USAA Movers Advantage
I spent weeks trying to become a REALTOR for USAA movers advantage. Well, I was in for a rude awaking, and yes I said RUDE! The program is geared to put money back into the buyers pocket which is great for the home buyer. Only not so good for the REALTOR involved, it is a referral program from USAA MOVERS ADVANTAGE to get part of the commission money from the REALTOR and give a portion back to thier usaa member who chooses one of their realtors.
The REALTOR involved in the referral process cannot disclose how the program works. Why, because USAA movers advantage do not wont their clients or anyone else to know the facts. Now that just dont sound Right!
USAA movers advantage claims to gives their clients money back, if they use USAA movers advantage. Which means they must use a Realtor that is referred to them, the REALTOR has agreed to give 30-35% of their commission to USAA MOVERS ADVANTAGE, who in return gives "PART" of it back to their client. Yes I said PART of it.
As a Realtor I strive very hard to make the buying and selling process as stress free as possible for my clients. It upsets me to know that USAA movers advantage is the one claiming to be putting the money back into the buyers pocket. When in all actuality it's the REALTOR who's giving them the BONUS. USAA movers advantage gives only a portion to the buyers and keep the rest.. Now that just aint right!
In Alabama and Mississippi, we Realtors, we are not allowed to give away cash or gifts/bonus to an unlicensed person. So my question to USAA movers Advantage is; Are you a Real Estate Licensed Company?
I urge buyers to find a REALTOR they like, trust and have confidence in. One that will work for their best interest, you will end up better off if your REALTOR works for you and does not have to give up most of their commission.
Buyers say they are working with USAA movers adavantage, but the advantage appears to be more for USAA Movers Advantage than the buyer.
I have helped several Military families find and sell homes in the Mississipi, Alabama Gulf Coast area. I would love to help you too. Call or email me at alice@alicebroadway.com
USAA movers advantage
Thank you for visiting my blog, if I can assisit you with your real estate needs please do not hesitate to call.
Contact Alice at: 228.623.5495
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Alice Broadway is a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister, she is also a dedicated REALTOR based on the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast. With a passion for helping people, she loves assisting her clients buy and sell real estate.
In 2006 she received a salesperson licenses, and went on to obtain a real estate Broker's Licenses for Alabama and Mississippi. Alice enjoys marketing, sharing information, learning something new, and her large family.
In her personal time, she loves spending time with her best friend doing what they enjoy. Riding her bike (02 Harley V-Road,) nature surroundings, quiet times, and she can usually be found in front of her computer. You can find her on Face Book, Twitter, Active Rain, and of course her blog: www.alicesproperties.com
Counties she serve: Jackson, George, and Harrison County in Mississippi. Mobile and Baldwin County in Alabama.
Alice Broadway | RE/MAX Today
Office (251)272.1355 Cell (228)623-5495
Website: www.AliceBroadway.com
Email: Alice@AliceBroadway.com
Alice, Welcome to Active Rain! Active Rain is a great place to share your knowledge, expertise and thoughts, as well as network and learn so much from the vast pool of talent already onboard.
Welcome Aboard and Much Success!
If I follow you correctly, you are complaining that USAA charges you money to be included in their world-wide list of realtors, and to benefit from their referral program used by military families around the world to select a realtor in an unfamiliar area. If you do not think their service is worth the money to you, why don't you opt out instead of complaining? You sound just like the people who say that real estate sales people charge too much comission to show and sell property.
Alice, I found this on a google search. Thanks for the information.
Last week we met with some folks to list their home here in Lake County FL. A few days ago they said they wanted to use the USAA advantage program.
Now I have USAA between me and the customer and we are having problems getting a call back from USAA.
Anyone that truly understands the business will tell you that on a 3% fee (one side) typically 1% goes to marketing and advertising, then 1% to the broker and 1% to the agent to pay self employment taxes and so forth.
So where do you think the cuts will be made to make up the difference?
You guessed correct, it's not the broker....
USAA probably wont call you back, I'd be shocked if they do.
USAA Movers Advantage leads the home owners to believe they are helping them, when actually they are hurting the sell. But all the buyer and sellers sees is money back in their pocket and the max. that I have ever heard of was about 1600 dollars.
Great post, I'm going to reblog it because as a USAA member myself, I think people should know this. Thanks for sharing the true facts.
USAA only cares about lining their pockets with YOUR cash. The only way this will change is to say NO to USAA and start up your own "buyer advantage" plan. USAA is sucking Agents and Companies dry in military towns. In Warner Robins, Ga our agents pay 37.5% referral fee to USAA! Been showing a customer for weeks then they say hey we called USAA and found out that we quailfy for the mover advantage plan, we told them we were working with you but USAA says in order to get the cash back we have to work with an agent from XYZ realty...cya...
Drick, If I know a potential client is military related, I simply ask them if they know about the USAA.. AND then I explain to them how I am able to save them as much if not more than they will receive back from USAA... USAA should be stopped from doing this....
