Sandy Keller, ABR, CNRS, e-PRO, Realtor

Walking on the beach in the winter at sunset. Myrtle Beach winter is normally sweater weather not bulky coats, hats or gloves.

The Grand Strand is sixty miles of coastal property that includes several island beach's in North Carolina and heads south to Georgetown, South Carolina. The towns you see to the west of Myrtle Beach are also considered part of the Grand Strand.

You're looking at a unbuildable

section of an island beach in North Carolina. As you can see the shallow ocean water is blue-green.

There are Fishing Piers throughout the Grand Strand.

Did the sunset look like this where you are this evening?

Many Realtors have faced the same daily feeling of "should I stay or should I go" during the past year. You keep paying for your dues, license fees, required continuing education, advertising, insurance, supplies, and let's not forget, gas, while feeling like a hamster running in a wheel.

I've been lucky enough to have a steady stream of contacts requesting information about buying property but, as I've written about before, many of them get scared when they hear a media report that basically says, "The sky is falling". (Yes, things are bad now, but just take a minute to think of who really started the avalanche.) Then I've had a more than normal group of potential buyers who contact me and several other real estate agents to look for the same type of property. Those people don't know the hours I spend searching for properties and they probably wouldn't care if they did know. The problem is, I care!

I became a Realtor because I wanted to remain my own boss and wanted to actually help people but because I work 24/7 there are fewer and fewer days when I feel any sense of accomplishment. Why have I stayed when so many others have gone? It's days like one last week when I found the perfect property at a great price for a young couple I had been working with for several years. It seems like fate, that each time I am ready to go something happens and here I stay.

Real estate buyers are hurting themselves and they don't even know why.

It seems that most buyers think:

• If they find property to buy on their own they will get a better deal.

• If they contact multiple real estate agents and have them look for the same type of property in the same area they will have a better selection.

• All real estate agents are working for the property seller.

• They will have to pay to have a real estate agent work with them to find property to buy.

• If they withhold the truth or simply lie when requesting real estate information they are in control and become experts without obligation.

• Buying a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) property without any real estate agents involved is like finding a pot of gold.

Anyone planning to buy real estate in South Carolina or North Carolina should know that the six items listed above are wrong.

The days of thinking of “real estate agents” in the same category as “dishonest used car dealers” is coming to an end but there is still a big difference between a Realtor® and someone who sells real estate. Separating facts from a perception may help real estate buyers actually gain control, save time, and save money. A buyer who wants control and the best advantage during a purchase will need to find a “Buyer's Agent” who is also a “Realtor®” because in addition to extensive training and testing they have taken an Oath that includes “honesty” and “ethics” when working with a buyer or seller. Before you commit to that Realtor they should answer “yes” to the question; “If I agree to let you be my Buyers Agent will you show me properties listed with other real estate companies and if I find a property of interest will you provide true comparable (comps or CMA) information if available?” Review the Buyer's Agency Agreement which assigns that Realtor to be your Agent and goes into more detail regarding their responsibilities. If a buyer wants to cancel the Agreement it can easily be done if they have a valid reason. Never have more than one Agent at the same time because if you buy a property there is a possibility legal actions will be taken that delay or prevent the purchase.

I only know about real estate consumer protection in South Carolina and North Carolina but I would like to find out if other States have adopted any Consumer Protection Laws for real estate buyers. If you want to provide the name of your State and if real estate buyers have any protection under the laws of that State just put that information in an email to sandymyrtlebeach@gmail.com Subject: “real estate buyers”.