Tuesday, 6 December 2011

The History of Real Estate Profession in the United States

By Walton Hong


Everybody knows that you need to have a real estate license to sell property in the United States unless you are selling your own house or you have a written agreement that somebody has asked you to assist them in selling their own residence. We also know that you will find real estate licenses for an agent and a separate real estate license for a broker. Within the United States the individual states manage the requirements, fees and examinations for getting a real estate license. OK but how did all this come about? What's the history in the profession in the United States?

The term "real estate" is a legal term in the United States referring to property to be bought, sold or rented. The real estate profession is governed by a body of regulations and legal codes which within the United States are determined by each individual state. Each individual state is responsible for setting the specifications and providing the exam to acquire a real estate license. All the terms and principles come from English typical law and have been institutionalized within the United States. Here real estate agents or brokers with a real estate license in the state they are operating in, help sellers in marketing and selling their property for the highest price. Recently the profession of "buyer's agent" has surfaced and also the agent, having a real estate license, assists the buyer in discovering the property they want and buying it at the lowest possible cost. A real estate agent is required to disclose if they're representing the seller or the buyer or each. In all 50 states it is illegal to act as a real estate agent or broker with out a real estate license. However a homeowner or other property owner might purchase and sell property on their very own without a real estate license. In a number of states lawyers are allowed to act as agents without a real estate license.

In 1908 The National Association of Real Estate Boards was formed in Chicago. There had been 120 founding members with real estate licenses and 19 boards and 1 state association. The mission of the NAREB at that time was "to unite the real estate males of America for the purpose of effectively exerting a combined influence upon matters affecting real estate interests."

In 1913 they adopted the Code of Ethics and the term "realtor" came into becoming that same year. A "realtor" was and nonetheless is an agent or broker having a real estate license that belongs to NAR and adheres to the code of ethics. The terms "Realtor" and "Realtors" are patented by the association. In 1972 the association changed its name to The National Association of Realtors. Today the association has more than 1.two million members who hold a actual estate license.

The National Association of Actual Estate Boards created the Multiple Listings Service in the 1960's so that agents and brokers with a real estate license could share with each other all of the properties that they have listed for sale. This allowed all agents and brokers to sell each other's listings much more effortlessly. Now every agent having a actual estate license could appear to the MLS to assist his client discover the property they wish to purchase. Also within the 1960's the Federal Housing Association FHA came into existence and later in that decade discrimination in housing was outlawed. Following this numerous of the familiar actual estate businesses had been formed to allow agents having a real estate license to work together in larger groups and share profits.




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