I had a client ask me about the program - Thanks for you post - I also found it on google. From what I read they take a 35% referral fee from the agent on both side of the transaction if you help them sell and buy and then they give the USAA client back a portion (of usually less than 1/3) of what they got back to the client and they keep the rest. It if fine for a Realtor to join the program to genereate leads - but very misleading to a client, especially if they can hook up with a Realtor that will put them on a move up plan like many do. I offer 1% of the lower sales price back on the second transaction - so if they sell the home at $100,000 and they buy a home at $150,000 then they get $1000 back from when they buy, if the sell at $150,000 and then buy at $100,000 (maybe a downsize in home or something) then I give them $1000 on the second transaction. It's like taking a total of 5% in the end. It works well and keeps everyone happy!
Sounds like a great program you are offering your clients. Real Estate agents should report USAA to their Real Estate board commission, it is illegal in MS & AL to pay a commission to an unlicensed real esate party.
Our brokerage works with USAA. Here are a few things buyers and sellers should be aware of but USAA won't allow us to disclose to the buyers of sellers of USAA referred clients. USAA actually has us to sign a form that we will not disclose the following. I choose not to sign as for doing so does not represent the best interest of my buyers and sellers.
•1) 37.5% from our commission.
•2) Clients will only receive a small portion of our commission and most of it will go to USAA.
•3) USAA will force clients to use USAA financing.
•4) USAA financing's closing cost will cost their clients $1,000 to $3,000. So actually after clients get their cash back, they will even loose more by using USAA.
•5) USAA's Interest Rates are higher.
USAA only cares of USAA's interest, don't let them fool you.
3) USAA financing's closing cost will cost their clients $1,000 to $3,000 more. So actually after clients get their cash back, they will even loose more by using USAA.
thank you for the post ft knox real estate,
I try to explain this to everyone that wants to use USAA.
My husband is vet and is says USAA should be ashamed of their sellf. USAA targets the Military for business and the majority of clients think it is a military company and there to help them.
USAA stands for:
United Service Automobile Association "IMAGINE THAT"
Members money is not even FDIC secure: see link below
https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_search/CpPrvtSearch?SearchPhrase=fdic+insured
A lot of misinformation here from what seems like a lot of disgruntled real estate agents.
Myth #1: "Members money is not even FDIC secure"
Fact: It's referred to as FDIC insured, and it is absolutely insured. There's no way anyone would ever put their money in a bank that isn't FDIC insured. This is the most ridiculous statement.
Myth #2: "USAA will force clients to use USAA financing"
Fact: USAA clients will get the money if they use the realtor referred to them, regardless of the financing. Yes, this program probably exists to hopefully attract buyers to finance the home with USAA as well, but it is not a requirement. Which makes Ft Know Real Estate's points 4 & 5 moot. I don't have to finance with them, so I'll take the $1000 referral bonus and finance with someone else with lower rates and lower closing costs.
Your frustration sounds a lot like what buyers and sellers have been complaining about with realtors for years. Think of the 37.5% commision you're getting charged the way we (buyers and sellers) view the 6% commision you charge us. You're paying to be apart of the referral list and we're paying to get the house on the MLS.
Let's say you get 3% for being the buyer's agent on a $250,000 house, you can't honestly say you did $7,500 of work to deserve that kind of money. Maybe USAA doesn't deserve 37.5% of you commission, but as long as you guys are driving up home prices by charging 6% of each home sale, you're not going to get a lot of sympathy from the general public.
If you want to get more clients through word of mouth, rather than the referral process, give the buyers and sellers a better deal than what USAA is giving out. Maybe 4% commission, so the seller can list the house at a lower price, but they still "take-home" the same amount. Seller gets the same amount, buyer gets a lower price. Sounds like a good deal for everyone........oh, except the realtors. So in the end it comes down to cash in pockets. You're just upset that USAA is getting the EXTRA cash, and not you.
Simple solution, if you don't like the program, remove yourself and count on yourr own self promotion and marketing to attract potential clients.
As a buyer in San Antonio, if any agents out there want to give me 1% of the sale price back as an incentive to sign with them, I'll gladly take that offer.
Dear USAA supporter
I think its a shame that USAA hides behind the uniform .. The majority of Military people who use USAA dont even know what USAA stands for. I just asked a retired veteran who was definding the USAA insurance company, and he had to give up and admit he did not know.
I do not use USAA referal system, due to the fact that every real estate commission says: ANYONE who receives commission for the sale of a home must be a real estate agent. I wish the commission would crack down on USAA because they are not a rreal estate agent.yanb
I will not argue with anyone about their beliefs, but I will say being a REALTOR does not come without a big price tag attached. We have monthly dues and yearly dues we must pay, and if you are a REALTOR who stays on top of the econony, and whats going on with the housing market it cost us $$$$$ every year.
There may be are some real estate agents out there that only care about the end result (their pay check). I can say I am do not fall into that catagory, Real Estate is about the people not the property.
Thanks for your post.
hear from some pissed-off people about USAA with the link below.
http://usaa.pissedconsumer.com