMC_TX]

Originally Posted by Rakin

15 is barely 1 a month. A really good agent will average 30-60 a year just by themselves with no assistants.

I showed FM this weekend and there were maybe 6 homes (not under contract) on the market where there used to be 30-40. ($300-450K)
The direct feed from the MLS is the best way to get listings.

Zillow is terrible and out of date most of the time. Do not rely on Zillow, it's just a site to sell advertising.

So you're saying decent realtors have an annual income of over 200K pre-tax? Selling average prices homes (30) at 3% commission translates to that. That seems absurd for a job that only requires a high school education.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by CMC_TX

So you're saying decent realtors have an annual income of over 200K pre-tax? Selling average prices homes (30) at 3% commission translates to that. That seems absurd for a job that only requires a high school education.

You're forgetting that realtors split their commissions with the brokerage, so the pre-tax amount in your scenario is closer to $140k after a 60% split. Realtors pay out to their assistant and for their marketing expenses from their split, not the brokerage's portion. Realtors are also self-employed so typically have higher healthcare premiums than those of us who work for medium and large companies.

You have to sell a ton of houses or specialize in very high dollar properties to pull in the big bucks. Although Rakin was qualifying that a "really good" agent is selling 30-60 homes a year, not an average or beginner agent.

Also, the high school diploma comment is condescending. Most realtors DO hold college degrees and even if the don't, a good realtor is very business savvy and is skilled in negotiation, analysis, and contracts. In Texas realtors handle parts of real estate transactions that are typically attorney work in other states.

[mom2DFW]

OK without starting a fist fight, is it generally agreed that

1. 15 houses in 2014 is below average and that 30+ is desired

2. I need someone with local neighborhood/market expertise

3. Can I hire two ? One for Flower Mound, one for Coppell ? Is this ethical or does any conflict or legal issue exist ? I am a buyer, so this would be a buyer-agent role I assume. Thoughts ?

[Rakin]

Coppell and FM are side by side small cities (and almost one in the same). Any decent agent will know both very well.

You only need 1 agent to do both areas. Just make sure they know both areas.

BTW, (To CMC) most Realtors I know have at least a Bachelors degree and many have advanced. I have a BBA with about 20 years of Construction business prior to getting in the RE Business for the last 18 years.

RE ain't a job for sissies, It's one of the hardest careers one can have.

[mSooner]

Do I need to get a real estate person with "local neighborhood expertise" aka a Flower Mound realtor to hunt for Flower Mound houses ? Mine, a nice lady, has no Flower Mound sales in two years (her words). Mostly Colleyville, Southlake

Get someone who knows Coppell/Flower Mound. Ours said they did, but really knew Colleyville and Southlake and it wasn't great.

[katrique]

Do you want a Realtor who has time to help you find a home? Do they know how to instruct you how to bid--will you take their advice.

Any Realtor selling 30-60 homes is mostly a listing agent.

This is a seller's market. Find an agent who has time for you.

I listed a home in Colleyville last year that an agent that lived on the street said was $100,000 over price--wrote it to my client. I sold it full price and it appraised.

I do not think you need to agents in those markets at all. I personally would not trust or work with someone knowingly with 2 agents. Realtors do not get paid until closing. You realtor needs to trust you too.

Do they have access to pocket listings? That may be your key.

I am a Dallas Realtor but I know all those areas. I lived in them. I still have friends and clients there and still network with other agents etc.

If your not getting homes your offer is not attractive enough. It may not be your Realtor or yours fault. My clients often select cash over financing. I have had 60% cash buyers in the last 2 -3 years. They almost always win multiple offers.

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by katrique

Any Realtor selling 30-60 homes is mostly a listing agent. .

I disagree. Any agent worth their Salt can have 20 listings a year and 20-25 Buyer clients a year. That easily makes 40-50 sales a year.
If you can't do 3-4 transactions a month in the suburbs, you're a low output agent.

Maybe I just have higher standards.

[LeagleEagleDFW]

I just purchased a home in Flower Mound. First off, good luck. Depending on the area, homes will go under contract overnight. The homes in Wellington / North Shore / Woodlake Estate area seem to move the fastest, while the Lake Forest area and homes north of 1171 or closer to Lewisville off 3040 generally don't move as fast. If you're looking in the Wellington area, though, be prepared to write an offer over asking the same night it goes on the market.

Second, our realtor sold probably 80-ish homes in the area last year. He's been exceptional to work with - communicative, working with us, giving good advice, and just generally been fantastic. He has assistants, but he does it all himself when it comes to showings and helping you find your house. I cannot recommend him highly enough, and he knows Flower Mound / Coppell very well. Feel free to message me if you want his name.