This article I just read is a prime example of why you should choose your Realtor carefully.  On Oahu, 79% or Realtors did 4 or fewer transactions in 2007.  60% did 2 or fewer. 

That isn’t exactly classified as “Experienced” status.  I don’t know how much expert advice they could offer, especially in a complicated transaction.

Why do I say this?  Now, more than ever, many Realtors aren’t in the business full-time, meaning you may be getting part-time advice.  You are making a huge investment, make sure you choose the right help. 

Last year, the number of Realtors fell 1.5%, to 1.3 million. That number doesn’t reflect the likely thousands of part-timers who maintain ties to the business but earn a living from other jobs… Those in business two years or less earned just $10,000. The drop in membership, the association says, comes almost exclusively from newcomers to the profession.

On real estate-related Web sites such as ActiveRain.com, the chatter now is about brokers who can’t be reached because they are working other jobs, a particular problem now because deals require much more back-and-forth negotiation to close. Ardell DellaLoggia, a broker in Seattle, says she has one agent she’s playing phone tag with who obviously has another job. “He calls me and says he can’t talk now because he’s in a real estate class, but that’s a coverup,” she says. “When a broker is really in class, he mentions the name of the class.

My advice, if you don’t have an agent yet, ask them for testimonials, or references.  Interview them. 

By the way…..Kahala Associates is an agent-owned company, so not only are we full-time Realtors, but we are all owners!