My mother's friend wants to purchase a house using a Loan. I have been licensed but I have not used my license or anything until now so I'm not affiliated to the Realtors association and have no access to MLS nor the Forms.

I was wondering what is the best approach to find a house and have access to all the forms and MLS? Is it better to just join MLS and pay for the Zipforms once or is it better to Join an Association to have access for the forms.

I feel that unless I'm going to pursue this as a full time job, which I'm not ready for yet, there would have to be a better alternative to spend that much money.

Thank you for your time and hoping to hear some responses!

Aaron

Do you think you'll be able to service your Mother's Friend better than an experienced Agent who's willing to spend some money?

Does your Mother greatly value this Friendship?

I do not know, but I do know she's asking me to do this transaction. I want to know if there are alternatives. Or if anyone know how much it cost to use the Zipforms once, if possible.

Refer your Mother's friend to an experienced Realtor in the area she is looking into. Ask for a referral fee of +-25%. Current market is very different from just 2 years ago. You do not want liability issues.

I assume you are a Broker in CA. As a sales person you need to have your license with a Broker.

How will I be able to gain experience with the process if I do not start now? They say the best place to start is with your family and friends.

Referral to me is the same as admitting defeat.

Does anyone know any resources I can use to gain more experience?

We all started somewhere. The way to gain experience is jump into real estate and learn the ropes from a strong mentor. Expect to spend quite a while before you see any profit. It's worthy that you want to help out a friend, but keep in mind that you're learning on your friends dime. Going to school is not admitting defeat, it's admitting that you don't know it all and are willing to learn. Or do it your way, you'll learn, your friend will get eaten alive by the experienced agent representing the other side. You get experience, friend gets shafted. You gain experience, you lose a friend. Win, win???

once you join the MLS, you should have access to purchase individual pre-printed CAR forms at the local Association of Realtors office. If you join the MLS, you don't necessarily have to join the Realtor's association, which is a separate membership that you probably don't need. there's no getting around spending some money, as is the case with starting any business.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I have everything now set up and am ready to assist my mother's friend. I am probably going to partner up with someone with more experience.

Good solution. Even though, I had been a full time realtor for several years, I partnered up with another realtor for my first short sale transaction. Good Luck!

I may be out of line here because I am in Georgia and not California and not familiar with California License Law. If you were in Georgia I would ask you if you are a sales person or a broker. If you are a sales person who is the broker holding your license? They should be the one helping you with this issue. I wouldn't think you would be a broker because if you were it is doubtful you would be here asking these questions. If you are an inactive sales person then you first must get your licensed placed with an broker to become active. You cannot represent your mother's friend unless you have an employing broker.

Here is the law in California:

"This license is required of individuals who conduct licensed real estate activities as described in the Real Estate Law under the supervision of a licensed broker. A license may also be obtained by a person who does not immediately intend to be employed by a broker. However, a salesperson without an employing broker may not perform acts requiring a real estate license."