Unfortunately, the City of Round Rock was hit by a Tornado on Monday, Mar. 21. Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan signed a declaration of disaster on Mar. 22.

Attached are a few photos of the damage from the Round Rock Texas Tornado on Monday, Mar. 21. This is from a drive near our Round Rock office and to check condition of a client’s property.

More Photos of the Round Rock Tornado Damage.

Since you are reading this, I presume that you are interested in knowing the differences between a Realtor, Broker and Real Estate Agent in Texas. It’s probably not what you think. We’ll answer that and a few other common questions in this post.

Let’s start with the basics: Do you need to be a Realtor to sell your property in Texas? The answer is no. There are no provisions in the Texas Statutes that require you to have a real estate license to sell your own property. Texas does however, require a license for a someone to sell a property for another person in a professional manner or for compensation.

So why would someone pay Realtor fees? Selling without an agent, also known as for sale by owner (FSBO) has risks, takes time, effort, experience and research has shown that FSBO sale, on average, nets nearly a 6 percent lower price than an MLS sale for a similar property. You’ll also be responsible for all the work of an experienced realtor, so if you have other obligations, such as a job or a family, selling FSBO might not be for you.

What Is a Real Estate Broker?
A very abbreviated definition of a Broker from Chapter 1101 of the Texas Occupations Code says: A person who, in exchange for a commission or other valuable consideration or with the expectation of receiving a commission or other valuable consideration, performs for another person one of the following acts sells, exchanges, purchases, or leases real estate (it continues….)

What Is a Real Estate Sales Agent?
A very abbreviated definition of a Sales Agent from Chapter 1101 of the Texas Occupations Code says: A person who is sponsored by a licensed broker for the purpose of performing an act described by Subdivision 1 (Basically does the same stuff as the Broker but with less liability).

What Is the Difference Between a Broker and Real Estate Sales Agent?
Real estate Brokers and real estate Agents do many of the same things with the biggest difference being responsibility. The Broker is legally responsible for the actions of the Agents that he/she sponsors. Real estate brokers earn money by taking a share of the commissions earned by the real estate agents who work under them.

What Is a Realtor?
The Word Realtor is a term trademarked by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) which is America’s largest trade association. REALTORS® are required to follow a code of ethics and complete periodic training and re-education to maintain their Realtor® designation.

You can you maintain a Texas Sales Agent or Broker license without being a Realtor. However, it is NAR that provides the Multi-List System (MLS) in Texas which contains all of the real estate sales data and NAR also provides many automated sales and marketing systems for Realtors.

Real estate Brokers, Real Estate Sales Agents, Realtors and Attorneys can all legally help another person sell their real estate in Texas but you must be a member of the National Association of REALTORS® to hold the designation of a Realtor.

When Do We Use the Word Realty?
Since the terms REALTOR® and REALTORS® are trademarked, it’s best to use the words “Realty,” “Real Estate,” or similar terms that indicate the real estate nature of a real estate firm’s business.

The Right Real Estate Agent Is Ready to Help!

We hope you find this information useful. If you decide that you need the services of a Real estate Brokers, Real Estate Sales Agents or Realtor, ROCK Properties Realty provides exceptional service and specializes in residential and commercial Real Estate especially the areas of Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Hutto, Liberty Hill, Florence, Bertram, Taylor, Thorndale, Thrall, Jarrell, Buda, Kyle, Manor, Williamson County, Travis County and Bell County.

We promise Integrity, Knowledge, Communication, Pride, Enthusiasm, Diversity, Stability, Caring. Our vision is to perform your real estate experience with visionary people, innovation products, and professional services.

We are a family-owned, full-service real estate services company, committed to professionalism for our clients, our colleagues, and our communities. ROCK Properties Realty have been working in Williamson County, Round Rock for the past 19 years. If you are considering relocating to Round Rock and require assistance in buying or selling your property, we would welcome the opportunity to assist you.

You get a call, email or post-card from someone offering to buy your Austin | Round Rock home off-market for cash and you are captivated by the amount of money you can make by selling it. Before you do, there are a few things that you should understand and consider.

