Portland Real Estate Agents

Curious about Realtors?
We write regular articles about average real estate agent commission rates, the number of real estate agents working in the Portland metro area, the difference between different types of local real estate licenses, where to find the best real estate agent reviews, best questions to ask when interviewing local agents, and much more. Enjoy!

How Many Real Estate Agents Are There? 2022 Update

September 3, 2021

We will have another record high number of real estate agents in the U.S. in 2022. Not all real estate agents are Realtors, but the vast majority are, as the vast majority of licensed Realty companies in the U.S. require all of their licensed real estate agents to also carry a National Association of Realtors membership, both a national and state (and sometimes additionally a Metro or County) Realtor membership. The National Association of Realtors requires its members to abide by a strict code of ethics to better serve and protect the public. Realtor is a membership title while the term real estate agent is for a state-issued license. Different states have different license terms for their licensed real estate...

5 Reasons Why Every Realtor Should Join eXp Realty in 2021

July 26, 2021

1. Online is the present and the future of real estate. Our clients are online. This is obvious. Homebuyers, for all intents and purposes, are exclusively shopping for homes online with the occasional open house stop along the way. Homeowners constantly check their home values online. More and more frequently homebuyers and homeowners are finding their next Realtor online too (whether it is through a social media platform or website). Realtors are online. Realtors primarily work from a smartphone and not an office. The NAR Member Profile Report 2021 says 96% of Realtors use a smartphone and 93% use text as the primary communication method with their clients. Only 25% of Realtors report any office expense whatsoever (exhibit 3-9). Home...

What Interview Questions to Ask a Realtor Before you Sell a Home?

May 21, 2021

About to interview a Realtor to sell your home? Whether you were recommended to this real estate agent by a friend or you found the Realtor online, the next best step is to interview the agent at your home. Yes, you could interview the Realtor online or on the phone, but we recommend the first step (as long as everyone is comfortable) is to schedule an appointment at the home you are considering selling. This will help you gauge the Realtor’s reaction to your property and help you know if the agent is a good fit for your home sale. 1. What are the Exact Terms of your Cancellation Policy? Okay, I know that sounds like a strange place to...

Learn How to Become a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Oregon – 2021 Update

May 10, 2021

Why should I read your guide to getting licensed? I run a top 250 real estate team in the U.S. according to Real Trends. Personally I got licensed in Oregon in 2003 as a Broker, then later upgraded to a Principal Broker’s licensed and have also obtained the highest level of license in Washington, Managing Broker. I’ve overseen more than a thousand local sales. In addition to all of that, it would be because I run this website which produces annual, local real estate market research reports on the topics you would want to know before becoming a licensed agent in Oregon, and follow after you are one. I have a genuine passion for the industry, my clients, my fellow...

Top 5 Sites to Help you Choose a Real Estate Agent in 2021

March 24, 2021

In many ways the internet is like the Wild Wild West. A land of opportunity, but one that’s so unregulated it’s hard to know which way is up. You can glean a ton from online reviews of real estate agents, but a lot can be misleading too. Fake reviews still run rampant in 2021, meaning you either have to sift through the slush pile and judge for yourself or find a trusted real estate agent review site. That’s why we’ve put together this guide, which will steer you towards the most reliable resources while providing some insider insight into how different review sites operate. Spoiler alert: a lot of them are dubious. But there are sources of information that can...

How to Pick a Brokerage: Splits, Leads, Training

February 22, 2021

I’ve been licensed nationally since 2003 for residential sales, and in the last eighteen years or so have hung my hat at a few different Brokerages. Choosing the right Brokerage or Realty company to work with has always had a significant impact on my personal business and on the business of the team I run in Oregon and Washington. I could easily rank each Brokerage by a multitude of factors including Realty splits, leads, fees, training, oversight, office space, technology, and more. I could tell you which Brokerages are best for individual real estate agents, real estate teams, new agents or experienced veterans in the industry. It would be impossible to put everything I’ve learned in one article, but let’s...

#1 Portland Real Estate Agent to Sell a Home

January 27, 2021

Okay, so that’s a lot to claim and we’ll need to get more specific. I’ve been a licensed real estate agent since 2003, serving Oregon and SW Washington. For much of that time I’ve run the Stephen FitzMaurice Team, currently with the international phenomenon EXP Realty. My team members are the reason for my success in the Portland real estate market. Also, it helps that we charge less than the local or national average commission rates. Our home selling program max. charge is 4.5% commission and is less in some areas and circumstances, but never more. We also offer a customer-friendly cancel anytime contract for no charge. Then we top it off with what I believe is the best home...

What is a Zillow Real Estate Agent?

October 30, 2020

Does Zillow have their own Real Estate Agents? Okay so let’s first clarify. Does Zillow have their own Realty company with their own agents? Yes and no. Zillow does not have any agents within their company that you can call to list your home on the public market, or go help you find your next home – at least not yet. Zillow has employees that happen to also have their real estate license that assist Zillow with their “Zillow Offers” program. Basically it is one of many iBuyer programs that makes a cash offer on your home (typically way under market value) for those home sellers that are willing to prioritize convenience over sales price. So while you can’t yet...

How Many Real Estate Agents Are There? 2021 Update

September 25, 2020

We are approaching the final quarter of 2020 and speeding into the 2021 real estate market with 1.4 million Realtors in tow. Now Realtors are those state licensed real estate agents that are members of the National Association of Realtors, but I’ve never met one that isn’t a member. Realty companies typically make it a requirement for their agents to be Realtors and abide by NAR’s code of ethics. Number of Real Estate Agents in the U.S. 2006 – 1.35 million 2007 – 1.33 million ↓ 2008 – 1.19 million ↓ 2009 – 1.11 million ↓ 2010 – 1.06 million ↓ 2011 – 1.00 million ↓ 2012 – .99 million ↓ 2013 – 1.04 million ↑ 2014 – 1.09 million...

How much do Real Estate Agents Make? 2020 Update

August 7, 2020

The National Association of Realtors puts out a Member Profile Report nearly every year that spells out exactly how much real estate agents make, or in this case since they are all members, how much Realtors make. Confused as to the difference? Read our article on Agent vs. Broker vs. Realtor. In 2020 the median gross income of Realtors was $49,700 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 34900 43500 47700 45800 39200 42500 39800 41800 49700 Realtor Income Hasn’t Changed Much I will tell you exactly why this is the case. It might surprise our readers but real estate commission rates haven’t changed much over the last ten years (see our 2020 national average commission rates report...

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Stephen FitzMaurice

Team at eXp Realty