Updated in the Library at Realtor.org:
Field Guide Updates
Buying vs. Renting
it better to buy or rent? Whether renting is better than buying depends on many factors. The information listed here will assist you in helping answer this question. Included are statistics and studies on home owners and renters as well as financing options and tips.
Compensation Plans for Real Estate Agents
Get the latest news on compensation plans. Are salaries a better idea than commissions? What’s the best way to modify your compensation plan? Find the answers to these questions and much more.
Meth Labs
The production of methamphetamine is alarmingly simple, composed of readily available, household items. The resulting chemical cocktail permeates nearly every surface of the home and property, exposure to which can lead to cancer, organ damage and numerous other health problems, particularly to children. The effects on homes and property are long-lasting and cleanup requires a hazardous materials team. This field guide contains information for REALTORS® and property managers regarding warning signs, disclosure laws, and hazardous effects of meth and meth labs upon humans and property.
Mortgage Interest Deduction
Introduced along with the Income Tax in 1913, the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) allows homeowners who itemize their taxes to deduct mortgage interest attributable to primary residence and second-home debt totaling $1 million, and interest paid on home equity debt up to $100,000. Though the MID is a popular tax deduction for millions of U.S. homeowners, it has become a controversial topic in recent years. This field guide highlights basics, perceived pros and cons, IRS rules, and more to get you up-to-speed on this widely-debated tax deduction.
Real Estate Transaction Standards (RETS)
Short for Real Estate Transaction Standard, RETS provides a common language so that computers can more easily transfer real estate information, such as MLS data, to other computer programs or Web sites. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and other industry groups launched RETS in 1999.
