Building a web takes time...have you ever watched a spider? They will work hours perfecting their web.   The same will have to be done if you are going to create a web that is a benefit to you and useful to your visitors. 

The spider's web is never truly finished either.  It is always changing each evening, reinventing itself, so it is fresh for the new "visitors".  A successful website requires the same care and attention as the Spider's web.

You're first decision is not an easy one..

DO I CHOOSE TO HAVE THE SITE DONE FOR ME, CHOOSING A TEMPLATE TYPE HOST WHERE I JUST PLUG IN MY INFO, OR LEARNING TO BUILD MY OWN WEB.  

If you aren't committed to spending hours on building a website, you can hire someone to do it for you.  This site's member's links page has scores of links to web designers who specialize in create quality Real Estate sites for agents.  Prices vary greatly, as does quality so be sure to check them all out before you decide which is best for you.  Check out other sites that the designers have built.  Email their clients and ask how satisfied they have been with the designers services, their prices, etc.  You'd be surprised how many just sign up with any designer, without doing their homework first. 

Keep in mind what you want.  You may want the web designer to totally control your web, so you only have to send them listings and have them loaded. This will usually cost more, and take longer to get your site changes done, but will free you up from having to do anything with your web.

You might want to have a site built for you that you can have control over.  That you will be able to add your own listings, some links, etc.  If so, look for sites that offer these features and has good instructions for loading your own graphics and text.  

ALL OF THE ABOVE CHOICES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE IN THE LONG RUN THEN LEARNING TO DO YOUR OWN SITE.  So it's a matter of what's more important to you.   Would you rather pay the money to have it done, or would you rather take the time to do it yourself.  Doing it yourself is the least expensive way to go in the long run.  Initial investment in the software, domain name and hosting site will run you between 300 - 400.00.  A monthly hosting fee will be between 15.00 - 25.00 depending on your site's hosting cost.   However, building your own site is  MUCH more expensive in time invested then a site you have done for you.  If you DON'T like sitting in front of the computer, then I wouldn't suggest learning to create your own.  On the other hand, if, like me, you love a challenge and like working on the computer, then by all means, creating your site is definitely the way I would go!  

BUILDING YOUR OWN?

I did not take the time to learn HTML, the coding of the net.  Instead, I invested in a copy of Microsoft Frontpage.  All my sites are front page sites.  I wouldn't be on the net without that program.  And with Front Page I can now throw a webpage on the net in a matter of minutes.  Learning Frontpage will come in handy for much more then just building your real estate site.  You'll be able to build webpages for any reason! Using Frontpage I have thrown together pages to sell our car, our previous home, our neighbor's boat and our neighbors lake home! 

The cost of Microsoft FrontPage 200.00 and monthly hosting fees with a FrontPage enabled host will run you between 15 - 25.00 a month.  A good host I recommend is www.halfpricehosting.com.  They have great prices and the best thing, once you open one account with them, any additional web accounts you open are half price.  

Of course, you can avoid the cost of Microsoft Front Page by learning the language of the web, html, however, it's not nearly as fun creating a website in code as it is creating a website you can see as you are creating it.  With code, you have to write the code, check what it looks like, go back and write some more.. Whereas, with FrontPage, you insert your picture, type your text, etc...and you can see exactly how it looks as you do it.  The program does all the writing of the code behind the scenes as you create the pages.  I find that much easier and well with the money for the program!   

(Warning: In the course of learning to build my own web, I became addicted to the net and no longer actively sell Real Estate...this could happen to you!)

So from where you go from here depends entirely on what your thinking..

"Ok...I've decided to have a site built for me.  So I'm heading to Real Estate Clipart's member's links page to find a good designer.

Or you are thinking:

"You didn't scare me (well, maybe just a little) but so far I'm still interested in creating my own site.  I think of it as the "fun" way...maybe.  I may change my mind later but for now I'm ready to check out what you think are the basics I should know to begin creating my own web.