Ron Howard & Associates of Remax Preferred in Baltimore: How to Evaluate a Mid-Market Residential Agent

Ron Howard & Associates operates as a residential real estate team within the Remax Preferred franchise, serving Baltimore-area buyers and sellers across single-family homes, townhouses, and small multifamily properties. The team functions as a traditional listing and buyer's agent operation, meaning agents earn commission on closed transactions rather than hourly fees, and their incentive structure shapes how they work with clients.

How agents are paid and what that means for you

Real estate agents in Maryland, including those at Remax Preferred, earn commission only when a sale closes. The listing agent typically receives half of the total commission (usually 5 to 6 percent of the sale price), and the buyer's agent receives the other half, paid by the seller's proceeds. This structure means Ron Howard & Associates has no revenue if a deal does not close, which creates both alignment and potential conflict: the agent benefits from closing quickly, not necessarily at the price or terms most favorable to you.

Remax offices operate on a franchise model where individual agents or teams lease desk space and keep a larger share of their commission than agents at traditional brokerages (typically 85 to 95 percent after franchise fees and expenses, versus 40 to 60 percent at firms like Coldwell Banker or Keller Williams). This arrangement attracts experienced agents but does not directly affect how much commission you pay; that negotiation remains between you and the agent.

Buyer agent versus listing agent: which side of the transaction matters here

If you hire Ron Howard & Associates to represent you as a buyer, the team earns commission only if you purchase a property, and only from the seller's proceeds (split with the listing agent). This means the team's fee does not come out of your pocket separately, but it also means the agent may feel pressure to close a transaction quickly to earn revenue, rather than waiting for a property that fits your needs more precisely.

If you list a home with the team, you negotiate the listing commission directly, typically 5 to 6 percent of the final sale price, and the team keeps their portion of that. A lower commission rate (say, 4.5 percent) is possible in a strong seller's market or if you offer a compelling listing, but Remax Preferred agents in Baltimore rarely drop below 5 percent.

Compare this to discount brokerages like Redfin, which employ salaried agents and may charge a flat fee or 1 to 1.5 percent commission, or to flat-fee MLS listing services that cost $500 to $1,500 to list a property yourself and attract buyer's agents through the MLS without paying a listing-side commission. The trade-off: discount services offer less hand-holding, and flat-fee MLS listings may receive less agent traffic.

How to evaluate Ron Howard & Associates against other Baltimore teams

Evaluate any Remax Preferred team by examining transaction volume (visible through public MLS data or the agent's website), average sale price of their listings, and days-on-market for sold properties. High volume and fast closes suggest either strong negotiation and marketing or, conversely, an agent who prioritizes speed over maximizing your sale price. Cross-check agent reviews on sites like Zillow, Redfin, or Google, but weight recent reviews (within the last 12 months) more heavily, as agent performance and responsiveness can change.

For buyers, interview agents from different teams and brokerages. Ask whether they represent other buyers in your target neighborhood and how they prevent conflicts of interest. Ask how they would handle a multiple-offer situation or a contingency dispute. Remax agents, who often work as independent teams, may have deeper neighborhood expertise than larger, transactional brokerage teams, but this varies by individual agent.

For sellers, request a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) from at least two teams before listing. A thorough CMA includes recent sales of comparable homes within a half-mile and similar condition, not just list prices. If one agent inflates the list price beyond what comps support, they may be using the "come-list-with-us" tactic to win your business; an honest CMA typically lands within 3 to 5 percent of where a savvy buyer's agent would advise their client.

Who benefits from this team and who should look elsewhere

Ron Howard & Associates suits sellers who want hands-on attention from an established local team, or buyers who value a single agent's deep familiarity with a specific neighborhood over the efficiency of a large brokerage. The Remax Preferred franchise itself is largest in suburban and exurban Maryland, so the team may be especially useful if you are buying or selling in areas like Towson, Pikesville, or Catonsville rather than in central Baltimore neighborhoods like Canton, Fells Point, or Federal Hill, where boutique firms and independent agents often have tighter market intelligence.

Buyers with uncommon needs (first-time homebuyer education, investor analysis, out-of-state coordination) may be better served by agents at larger brokerages like Keller Williams or Coldwell Banker, which often offer in-house mortgage, title, and closing services. Sellers in soft markets (neighborhoods with slow turnover or declining values) should compare the team's track record selling homes in that specific neighborhood, not just overall volume.

What the first interaction typically involves

Contact Ron Howard & Associates through Remax Preferred's website or direct phone to schedule an initial consultation. For buyers, expect a brief interview about budget, timeline, and target neighborhoods, followed by an offer to show available properties. For sellers, the team will schedule a home walk-through and provide a CMA, which should arrive within 2 to 3 business days. Ask the agent for a written list of recommended repairs or staging advice; vague feedback like "clean it up" is a red flag.

Remax Preferred offices in the Baltimore area typically operate during standard business hours (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some Saturday availability), though most agent-client communication now happens via phone, email, or text outside regular hours. Confirm the agent's preferred communication method and response timeline upfront.

Ron Howard & Associates merits inclusion in Baltimore's real estate landscape because Remax Preferred's franchise model has produced experienced, neighborhood-focused agents in older residential areas, and the team's local presence gives it credibility in a market where personal referral and long-term reputation still matter. Whether the team is right for your transaction depends less on the brokerage than on the individual agent's knowledge, negotiating track record, and alignment with your timeline and goals.