• Should I sell and take the money?
• What is selling wholesale?
• Should I sell my property wholesale?
• Can I sell my home with a Realtor if it’s not in good condition
• Can a Real Estate Agent sell my home fast?
• Is there a benefit to selling “wholesale”?
• Do I net more money if I sell wholesale?
• Are wholesalers honest? Are Real Estate Agents?
• Do wholesalers take advantage of ignorance?
• Wholesalers offer a fixed price and Realtors get a % of the sale.
• What are assignable contracts.
• What are the differences between selling wholesale and retail.

Should I sell and take the money?
The thought of selling your home and taking the cash equity is tantalizing. I’ve thought about it many times but I always come back to the same questions. Where will I go? All of the other real estate in town is also inflated.

With the world in such a chaotic state, investing your money in your primary residence is probably one of the safest investments you can make. Cash in the bank will shrink due to inflation. The stock market and other investments are unpredictable. If you own your home, your housing costs will rarely change much but if you rent, they will rise with inflation, supply and demand. If the economy crashes, you have a place to live until the good times return.

What is the difference between selling Wholesale or Retail?
Those buyers that advertise, send post cards, emails, and telephone offers to buy your house are called wholesalers. When someone buys or sells a property without going through a Real Estate Agent, it’s called off-market or wholesale. When you buy or sale using a Realtor, it’s called a retail real estate transaction.

Should I sell my property wholesale?
If a wholesaler convinces you to sell your property to take advantage of the equity in your Austin or Round Rock home, you should first understand the advantage and disadvantages of selling off-market/wholesale versus retail with a Real Estate Agent.

• Can a Real Estate Agent sell my home fast?
  Yes, they can offer ALL of the same sales strategies as a wholesaler.
• Can I sell my home with a Realtor if it needs repair?
  Yes, your home does not need to be in good condition to use a Realtor.
• Will I net more money if I sell wholesale?
  It’s very unlikely.
• Are there benefits to selling wholesale?
  I cannot think of any. Really!

Are wholesalers honest? Are Real Estate Agents?
No one can judge the honesty of someone they do not know. However, the wholesaling business is often based on taking advantage of a seller’s ignorance. Wholesalers continuously market for home sellers who are in distress or have a property that they don’t want or is in poor condition. All of these selling conditions can also be handled by a Realtor and you may also net more money using a Real Estate Agent, even after paying the fees. Realtors can offer most anything that a wholesaler can offer.

What are the main differences between selling wholesale and retail?

The biggest differences between the two are in the contract. A wholesale contract usually entails the wholesaler getting the right to buy the property at the contracted price for a period of time. The wholesaler will then attempt to find a buyer to buy the property at a higher price. The contract also usually gives them the right to sell the “assignable contract” to another party who may then sell the contract to yet another party. The lower the contract price the wholesaler can get on the property, the more profit they can potentially make. Often, a wholesale contract does not compensate the seller of the wholesaler cannot find a buyer.

On the other hand, a contract with a Real Estate Agent is a contract between the seller and the Realtor to provide a service to sell the property (not to buy it). A Real Estate Agent is usually paid a percentage of the sales price, so the more money the seller makes, the more the Realtor makes. The retail market is also much larger than the wholesale market which provides a much greater opportunity to find as-is, cash and rehab buyers.

In summary, I would always recommend using a Real Estate Agent to sell your property. Realtors can sell properties as-is, cash and quickly, just like a wholesaler. Remember, the more the seller makes, the more the Real Estate Agent makes whereas it is the opposite with a wholesaler. Realtors are also licensed by the state and are required to have training. Real Estate Agents also have access to a much larger pool of potential buyers. These differences can potentially mean a greater chance of success and a good chance of dealing with someone with experience and integrity.

ROCK Properties Realty will Help Sell Your House Regardless of Condition or Situation.

We hope that this post will help you understand differences between selling wholesale/off-market and retail and which option might be the best option for you. ROCK Properties is a licensed Texas Real Estate Brokerage with offices located in Round Rock Texas. We have been in business for almost twenty years and have experience with both the wholesale and retail sides of the Austin Texas real estate market. We can assist clients with both retail and wholesale real estate transactions but we are biased toward the retail options.

