Recently in Ask the ACRE Council Category

Each month we will answer a frequently asked question about real estate consulting.

This Month's FAQ:

If you're paid a fee for the services you provide or paid by the hour, don't you make less money than by commission?

Each month we will answer a frequently asked question about real estate consulting.

This Month's FAQ:

Isn't Consulting the Same Thing as Discounting?

If by way of example a consumer purchases a $400,000. home and has prepaid the consulting fee throughout the buying process and at time of settlement has no money owed to the Acre, how does the percentage of the sale price, normally reserved for the buyers agent, flow to the borrower? Is there a resistance from the lenders as to how to handle the transaction? Where does the rebate of 2-3% of the purchase price appear on the Hud 1? Thanks in advance,

Glenn

Should one have a real estate license in order to become an ACRE® ?

PT - Ontario

Does consulting tend to impact commission-based business in a positive way - or does it stay fairly level, but with added income from the consulting side and in that way does it help with cash flow and smooth out the highs and lows of commission-based income?

AP - New York

Let's say I earn $450 in consuting fees. Would I receive the same agreed upon % that I receive in a commissioned base transaction? I am assuming that the check would be made out to my Brokerage firm.

DJ - Illinois

Did you have an attorney draw up your forms and documentation? What part of this does the broker of record play in the process? If any? What pitfalls do you recomment that we watch out for? What are the absolute "must steps" that are to be taken?

LH - Texas

What if you like your brokerage but want to do the ACRE concept?

GC - Washington

I've been going back and forth now on your business model. I was discussing it with my brokers. They claim that If I do a CMA, a consultation, etc.. on a fee based per service model, its considered a transaction and has to go through my brokerage? Is this the case with you ACREs? I'm still being charged the transaction fees, E&0, etc.. which would put me upside down on such a model.

Can you shed some light?

AS - Washington

I would like to know your thoughts about working as a consultant in a traditional brokerage. Does this course help brokerages to adapt to these new businesses practices? As for myself, I am completely sold on consulting, but would like to know more about how other real estate firms are adopting the new models.

HL - Texas

The consulting business interests me greatly but I have a question: how is the ACRE course different than the C-CREC course that is a NAR recognized designation?

MB - Hawaii

I was introduced to ACRE® while in FL by Paula Bean. I was with Keller Williams in Cape Coral, FL but they were not supportive of Real Estate Consulting, so I never pursued your program. I am now in MA and interested in moving forward with it. My question is--who do I hang my license with? Once again I'm finding resistance with the local Keller Williams. Do you know of anywhere in the area that will let me work for them as a Real Estate Consultant?

GB - Massachusetts