The number of real estate agents in the Sutter-Yuba Association of Realtors MLS system dropped to 235 in 1997. The most recent count has the number of agents at 1,107 which is down from a peak of 1,254 in 2006. The dramatic rise in the number of real estate agents is the result of the real estate boom and has been facilitated by the low licensing standards set by the California Department of Real Estate.

Neither the California Association of Realtors nor the California Department of Real Estate seem interested in dramatically changing the current system. Until they do, consumers are left to fend for themselves. So, herewith are some simple things that consumers can do to see that they are well represented in their real estate transaction;

1. If you have an agent that you know, respect and trust, then look no farther. There are plenty of good agents and you probably already have one.

2. If you don't already have a good agent, then contact a title company. Escrow officers know who all of the good agents are. They do business with these agents on a regular basis and often see a side of them not seen by the public. Follow this link for a list of local title company officers to talk to.

3. Talk to any agents that you are considering using. One of my favorite quotes is "The mark of a good salesman is that his customer doesn’t regard him as a salesman at all, but a trusted and indispensable adviser ..." Use this as a guide in judging the agents you talk to.

4. If you are selling, then ask the agents to do a market analysis for you. While price and commission are important, a higher priority is to find the agent that demonstrates the best knowledge of the real estate market and of marketing. DO NOT get trapped into listing with the agent who quotes the highest price or the lowest commission (in the industry, agents who do this are said to be "buying the listing"). This is especially true in a declining market because you don't want to get caught "chasing the market."

The problem is even worse in the lending field according to all of the local title company managers that I have talked to. In addition to many inexperienced lenders, title company managers cite very questionable ethics by some lenders. This seems to be especially prevelant among lenders who specialize in dealing with non english speaking clients.

As with real estate agents, local title companies can give you the names of some very reputable lenders. Follow this link and you will see some of the loan officers we use.