Are the Villages Real Estate Agents Really Real agents?

[Talk Host]

Are the agents who work for the Villages and sell houses here, certified real estate agents, licensed by the state of Florida. Are they bound the the state real estate laws? If not, why not?

[Peazoup]

Good morning -
I'm looking at a business card of one of the sales people. This person is a "sales and marketing representative", so I doubt that she's an agent. It would say so if it was so, don't you think?

[Frangyomory]

Many of the sales representatives are NOT realtors. If they are, their business cards would say something to the effect that they are board certified realtors.

[bamafan]

When we were planning our preview visit, I talked to our guest coordinator about what her job entailed as I found it interesting that she talked to people from all over the world. She told me that one of her qualifications to obtain her job, she had to have a valid Florida Real Estate license. Never asked the Villages Agent about his license, but you would assume that they too would have to be licensed by the State of Florida.

[Talk Host]

If they are not bonded real estate agents, then they are not bound by the rules of the state. Shouldn't prospective buyers be told that up front, or is it our responsibility to ask? Maybe we are just misreading what the information on the card says. Maybe Ssales and marketing representative" means, "certified real estate" agent and the buyer is really protected by state laws.

I hope that somebody who really knows the true "scoop" will post the information here. This is really, really important.

[jadebox]

To sell real estate in Forida you must be licensed by the state of Florida. You do not have to be a Realtor.
A real estate agent is a REALTOR� when he or she is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS�, The Voice for Real Estate� -- the world's largest professional association.

The term REALTOR� is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS� and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

[efrahin]

Donna: "REALTORS� and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics" isnt this phrase a little oxymoronic?? LOL

[Frangyomory]

Like Honest Politician !!! LOL!!!

[Bucco]

Many of the sales representatives are NOT realtors. If they are, their business cards would say something to the effect that they are board certified realtors.
__________________________________________________ __--

I am not sure how anyone could say this with such conviction. There was,and I say was because I cannot speak for the present, but at one time.....even the lobby hosts had to have a real estate license in order to talk to folks about real estate. How could you say that the are NOT realtors ??????/

[aford]

you can be a real estate agent without being a realtor

The Village agents are Real Estate Agents.............They are not Realtors.

[Talk Host]

This one of the definitions of a real estate agent listed on the internet.
"An individual who can show property for sale on behalf of a seller, but who may not have a license to transact the sale and collect the sales commission."

A realtor is...."used for a real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors.'

So, the question still remains, are the Villages agents licensed by the state of Florida?

[Russ_Boston]

Hmmmm, novel idea here:

WHY DON'T WE JUST ASK ONE OF THEM? Heck i don't live there but it seems like a no brainer. If you want me to call or e-mail one of them let me know.

[ewstanley]

If they are not bonded real estate agents, then they are not bound by the rules of the state. Shouldn't prospective buyers be told that up front, or is it our responsibility to ask?


Talk Host,
That is an excellent point, shouldn't the buyers be informed?
When we were there we just assumed that our "real estate agent" was just that. I will have to find her business card. This is enlightening. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
Liz

[jjdees]

What difference does it make? If you want to see the majority of TV resales, you'll have to go through TV real estate salespeople, licensed or not.

[Talk Host]

What difference does it make? If you want to see the majority of TV resales, you'll have to go through TV real estate salespeople, licensed or not.


The difference that it makes is that every state in the union has developed a comprehensive list of real estate rules and regulations because it was so easy for unregulated agents to deceive prospective buyers. One important element in those regulations is "full disclosure." An agent must tell the buyer about ANYTHING that will or could affect the resale value of the home. Let's give as an example.....ah.......let's say.......ah........a freight train running within 1,000 yards of your home 48 to 60 times a day. A licensed agent is required by law to tell the prospective buyer about it, and even get it in writing. One who is not licensed doesn't care if the buyer gets hosed.

I personally cannot believe for one minute that The Villages would have unlicensed agents.

JLK

[LG]

This one of the definitions of a real estate agent listed on the internet.
"An individual who can show property for sale on behalf of a seller, but who may not have a license to transact the sale and collect the sales commission."

A realtor is...."used for a real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors.'

So, the question still remains, are the Villages agents licensed by the state of Florida?


