Here is today’s list of top real estate posts of the day.

1) Why Use a Buyer-Broker Agreement? – Jim takes a look at one of the reasons agents should use buyer-broker agreements. Buyers deserve the same representation as seller’s do.

2) Seattle Real Estate: Good New, Bad News or Accurate News…When it Comes to Real Estate News, Does it Really Matter? – The market is getting better… no the market is getting worse… guess it depends who you ask and what time of day you ask them.

3) 10 Things I Wish They Taught in Real Estate School – This can all be tied back into the RTB discussion. There is a reason something like 90% of all agents are out of the business after 5 years. Sometimes I think NAR is all about just collecting all those new membership dues than really making sure agents are equipped to succeed.

4) Loan Modification Program Isn’t On Track Yet – Every day more and more about how loan modifications are a complete joke. Even in that rare occasion someone gets one approved it usually still ends up being a failure a few months later. At some point we just need to say NEXT.

5) Real Estate Economist Sees Opportunity Until 2014 – Will new construction in real estate really be lower in 2011 and 2012 than it was in 2009?

6) Foursquare and five years ago: Recalling the promise of real estate and social media – Marc takes a look at how far we have come since 2005 and why most agents really fail in their social media strategy, or lack there of.

7) Selling- Dining Room – Any agent who spends a good amount of time showing buyers homes knows it is mostly about the kitchen and master bathroom. But one room that can make a difference that may be neglected is the dining room.

8) Want to Know Why Home Prices Will Continue to Decline? – Isn’t it amazing that the more outside market forces that try to get involved in fixing the problem the longer the process takes?

9) Carnival of Real Estate #175 The Valentine’s Edition – This week’s submissions are now up on Exit Pro.

10) The New 2010 GFE Protects Borrowers from Themselves – The new GFE is now 45 days old and lenders are starting to get used to it. As Steve points out the intentions of the new GFE are honorable, but it is the actual execution I question.

Top 5 real estate posts of the day 5/28/2009

1) What happened, what does it mean, and where do we go from here? – Tom Vanderwell takes a good look at the current news headlines and how they effect mortgage rates. And as a bonus, Rhonda Porter looks at what happened to mortgage rates yesterday as they went up, way up.

2) Do you qualify for a loan modification? – Here are some general guidelines that can help determine if you qualify for a loan modification or not. Just remember these are general guidelines and not hard and fast rules as each lending institution is different.

3) Real estate’s nonsensical business model – Jonathan Dalton takes a look at why buyers should hire a professional to help them find a home. While he makes a good case I think the part of the buyer broker agreement that gets ignored is how it protects the buyer, not our paycheck. If you were going to court would you the prosecutor to represent you too seeing he already knows about the case anyways? No, which is why the buyer should hire their own representation.

4) Bait and switch: How to ruin this game – Justin McHood should be the consumer’s favorite read when they are looking for a mortgage and a loan officer’s worst nightmare.  He is always good at giving us gory details about what goes on behind the scenes in the loan industry. Buyers and agents representing the buyers both should read this.

5) Joining the NAR’s multiple listing issues and policies committee – It is good to see that we (real estate online community) have one of our own (Jay Thompson) representing us on the MLS issues and policies committee. Good luck Jay, I think are going to need it.

Top 5 real estate blog posts for 5/22/2009

1) Washington DC 2009 – Jim Sexton from John Hall and Associates summarizes his trip to the NAR meeting and his meeting with an Arizona Congressman.

2) So, what if my buyer’s agent is an idiot? – I’m a big believer that buyers should work with an agent and sign a Buyer’s Broker agreement to protect themselves. But what if your agent turns out to be a dud? This looks at how to get out of it. And if your buyer wants out for legit reasons, I believe you should let them out.

3) Single agent, dual agency – do consumers care? – I agree with Jim’s feelings here, the only one in the transaction that benefits from a single agent transaction is the agent themselves.

4) WA loan originator licensees drop to 5335 – It appears the market over the last year has not just taken its toll on Realtors.

5) Staging foreclosures into sales – paint always helps! – This post really looks more at staging as a whole, but going off the title… I probably show between 50-100 foreclosure properties each week, I have show houses one week that have been on the market 90 days, then gone back to show the same house the next week with a different client and all of sudden it has a dozen offers at the same price.  The difference? The bank decided to paint it. It is amazing how that little step helps get a lot more bang for the buck.