If you do have a property that needs work, you need to sell quickly or as-is, ROCK Properties Realty can offer you several options. We can buy it wholesale, fast and as-is (Off the MLS), we can help you fix it and sell it retail (On the MLS) so you can benefit from the improvements or we can help you sell it as-is retail (On the MLS). Either way, we can help you sell your property fast with no, repairs, hassle, or stress. We can also buy your house without appraisal or inspection in any condition in the Austin, TX area and you can choose the closing date that best suits your needs.

If you live in the Austin | Round Rock, TX area and have property problems, contact ROCK Properties Realty. We can assist with issues such as; back taxes, bad tenants, code violations, divorce, filled with clutter, homes in bad conditions, inherited houses, overwhelming maintenance, Preforeclosure, vacant houses, with severe damage, without any repairs, & much more. We also buy houses that are in good condition.

ROCK Properties Realty provides exceptional service and specializes in residential and commercial Real Estate especially the areas of Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Hutto, Liberty Hill, Florence, Bertram, Taylor, Thorndale, Thrall, Jarrell, Buda, Kyle, Manor, Williamson County, Travis County and Bell County.

Have you ever searched the internet for terms like Best Real Estate Agent in Round Rock and then get results like these?

• Round Rock’s Top 20 Real Estate Agents & Realtors
• Find the best 5% for you based on millions of home sales and 70 reviews.
• Find someone you trust to be your Realtor & Real Estate Agent.
• 2020’s Top Real Estate Agents and Realtors in Round Rock, TX
• Find the Best Real Estate Agents in Round Rock, TX. U.S.
• Top 10 Best Real Estate Agents in Round Rock TX
• Top Realtors® in Round Rock | 2022’s Top 1% Ranked Agents
• Find The Perfect Round Rock Realtor® Using Verified Sales Data …
• Round Rock’s #1 Rated REALTOR® – Round Rock’s Best Agent

Anyone who has been around the Internet long enough already knows that most of the results on the first page of a (Google) search are from advertisers who pay Google to be on the first page.  Most of the rest are from marketing sites that charge Realtors for a profile page on their website while they spend time and money promoting their website to appear on the first page of a (Google) search in order to collect leads to sell to hungry Realtors.

You have to ask yourself, are these really the Best Real Estate Agents?  Can anyone really say who is the Best Real Estate Agent?  What makes a good real estate agent?  How do you find a good real estate agent?  Is there really a difference between Real Estate Agents and do their differences really matter?  Let’s find out.

Can Anyone Really Claim To Be The Best Real Estate Agent?

Believe it or not, a big part of what makes a Realtor successful is marketing.  That includes marketing for new clients and marketing their client’s properties during the sales process.  Of those two marketing tasks, successfully marketing for new clients can have the most dramatic effect on a Realtor’s success.

After a Realtor has an agreement with a client, marketing the property for their buyer or seller clients is a very important skill, but much of the marketing is automated and it’s often the Realtor’s more subtle skills that set him or her apart from the rest.

What Makes An Outstanding Real Estate Agent?

It’s the skills other than marketing that divide the good Realtors from the outstanding Realtors and most of those skills can only be acquired through experience.  Some of the crucial skills for a “Best Realtor” are:

• Are they full-time or part-time?
• Are they responsive?
• Can they explain any and all of the paragraphs of the standard TX real estate contracts?
• Can they give a reasonable estimate for the cost of a property repair?
• Do they have an eye for photography and design?
• Do they have construction knowledge?
• Do they have experience negotiating contracts?
• Do they know the growth path of the town and the current events?
• Do they like their work?
• Do they own one or more properties?
• Do they understand emotion and the art of negotiation?
• Have they lived in the same or adjoining zip codes as their clients’ property interests?
• And many more…

Does Choosing The Right Realtor Matter?

Absolutely!  If a smooth transaction and getting the best deal on your property transaction matters, then the right Realtor can make a big difference.  Especially important is negotiating contracts and understanding emotion and the art of negotiation.

