NAR Scandal Exposes the Truth About Real Estate Agents: 3 Ways We’ve Been Getting Ripped off and How to Protect Yourself

Learn just how much you’re being taken advantage of and the best way to avoid it.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, you might be tempted to hire a real estate agent to help you with the process. After all, they’re supposed to be the experts, right? They know the market, they have the connections, they can negotiate the best deal for you.
But what if I told you that you’re wasting your time and money by hiring a real estate agent? What if I told you that you’re actually paying them to screw you over? What if I told you that there’s a better way to buy or sell a home that doesn’t involve paying a hefty real estate commission?

You might think I’m crazy, but I’m not. I’m here to tell you the truth about the real estate industry and how you can avoid falling into its trap. I’m here to tell you how you can save thousands of dollars and get the home of your dreams without dealing with a middleman. I’m here to tell you why you should ditch the real estate agent and how to cut out the middle man with rent to own homes.

The Real Estate Commission Scam

Let me start by explaining how the real estate commission scam works. When you hire a real estate agent to buy or sell a home, you’re agreeing to pay them a percentage of the sale price as their fee. This percentage is usually around 5% to 6%, which means that for a $300,000 home, you’re paying $15,000 to $18,000 in commission.

That’s a lot of money, right? But it gets worse. You see, the commission is not split evenly between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent. Instead, the seller’s agent gets the lion’s share of the commission, while the buyer’s agent gets a smaller cut. This means that the seller’s agent has an incentive to inflate the sale price as much as possible, while the buyer’s agent has an incentive to accept the highest offer as quickly as possible.

This creates a conflict of interest between the agents and their clients. The agents are not working for your best interest, they’re working for their own profit. They don’t care if you get a good deal or not, they just want to close the deal and get their commission.

But wait, there’s more. The real estate commission scam is not only unfair, it’s also illegal. That’s right, illegal. A recent lawsuit filed by Missouri home sellers against the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and several residential brokerages exposed the dark side of the real estate industry. The lawsuit accused them of engaging in illegal price-fixing by requiring sellers to offer compensation to buyer agents. The jury ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and awarded them damages that could amount to more than $5 billion.

The verdict will likely end the industry practice of charging uniform commission rates across the board. It will also lead to more competition and lower rates for both buyers and sellers, saving them billions of dollars annually. It will also trigger more lawsuits and federal regulation against NAR and its affiliates.

The Death of the Real Estate Agent

The commission lawsuit is not the only thing that’s threatening the existence of real estate agents. There are other factors that are making them obsolete and irrelevant in the modern world. Here are some of them:

  • Technology: Thanks to the internet, you can access all the information you need to buy or sell a home online. You can browse listings, compare prices, research neighborhoods, view photos, watch videos, read reviews, and more. You can also use online tools and apps to calculate mortgage payments, estimate home values, find lenders, and schedule appointments. You don’t need an agent to do any of these things for you. You can do them yourself, faster and easier than ever before.
  • Competition: The real estate market is saturated with agents, many of whom are inexperienced, unqualified, or unethical. According to NAR, there are over 1.4 million active real estate agents in the US, which is more than the number of homes sold in 2020. That means that there are more agents than there are clients, and that creates a cut-throat environment where agents are desperate to get your business, even if they have to lie, cheat, or steal to do so. You can’t trust anyone who has a vested interest in your transaction, especially when they’re paid on commission. You’re better off doing your own research and making your own decisions, without the pressure or influence of an agent.
  • Education: The requirements to become a real estate agent are laughably low. In most states, you only need a high school diploma, a few hours of training, and a passing score on a multiple-choice exam. That’s it. You don’t need any college degree, any specialized knowledge, or any relevant experience. Anyone can become a real estate agent, and many do, without having any clue what they’re doing. You wouldn’t trust a doctor, a lawyer, or an accountant who had such minimal qualifications, so why would you trust a real estate agent? You’re better off educating yourself and learning from experts who have proven credentials and track records, not from amateurs who have a sales pitch and a smile.

These factors, along with the commission lawsuit, are signaling the end of the real estate agent as we know it. The industry is changing, and consumers are becoming more savvy and empowered. They don’t need an agent to hold their hand and guide them through the process. They can do it themselves, and save money, time, and hassle in the process.

The Rise of Rent to Own Homes

So, if you’re not going to use a real estate agent, what are you going to do instead? Well, you have many options, but one of the best ones is to try rent to own homes. Rent to own homes are homes that you can rent for a period of time, with the option to buy them at the end of the lease. Rent to own homes are also known as lease options, lease purchase, or rent to buy homes.

Rent to own homes are a great way to buy or sell a home for many reasons. Here are some of the benefits of rent to own homes:

  • You can save money: Rent to own homes can help you save money in several ways. First, you don’t have to pay a real estate commission, which can save you thousands of dollars. Second, you don’t have to pay closing costs, which can save you another few thousand dollars. Third, you don’t have to pay a large down payment, which can save you even more money. Fourth, you can lock in a purchase price at the beginning of the lease, which can protect you from rising home prices. Fifth, you can use the rent credits that you accumulate during the lease to reduce the purchase price or the amount of financing you need.
  • You can build equity: Rent to own homes can help you build equity in your home. Equity is the difference between the value of your home and the amount you owe on it. The more equity you have, the more wealth you have. Rent to own homes can help you build equity in two ways. First, you can use the rent credits that you accumulate during the lease to reduce the purchase price or the amount of financing you need. Second, you can benefit from the appreciation of your home during the lease, which can increase its value and your equity.
  • You can improve your credit: Rent to own homes can help you improve your credit score. Your credit score is a number that reflects your creditworthiness and your ability to repay debts. The higher your credit score, the easier it is for you to get approved for loans and get lower interest rates. Rent to own homes can help you improve your credit score in two ways. First, you can use the lease period to pay off your debts, reduce your credit utilization, and improve your payment history. Second, you can use the rent payments that you make during the lease to establish a positive rental history, which can boost your credit score.
  • You can enjoy homeownership: Rent to own homes can help you enjoy the benefits of homeownership without the risks and responsibilities. You can live in the home as if it were your own, decorate it, improve it, and enjoy it. You can also benefit from the tax deductions that homeowners get. However, you don’t have to worry about the maintenance, repairs, insurance, and taxes that homeowners have to deal with. You can leave those to the seller until you buy the home.

Take Action and Achieve Your Goals

As you can see, rent to own homes are a smart and savvy way to buy or sell a home. They can save you money, build your equity, improve your credit, and let you enjoy homeownership. They can also help you avoid the hassle and headache of dealing with a real estate agent.

If you’re interested in rent to own homes, you should check out some of our rent to own listings. RentUntilYouOwn.com is the leading online marketplace for rent to own homes. You can browse thousands of listings across the country and find the perfect home for you. You can also learn more about the rent to own process, get tips and advice, and access helpful resources and tools.

RentUntilYouOwn.com is the best way to find rent to own homes online. It’s fast, easy, and free. Don’t waste your time and money on a real estate agent. Try rent to own homes instead and start your journey to homeownership today. You’ll be glad you did.

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