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Carlyn Lowery - eXp Realty - Annapolis, MD Real Estate

What Does It Cost to Be a Real Estate Agent in Maryland?

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Do you wonder what it costs to be a real estate agent?

For the state of Maryland, startup costs are outlined here: Best Real Estate Licensing Courses in Maryland and Beyond.

Once you have gotten your license, it’s time to join a real estate brokerage. Each brokerage has its own fee structure.

Essential service providers also have fees.

To be a member of brightMLS, where you can access and share listings of homes for sale, currently costs $105 per quarter.

To be a subscriber to the Sentrilock service, which you use to access lockboxes when you show homes, currently costs $169 per year.

Realtor association dues, for the Anne Arundel County Association of Realtors, Maryland Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors, are currently $665 per year.

And renewing your Maryland real estate license every two years costs $70. Continuing education classes are also required, and the cost depends upon where you take them. More details are on the Maryland Department of Labor (DLLR) web site.

If you are wondering what is the best real estate brokerage, let’s talk and find out if eXp Realty is a fit for you!  You can find out more about eXp Realty here.

We have agents across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, and can assist you with getting your real estate license and starting your real estate career anywhere.

P.S. Considering a move? Please call for a confidential chat. Your personal needs, wants, and finances are my priority and my passion and my specialties run from waterfront luxury estates to distressed properties.

Call me today for your Annapolis real estate needs, or for an introduction to a great real estate agent anywhere.

Carlyn Lowery, Associate Broker, eXp Realty, Annapolis Real Estate, Annapolis Waterfront Homes, Annapolis Luxury Homes, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 443-569-3977 or 888-860-7369 x146

Local web sites in and around Annapolis, Maryland

REAL Trends Recognizes eXp Realty!

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Top reviews and rankings of eXp Realty keep coming in!

People are asking…
What’s the best brokerage for agents?
What’s the best brokerage for home sellers and buyers?

The REAL Trends 500 Report was just released, saying:

Congratulations to the 2018 REAL Trends 500. You are the elite-performing brokerages in the industry!

According to REAL Trends, comparing 2017 to 2016:

eXp is now the #7 brokerage in the US by units closed!

eXp is the #4 largest independent brokerage in the US!

eXp was the #4 Top Mover in increased closed sales volume, with a 209% increase to $5,896,993,794 from $1,905,633,748!

eXp was the #2 Top Mover in increased closed transaction sides to 24,655 from 7,905!

eXp was the #1 Top Mover with the largest percentage increase in closed transaction sides with a 211.9% increase! 

Note this authoritative source:

The REAL Trends 500, now in its 31st year, remains the undisputed leader in ranking the performance of residential real estate services firms. Due to the requirement of independent verification, the REAL Trends 500 is The Trusted Source for information about the performance of these firms.

What will it look for 2018?  Why is this movement happening? What does it mean for Clients? How is it helping our business?  Ask me for details!

We do it all for you!   Don’t hesitate to let me know how we can serve you, now and in the future!

P.S. Considering a move? Please call for a confidential chat. Your personal needs, wants, and finances are my priority and my passion and my specialties run from waterfront luxury estates to distressed properties.

Call me today for your Annapolis real estate needs, or for an introduction to a great real estate agent anywhere.

Carlyn Lowery, Associate Broker, eXp Realty, Annapolis Real Estate, Annapolis Waterfront Homes, Annapolis Luxury Homes, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 443-569-3977 or 888-860-7369 x146

Local web sites in and around Annapolis, Maryland

2018 REAL Trends 500

2018 REAL Trends 500

It’s Spring! Let’s Move!

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Would you like to live in another home? What would it be like?

Right now is an excellent time to get in action and make it happen.

Where would your dream home be, and how would it be different from where you are now?  

You may be wondering why I am asking these questions, other than that I sell houses and I’m good at it and I want to sell more…. Why should you act now?

Months of Housing Supply in Anne Arundel County, MD

Months of Housing Supply in Anne Arundel County, MD

Because the facts are that:

  1. Housing inventory is extremely low right now. This is the situation overall nationally and in many neighborhoods. It’s a seller’s market with 2.31 months of inventory in Anne Arundel County, which is the lowest in ten years. You can sell now fast and for top dollar. 
  2. Demand for houses is high. The Spring market has begun.  Buyers are actively hunting for houses, and demand is likely to increase in the next few days and weeks.
  3. A skilled agent can help you get a great deal on your new home, by using strategies to beat out other buyers and make the best offer to the seller (which is not always the one that is the highest price).
  4. Interest rates are low, near historical lows, and they have been fairly stable since early February. They are projected to rise significantly in the next year. You can lock in a great interest rate on a new loan and have it fixed for the next thirty years. Mortgage Rates at 2-Week Lows
  5. Prices have been rising and many people that didn’t have equity before have equity now. If you have not been able to move because your mortgage was too high for you to pay off with the sale, that situation may have changed. Take a look and see.  Here’s Realtor Magazine article: Homeowners Keep Getting Richer and Richer!
  6. If your house has gone up in value since you bought it, you may be able to sell without paying any taxes. This is the only way that most people have to get tax-free income, by using IRS section 121.—Exclusion of gain from sale of principal residence

If this is of interest to you, it’s important to move fast. Every Spring weekend counts – it’s important to have your house on the market so that active buyers know it is available. We can do strategic and powerful marketing before your house is ready for showings.

