I've been in the REAL ESTATE business in Guatemala for over 6 years and I can modestly say I've learned my way around the business. Apart from the "hands on" experience of working with three of the top professional ladies in Guatemala's Real Estate Universe (they own the first RE/MAX franchise that opened here) I've also taken a couple of the courses offered by the Guatemalan Chamber of Real Estate Agents the "Cámara de Corredores de Bienes Raíces de Guatemala" in Spanish, in future CCBRG.

The 20 Agents and Brokers who work in RE/MAX Grupo Inmobiliario cover the entire country. We act as Seller's Agents, whether for Sales or Rentals, because that is the norm of the country. A Real Estate person works for the Seller, takes a commission from said Seller and that is that. And that is what has sometimes made it difficult for foreigners wanting to buy in the country. Foreign Buyer Mark Worthalot contacts Agente Carlos Narvaes Novendomucho and asks him to find a property for him. Carlos looks at his database of properties, sees that he doesn't have what BMW (for short) asked for and promptly drops it. BMW wonders why CNN (for short) didn't he go to the MLS? Because there is no MLS in Guate, but that is for another article.

First I should categorically state it is incorrect for me to be writing about a guy called Carlos  because 95% of Real Estate Agents in Guatemala are female. Second I categorically state that I'm not "Machista" because I've worked for several years in an environment where, being one of three males in the office, I'm drowning in a sea of female hormones. Apart from that, I have one wife, two daughters, a female cat and our late departed dog was a female. so now I've cleared that and can omit the "he or she" without offending anyone.

Back to CNN, he seldom again contacts BMW, thinking that because our services are free to him BMW has contacted 30 other brokers with the same request. Funnily enough, BMW has probably contacted only 15 other agents and they all think the same way, which is 'no way'.

My advise to the BMWs out there: try making an offer. "OK CNN, I need this and I'm willing to pay $450K for it, in order to make it interesting for you, I will pay you 2.5% of that when I close. If I close before April 15, the commission is 3%"  More advise BMW: do not offer any money up front, nothing, zilch, nada.

Buyer's offer must be registered in the Law Firm he's going to need to close the sale and Carlos now feels protected.

More soon.

Ed Pearse