From this, we can see that the best real estate agent may not be the one that appears on the first page of Google who claims to be the Top Agent in your town.  So what are some good ways to find a great Real Estate Agent and what difference does it make?

How To Find A Good Realtor In Round Rock

I think the number one factor is how long have they been a Realtor.  There really is no substitute for  experience.  Not everyone succeeds in real estate and those that have been doing it for two or three or more years have figured out what it takes to succeed.  Most online reviews have some value but it’s a good idea to use those along with other criteria.  I have seen some Realtors with 250+ 5 star reviews and I wonder if they are real.  I know that positive reviews can be purchased.

Like choosing the right attorney or accountant, Buying or selling a home is a big decision and transaction that requires a lot of paperwork and real-time decisions. A wrong decision and you could make less money on the sale of your home, pay too much for a home, or even lose the home to another buyer. It should be simple to (Google) search and find information on a respectable real estate agent in Round Rock.  Look for a trustworthy website, a profile, and testimonials from previous clients. But Remember one thing, The right real estate agent for you may not be the right agent for someone else, though! Thousands of dollars are spent each month by large real estate brokers to guarantee that their agents are the most prominent. However, the agents backed by the most promotion dollars aren’t always the best, and may not be a good fit for your circumstances.

Selling Your Property

If you’re selling a home, you’ll want to hire someone who understands how to price a property, promote it, and negotiate effectively. Begin your search by asking friends or coworkers for recommendations. By all means, get references and check them. Most importantly, it is also a good idea to ask a possible broker for references, which are previous clientele who may provide feedback on their services. When speaking with these clients, be sure to inquire whether they have any reservations about referring the agent to others, and if so, why. Inquire about whether the Broker matched their expectations for excellent communication, real estate market experience, and the execution of an effective marketing or search strategy, as well as how they felt about their general. “You’re the CEO of this transaction, so own it,”. When meeting with potential Round Rock TX real estate agents, doing some preliminary study on properties, the Round Rock real estate market, and Round Rock home sale prices can help you to ask more pointed questions. You’ll also be able to examine each agent’s knowledge base more accurately. Don’t select someone  to sell your home based on the number he puts in front of you . “The market decides that, not the broker.” 

Buying A Property

If you’re buying a home, make a list of your desires and priorities before you start looking for a property. The location, type of residence, and age of the home are all factors to consider. Look for a broker who asks the right questions, such as: What is your timing? How is your financial situation? Have you been pre-approved for a mortgage?  You want someone who knows about the area where you want to live in from a hyperlocal level. Good communication skills and empathy instincts are highly desirable traits on the buying side. The broker who seems to tell you only what you want to hear may not result in the most successful and fair transaction. On the contrary, a broker should be the one  who is strong enough to say: ”I know it isn’t on your list, but just come and see this place. I truly think it will work for you.”  If you’re buying a home for the first time, your Realtor should discuss any challenges of locating the home you want at the price you desire and they should also have a strategy for achieving your objectives. When working with a Realtor, you should always feel as though you are in control of all critical decisions and that your real estate agent is acting in the role of a trusted advisor.

The Right Real Estate Agent Is Ready To Help

Now for our sales pitch.  We think we are the best Real Estate office in Round Rock, but the truth is, who can really claim to be the Best.

We do promise Integrity, Knowledge, Communication, Pride, Enthusiasm, Diversity, Stability, Caring.  Our vision is to perform your real estate experience with visionary people, innovation products, and professional services.

We are a family-owned, full-service real estate services company, committed to professionalism for our clients, our colleagues, and our communities.  ROCK properties Realty have been working in Williamson county, Round Rock for the past 19 years. If you are considering relocating to Round Rock and require assistance in buying or selling your property, we would welcome the opportunity to assist you.

ROCK Properties Realty provides exceptional service and specializes in residential and commercial Real Estate especially the areas of Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Hutto, Liberty Hill, Florence, Bertram, Taylor, Thorndale, Thrall, Jarrell, Buda, Kyle, Manor, Williamson County, Travis County and Bell County.