The Dave Ramsey Endorsed Local Provider program is free and can connect you with a real estate agent who adheres to his financial principles. However, their quality can vary; many consumers report being matched with agents that do not meet expectations or follow Ramsey’s philosophy. Furthermore, its small network limits your choices; you may find one who meets all your requirements; however there are other avenues available to connect with top realtors nearby.
ELP network is an unlawful broker-to-broker consumer allocation scheme that profiteers from undisclosed referral fees. Such behavior violates federal and state law as blanket referral agreements, price fixing and consumer allocation between licensed brokers is illegal. Ramsey Solutions (the company behind ELP scheme) operates as a shell real estate brokerage to collude with other licensed brokers for financial gain while breaking wire fraud laws by selling private information about homebuyers and sellers through its website.
If you want to locate a great real estate agent in your area, start with looking for agents listed with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Buyers and sellers alike can take advantage of free MLS listings to compare qualifications among agents. Alternatively, seek recommendations from friends and family or use online agent-finding services like UpNest or HomeLight which don’t charge fees and have larger networks than Ramsey’s ELP scheme.
To be recognized as a Ramsey Trusted real estate agent, an individual must meet several criteria: They must possess at least four years of experience and close at least 35 transactions annually, demonstrate an understanding and application of Dave Ramsey’s financial principles as well as undergo an intensive screening process that verifies integrity and moral standards as part of this program that requires all real estate agents adhere to its ten commandments of money.
Becoming a Ramsey Trusted real estate agent can be challenging, as applicants must pay a monthly membership fee, meet certain sales and performance criteria and gain approval by Ramsey Solutions team for participation. Furthermore, during screening process Ramsey Solutions checks if applicants have had any previous complaints against them or legal violations that they might commit.
Ramsey Trusted real estate agents must also possess strong negotiation and debt snowballing abilities, in addition to understanding their state’s real estate licensing regulations and holding an active license in their state. Furthermore, misconduct or disciplinary actions that have been taken against an agent (from fines or suspension of license) disqualify them from participating. Note that in certain states real estate agents can choose their own disciplinary boards.