Since they work for the developer..they are not bound by the code of ethics, NAR or The Florida Association of Realtors. The are governed by guess who THE FAMILY. They are very well scripted and go through two weeks of brain washing before they are allowed to deal with the public. They are independent contractors, so The Villages does not have to provide any benefits..BUT they are required to attend sales meetings which violates the Independent Contractor Status and makes them employees according to the IRS.. They should be withholding taxes and SS.. we will see if they get busted.

[villages8house]

Any time you want to know if a person in the state of Florida has a legal LICENSE for a business or profession (including a license to sell real estate), you can go to the state's website at www.myflorida.com and search for the license information. The department is Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.

According to my search, Properties of The Villages and their sales associates are indeed licensed to sell real estate in the State of Florida. Check it out for yourself.

Donna Lee is correct when she stated in an earlier reply that you can be licensed to sell real estate, but you not required to join and be a member of the Realtor's Association to do so. Hope this additional information helps with the original question posted.

[Barefoot]

The Village agents are licensed but not members of the Multiple Listing Service. They are still bound, as are MLS agents, by professional ethics. Of course, in any profession, there are some bad apples.

[jjdees]

Jan, you brought up a good point. For those that bought a resale through TV real estate group, did you receive the disclosure form that lists everything about the property including if it's ever had chicken pox? How about those who bought through an outside realtor? Each state I've dealt with required the disclosure form. I don't know if it's a Realtor's requirement or the state.

[hope2btvres]

We are cuttently looking at homes and have made offers through both TV agents and an outside agent. In both cases we received the same disclosures. However they are not required to tell you about trains, flight paths, bad odors when the wind blows a certain way, etc. Anything outside the perimeter of the property is not subject to disclosure.

[Talk Host]

We are cuttently looking at homes and have made offers through both TV agents and an outside agent. In both cases we received the same disclosures. However they are not required to tell you about trains, flight paths, bad odors when the wind blows a certain way, etc. Anything outside the perimeter of the property is not subject to disclosure.


I think you'll find that courts have ruled that even "barking dogs down the street" must be disclosed. The courts are very specific about it.

[Peggy D]

We are cuttently looking at homes and have made offers through both TV agents and an outside agent. In both cases we received the same disclosures. However they are not required to tell you about trains, flight paths, bad odors when the wind blows a certain way, etc. Anything outside the perimeter of the property is not subject to disclosure.


We just sold the house in Newark this summer, and this is true. ANYTHING that is not within the property lines does not have to be disclosed. However, if a specific question is asked, it should be answered. Better yet, get it in writing.

Our property connected to County land, anything that happened on County land we did not have to disclosed i.e. flooding.

In all fairness Jan, they should have given you a "heads up" about the train, but maybe they didn't think it was a big deal. Still, it would have been the right thing to do. I don't understand why you MUST disclose this if you choose to sell your home. The train is not ON your property. I don't remember anything on the disclosure form indicating this. Who told you you had to do this?

[Talk Host]

Who told you you had to do this?


The real estate agent from the Villages who appraised our house last year.

[Peggy D]

The real estate agent from the Villages who appraised our house last year.


I remember now. When you asked why the train was not disclosed to you, they said they forgot or "what train?" or something like that. Correct?

Bummer :(

[Talk Host]

I remember now. When you asked why the train was not disclosed to you, they said they forgot or "what train?" or something like that. Correct?

Bummer :(


No, they said nothing about it at all. Later when I contacted the agent about it, he said he told us. None of our neighbors were told, by any of their agents.

[Peggy D]

Jan,

That is so wrong on their part. How badly does it effect the value of your home?

Hubby say he understands your frustration, but for a different reason; Being a former Amtraker, he says he NEVER wants to be near a train again!!!

You are to be commended for sharing your situation. I, like you, would have thought it would be something you should be made aware of. As many have said on this site
"Buyer beware"

[shy]

LG is absolutely correct. The sales associates are not necessarily licensed. They can sell under the umbrella of a licensed real estate agent employed by TV. There is a plaque located in the lobby of the Sales Office.

[jjdees]

Interesting comments from a real estate agent who doesn't live in TV and is in competition with TV real estate sales people.