The lockbox contains the key to the door of the property and the box can only be opened by licensed Santa Clarita real estate agents (often only with authorization from the listing brokerage), by using some sort of secret combination or code provided by the brokerage or the issuer of the lockbox.
To become licensed, most states require that an applicant take a minimum number of classes before taking the state licensing exam. Such education is often provided by real estate brokerages as a means to finding new agents.
Notary Public- A Notary Signing Agent is a Notary Public who is hired as an independent contractor by either a real estate lender, a closing agent (i.e., a title or escrow firm), or a signing service to ensure that loan documents are delivered to and signed by a borrower, then notarized as necessary and returned for processing in a timely manner. **A Notary Signing Agent is very different from a closing agent. Closing agents prepare and complete documents and perform other tasks needed to complete real estate transactions. Signing agents do not draw up documents, disburse funds or provide title abstracts - they serve as impartial witnesses for signings.
Santa Clarita Real estate agents are courted by loan officers by offering to sponsor meetings, open houses and “dropping by” with donuts and small gifts. RESPA compliance is of primary concern so “incentives” must meet those standards. In reality, real estate agents don’t want donuts but do appreciate marketing assistance in promoting their listings and obtaining buyers. What if you had a marketing system that generated home buyer leads and provided a marketing platform for the agent?
Compensation is conventionally based on a percentage of the sales price, split between the buying and selling brokers, and then between the agent(s) and his/her real estate agency. While a split based on the percentage received by the broker is generally normal, in some brokerages agents may pay a monthly "desk fee" for office costs, monthly fee, etc., and then retain 100% of the commission received.
While some people may refer to any licensed Santa Clarita real estate agent as a real estate broker, a licensed real estate agent is a professional who has obtained a real estate broker's license. The licensee is one who has obtained a real estate license and is employed by a real estate broker. Often, licensee's refer to themselves as an "agent", but the true agent is the broker and the licensee is a representative of the broker, often referred to as the real estate "salesperson." A real estate broker who works for another broker is referred to, sometimes, as a junior broker.
Agency relationships in residential real estate transactions involve the legal representation by a real estate broker (on behalf of a real estate company) of the principal, whether that person or persons is a buyer or a seller. The broker (and his/her licensed real estate agents) then becomes the agent of the principal.
The news media is doing a great job of advising consumers to ask for an exclusive buyer's agent in order to avoid the the conflict of interests that exists with dual and designated agency (which legally is "dual agency" in NC, since the same broker represents both parties.) But the problem is now that consumers have started asking for an exclusive buyer's agent, listing agents are representing themselves to consumers as "exclusive buyer's agents," and are advising consumers they can provide exclusive buyer agency representation - even on in-house listings! The reason for this is that the NC Real Estate Commission does not recognize the definition for exclusive buyer's agent published by NAR in 2000, and since then, picked up and popularized by the mainstream news media. As a result, many Santa Clarita real estate agents who practice designated agency on in-house listings regularly advertise themselves to consumers as "exclusive buyer's agents."
There ARE plenty of good, honest Santa Clarita real estate agent]s. But every industry has its share of shonky practitioners - unfortunately, that's just human nature. Take any large group of people, and you'll find a percentage who are prepared to twist the rules to their own advantage. And as we all know, the most fresh-faced, charming people can also be the most crooked, so we can't assume the nice guys are really the nice guys!
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