I will be opening an office in the next several months. I am wondering what real estate forms program people use and are happy with. My current office uses Real Fast, which is fine. I was reading about zipforms and see that you can do the forms online which I like. Any thoughts on what you use and why?

I think you can do realfast online now.

realfast is okay but it seems old to me - like it hasn't changed since Windows95

Real fast is not very fax friendly. We are using Formulator which makes a good clean copy that you can email.

Trueforms...it's ok but a little glitchy when it comes to saving and sometimes automatically fills in the wrong address. I was going to switch to zipforms to see if it was better but got lazy and just activiated Trueforms again when it ran out.


It does print out a nice clean copy, emails well and uploads right to Settlement Room.

I personally use ZipForms, which I think is excellent! My company also has a program that incorporates its own company forms onto. I don't use anything but ZipForms though. It is amazing what it does and how much time it saves!

I use Zipforms. I use the online version and love it.

I'm lucky. Here in Northern Colorado Real Estate forms and contracts are included with our MLS system. It's a very good system. And best of all it doesn't cost any extra. Everything is online so you don't have to worry about losing anything.

We used ZipForms for about 11 years because it was provided by our State Association, VAR. Last year, for cost considerations, the VAR choseto go on to TrueForms, which we can use for free, and were trained on; but we have elected to stick with ZipForms - maybe just because that's where our historical documentation is; maybe because we resist change. ZipForms has always worked well for us. It's nice to have both. I guess we'll switch completely WHEN WE HAVE TO.

And many of the local Brokers who went over to TrueForms enmasse say they wish they still had ZipForms.

Hmm...RealFast allows you to save to PDF to email. It faxes nice too..I don't understand your comment. ???

The only time it faxes icky is when the fax machine itself - either the receiving or sending - is lousy or needs to be cleaned.

RealFast here. And have never had a problem with it. I never used anything else, so I wouldn't know how it compares

^^Joey, the only issue I have with it is just annoying things, like the Estimated Closing Costs sheet, should be a spreadsheet type thing to auto-calculate for you.

I also don't like having to type my Brokerage and my name on the top every time I create a new form. I can see having to type in the brokerage when you open an Agreement of Sale, because of course it may be a different brokerage, but when you open a Listing Contract it should automatically populate your brokerage and your name....and when you link other forms (such as estimated closing costs) to existing forms (like a listing contract or agreement of sale) it should auto-populate all the fields...what's the point of linking it to a form if you have to manually type the stuff in it again anyway?

So I admit, my complaint is kind of nit picky.

Sooo glad Zipforms comes with my association's fees! We also get Mongo Fax for free which is excellent because I ask all offers to be sent through mongo fax, similar to efax, it comes in my email as a PDF, nice and crisp copy and no more paper jams on the incoming faxes But its freeeee and you can cc yourself on your outgoing faxes so you have a copy for your records. Luv It!

My advice is buy Real Estate For Dummies, to learn the terminology, and resources out there. Purchase the book The Complete Guide To Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings by Steve Berges gives you a great understanding of what you will need to know financially as an investor.

zip forms is excellant. definately recommended.

Now you can create binding real estate documents instantly on your PC without hiring an attorney! Protect yourself and save thousands on legal fees. This easy to use program is relied on by thousands of landlords, property managers, investors, agents and developers nationwide. It's recommended by the National Real Estate Investors Association.

Sounds good if you're using them ONLY for yourself. But when you go on to prepare these for your Clients or Cusstomers; then I think you may find yourself being accused of Practicing Law without being a Member of the BAR . . . . which is never a very pleasant situation for a Real Estate Licensee.

It's a just little DANGEROUS and I don't think your E&O will be coming to your rescue !