Right now, I have time and attention to take on more listings, because my recent listings are under contract or sold.  I am ready to focus on your move and help you get there, along with my network of professional colleagues all over the country and overseas.  So please let me know at your earliest opportunity if you or someone you know would like to make a move. Let’s talk and make it happen.

Also, by the way, we are looking for Realtors to partner with us at eXp Realty, not only in Maryland, also all over the country and in Canada. The company is growing fast and creating a new future in real estate. A friend from Mountain View, California, (Silicon Valley) just joined our team this week. Who do you know, any where in the country, who would be interested in improving their real estate career? Please introduce us!

P.S. Considering a move? Please call for a confidential chat. Your personal needs, wants, and finances are my priority and my passion and my specialties run from waterfront luxury estates to distressed properties.

Call me today for your Annapolis real estate needs, or for an introduction to a great real estate agent anywhere.

Carlyn Lowery, Associate Broker, eXp Realty, Annapolis Real Estate, Annapolis Waterfront Homes, Annapolis Luxury Homes, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 443-569-3977 or 888-860-7369 x146

Local web sites in and around Annapolis, Maryland

Best Real Estate Licensing Courses in Maryland and Beyond

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Are you thinking of getting your real estate license, and wondering what are the best real estate licensing courses?

In Maryland, the state requires you to take a 60 hour pre-licensing course and pass a state exam.

The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) has a list of approved education providers on their website.

If you want to do the training on line at your convenience, check out the on-line training at our afflicted vendor, TheCEShop.  The CEShop frequently has sales and you can get a discount on their courses.

Or, if you want learn quickly and in person, you would probably like one of the two-week intensive courses that are offered regularly by local real estate offices.  The cost of these courses varies by provider.

If you have a real estate license in another state, you may get a waiver of some requirements.

Once you have finished your course, you can take the real estate license exam.  It consists of two parts – a national and a state portion. Both sections must be passed with at least 70% of the questions correct. If you only pass one section, you will not have to pass it again for up to a year. You will only need to pass the section that you did not successfully complete on your next attempt.

You’ll take your test through PSI Examination Services. PSI has locations in Baltimore, College Park, Crofton, Hagerstown, Lanham and Salisbury. You can schedule an appointment for your exam at the location of your choice, and it lasts two hours and is taken on a computer. The fee for the exam is $61.00.

After you complete your exam, you are ready to get your real estate salesperson license and get started with a real estate brokerage! The current fee for new licensees is $90. You can complete your application online through the DLLR website.

If you are wondering what is the best real estate brokerage, let’s talk and find out if eXp Realty is a fit for you!  You can find out more about eXp Realty here.

We have agents across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, and can assist you with getting your real estate license and starting your real estate career anywhere.

P.S. Considering a move? Please call for a confidential chat. Your personal needs, wants, and finances are my priority and my passion and my specialties run from waterfront luxury estates to distressed properties.

Call me today for your Annapolis real estate needs, or for an introduction to a great real estate agent anywhere.

Carlyn Lowery, Associate Broker, eXp Realty, Annapolis Real Estate, Annapolis Waterfront Homes, Annapolis Luxury Homes, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 443-569-3977 or 888-860-7369 x146

Local web sites in and around Annapolis, Maryland

Carlyn Lowery Exceptional Homes Moves to eXp Realty!

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I’m excited to announce that I’ve moved my real estate business to another brokerage. 

My new company is eXp Realty. It was started and built by some of the best people in the industry, and it’s an exciting opportunity. The company now has over 6,000 agents in 46 states, DC, and Canada. More and more of the best agents in the business are moving over.

eXp Realty was just named a Best Place to Work in Glassdoor’s 2018 Employees’ Choice Awards.

This is an opportunity for me to better serve you and the people that you introduce to me, with access to great technology and people. And, it is an opportunity for great agents across the country to enhance their businesses.

If you’d like to know more, please call or write! I’d love to talk to you or anyone you know about the benefits of eXp Realty, and why I made the move.

This move just happened, and I am in the process of moving all of my business systems over to new and better platforms. Please accept my apologies for any glitches during the transition.

Sometimes it works best to talk. So don’t hesitate to call anytime! My direct number remains the same, 443-569-3977.

And if you’re in town, let’s get together for one of the many holiday events that’s happening  around Annapolis (like Midnight Madness this Thursday!)

P.S. Considering a move? Please call for a confidential chat. Your personal needs, wants, and finances are my priority and my passion and my specialties run from waterfront luxury estates to distressed properties.

Call me today for your Annapolis real estate needs, or for an introduction to a great real estate agent anywhere.

Carlyn Lowery, Associate Broker, eXp Realty, Annapolis Real Estate, Annapolis Waterfront Homes, Annapolis Luxury Homes, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 443-569-3977 or 888-860-7369 x146