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Aaron Sorensten (PaToohey)

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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Retail is not a word I hear too often.

Jun 25, 2016 08:55 AM
Ambassador
5,048,883
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I wouldn't say either is easier necessarily as that would depend on how you run your business and your clients. Either could be lucrative depending on clients

Jun 25, 2016 05:59 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Neither are any easier.  I work with both.  Both have to find homes at the right price point.  With investors that is harder to do, because they need to pay for fixup and turn a profit.  Homes are sold as-is out here and with a super hot seller's market, more and more sellers won't do a thing for repairs.  That's harder for the "retail" buyer to deal with.

Jun 25, 2016 05:04 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,271
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I cringe at the word 'retail'. I think that investors are a pain in the arse & are often know it alls with money. First time buyers are usually pretty amiable until they get scared. More hand holding/teaching involved with first timers.

Investors can be just as dangerous.

Jun 25, 2016 03:05 AM
Ambassador
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Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Better / more lucrative / easier is in the eyes of the individual.  Most would say listings are the easiest but I always enjoyed working with buyers.  Of course I did both but whatever you are passionate about and work effectively will be lucrative.  It is a personal preference.  

Jun 25, 2016 02:31 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I was a buyer agent approx 38 years ago for about 10 months....then I quickly learned how to list by networking and having "bird dogs" set me up with business until I made enough money to do self promotion.... the rest is history!!

Jun 25, 2016 02:06 AM
Rainmaker
931,002
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

I've done both. Neither is easy.

Jun 26, 2016 01:36 AM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

work with both

Jun 25, 2016 10:47 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I like both.

Jun 25, 2016 10:11 PM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Retail agent? Haven't heard an agent called that before

Jun 25, 2016 10:04 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Nothing worth having in life is easy.

Jun 25, 2016 09:34 PM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

Nothing is easy in this business. I prefer represnting the listing. But when it comes to buyers for me it is investors.

Jun 25, 2016 12:59 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Investors are repeat customers. Does that answer your question?

Jun 25, 2016 12:58 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Investors are not emotional and can make many offers at one time. I work an investor and we make about 10 a week. Some of them stick.

Jun 25, 2016 12:53 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I do investment full time but it requires more than your normal expertise.

Jun 25, 2016 08:20 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,153
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Subjective answers. If ones skills bank lines up with the profession, easy-peasy takes place. If new growth, staggered results and if doing it without heart, results will follow but with stress and no personal pay-off

Jun 25, 2016 08:16 AM
Rainmaker
152,661
Chrissi Chapman Topoleski
Coldwell Banker Realty - Woodbridge, VA
Helping agents live an exceptional life!

I have worked with both investors and owner occupants. Investors tend to be savvy and know what they want. I prefer putting people in homes they will enjoy, but have no problem selling to both!

Jun 25, 2016 08:15 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I don't think there's a set answer for your question as I would think it would depend on you and your clients as well as the market.

Jun 25, 2016 05:12 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Option 1 - Investor's buyer agent. This option is viable ONLY if you also list the property. IF the investor is holding the real estate you won't make any $$$.

Secondarilythe traditional source of investor grade property is extremely competitive. Unless you have the resource and 'COMMITTED' investors to fish further upstream, this will become an increasingly tight and competitive market.

Option 2. Retail buyers agent. This oion leads to a quicker payday, no negotiation regarding compensation, fewer marketing expenses and more resources to attract clients. This segment is where most agents spend the first five years of their career until their previous buyers become sellers. The majority of agents with over ten years experience are listing agents due to this natural evolution of business.

Option 3. Become a retail owner/sellers agent. Some who advise real estate agents repeat "List to last" regarding a golden rule of real estate.

With listings an agent will attract both buyers and sellers. They spend more on self promotion and infrastructure. They will need more resources in order to provide solutions for the unforeseen problems sellers have, will create or surface in the process.

What is best for you depends on your resources, skills, experience and budget.

There are a hundred ways to fail and a thousand ways to succeed. Those who reach the business owner level of real estate did so by following a business plan that identified their business. The others thought they could succeed practicing accidental real estate. That usually does not end well.

You may find the book 'Get On The Right Track - Breaking The Failure System" beneficial in creating your business plan.

Jun 25, 2016 05:03 AM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Thirty years in real estate, always residential owner occupied properties.  Good luck working with investors. 

Welcome to ActiveRain.  Look forward to reading your posts about working with investors.

 

Jun 25, 2016 03:57 AM
Rainmaker
469,510
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

I work with both. For me it's not the catagory/type of real estate the buyer is buying but more fundamental personality traits that determine which is better. In other words, I've had both great and tough clients in both catagories.

Jun 25, 2016 03:36 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,117
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

I believe there is no blanket "better" "more lucrative" or "easier" route in this or any business.  That's what great about real estate -- so many different directions and finding what works best for the individual.  

Jun 25, 2016 02:42 AM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Aaron Sorensten - anyone who has firm plan to buy should be the one you want to work with.

Investors do NOT have emotional appeal - it's the price and ROI for them. So, they need to be 'tackled' differently.

Jun 26, 2016 04:22 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Neither, being the listing agent as buyers are attracted to you naturally

Jun 26, 2016 10:33 AM
Ambassador
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Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Aaron, I think that in real estate you are better off being, well, multi-lingual!  It's good to have a niche, but you're better off if you can learn to work well with both types of buyers.

Jun 26, 2016 08:06 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Definitely Retail Buyers agent over Investor Buyers Agent

Jun 26, 2016 01:37 AM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

I have worked with investors for the past 14 years and more.

Jun 26, 2016 12:30 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Listing agent.

Jun 25, 2016 09:21 PM
Rainmaker
7,835,407
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Do what you do best.

Jun 25, 2016 09:05 PM
Ambassador
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Investors know what they want and try not to waste your time or theirs.

Jun 25, 2016 02:59 PM
Rainmaker
1,090,637
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

You will get as many differnt answers as there are agents. If you are looking to do whatever is better, more lucrative and easier in RE, good luck.

 

Jun 25, 2016 10:31 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I like working with investors as well, but any buyer who has a solid financing is good for my business. 

Jun 25, 2016 09:09 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

It depends on many factors.

Jun 25, 2016 09:08 AM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Residential Buyer's Agent.

Jun 25, 2016 06:30 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,801
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

 You work with both to stay busy. I have some affluent investors-flippers who have unrealistic expectation that homes will be transferred at very low price to them only when owners have no problem sell it at market or over market price.

Jun 25, 2016 03:41 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,183
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Good Question, will have to watch the comments.

Jun 25, 2016 02:58 AM