There have been many news articles lately about realtors' fees being too high, how you can sell your home yourself, (otherwise known as "For Sale By Owner, or FSBO") and claims of the average home buyer being able to buy a home by using the internet.

While an experienced buyer or seller might be lucky enough to do everything correctly on their own, most buyers will eventually turn to a realtor when things become too confusing, and most sellers will find they cannot market their home and sell it within a reasonable amount of time.

Purchasing a home is one of the most complex, high-risk, and expensive transactions that average people will ever go through, yet many buyers do not understand the importance of having a licensed Realtor by their side. Without someone representing their interests, how will these buyers ever know if they found the right property at the right price?

Realtors Are Real Estate Specialists. There are approximately 2.3 million licensed real estate professionals, but only members of the National Association of Realtors can call themselves Realtors. This association of about 750,000 brokers and agents provides a Code of Ethics that is strictly enforced, and it requires its members to participate in continuing education to make certain any new laws are followed.

When you have a Realtor by your side, you share some of the risk of home buying with your agent. Many states do not have laws in place that protect homebuyers in many situations. Your Realtor will make recommendations that will assure that you are buying a home that is safe, environmentally sound and priced fairly according to the current marketplace.

Realtors work for you on a contingency basis, often without a contract. You don't typically pay for any services up front with an agent and that is because agents are paid on the back end by the lender's proceeds. When you think about it, that is an incredible endorsement that your lender is willing to finance your brokerage fees. That means you and the seller have no out-of-pocket expenses. It's in your agent's best interest to work quickly, diligently, and use all his or her resources to help you buy or sell your property.

Experienced real estate agents have invaluable market-by-market experience which can't be learned overnight. In a resort area like Myrtle Beach, and especially dealing with condos and condo-hotels, it is vitally important that someone help you with your choice of investment. There are always pretty brochures, and now elaborate internet claims for most all the resorts. Only your realtor knows what is true, and what the problems are with so many to choose from.

Your Myrtle Beach Realtor has Information you don't have. MLS data entry can take from one to 10 days, depending on the listing agent, his or her broker, and the rules and technology of the MLS. By the time a home or condo is posted on the Internet, it could already be sold, so when you shop online, you may not be seeing the most current inventory. Your agent will tell other agents about you and your wish list in exchange for information about upcoming properties which are not yet in the MLS or the Internet. Many homes are bought and sold this way without a sign ever going into the yard. If you want to be the buyer positioned to make first and best offers on these desirable homes, hire an agent and be willing to go under contract. If an agent has found out about a home for sale that has not been listed, your committment to him will make him be committed to you.

Let us show you what true committment and experience can bring to the table in your quest for investment property or a resort home in the Grand Strand.