designer

I've heard mixed rumors about real estate agents. Will I be able to buy a home for a cheaper price if I do not have a real estate agent?

Canadiver

probably not. The agent will help you find the best house presently on the market in your price range. You won,t get charged a cent the seller pays the realtors commission you pay the seller.The agent has acess to all the listings so that alone can save you time in your search. Just remember every price is negotiable.

bpierce

They know the little quirks that may pop up throuighout the loan. Most "sellers" do not know the total closing procedure, cost or criteria needed. I am a mortgage Loan Officer and I have come across this often. You can sell without real estate agents if you do your home work or>>>> have a good Mortgage Loan Officer>>>>ha ha ha

bpierce

Attend a For Sale by Owner workshop in yur area

AustinDC

Still in the market?

I'd say as a buyer, doubt it. Seller, with some hard work and realistic pricing, yes.

TnAndy

ahahahaaa....no, you 'won't get charged a cent'......directly.....the seller has already added the realtor commission into the price of the property, and thus, you get to pay it in the form of higher price.

There is no free lunch.

birken

Realtors help out quite a bit but aren't neccesary. On my first home purchase they took me through the ropes on everything but getting into specifics they don't know much.

You can do it yourself but GET A GOOD LAWYER BEFORE SIGNING ANYTHING!!!

justme

I would suggest an agent if you are buying a home. They will do the footwork for you and help you negotiate the deal. They don't normally charge you -however some of the large companies are starting to implement a "buyers fee" that they are charging at closing- so be sure to ask upfront.

If the home is being sold by an agent-which most homes are- of course their are going to be realtor fees resulting in a higher priced home, just like when you buy a can of beans at the grocery store, the store gets their cut.

But as a buyer, I really suggest having someone work for you! The selling agent has to split their commission so your agent will get paid that way.

lizardqueen

I don't know what kind of math realtors uses to determine the buyer doesn't pay a cent toward brokers' fees. If I want to make $400K and I have to pay a realtor, the buyer's going to pay $424K. You obviously have internet access, so the realtor isn't going to show you anything you can't find yourself. Except for homes that aren't on the market yet. Unless houses are flying off the market within hours, this isn't a huge advantage. Sure, they'll help with writing up the offer and the p&s. But so will a lawyer, for a lot less than $12K.

CraigFL

The key thing to remember here is that in most states, the realtor is working for the seller -- unless the buyer hires their own relator and pays them. So if you're a buyer and don't have your own buyer's realtor, the person you are working with only has the seller of the property in mind and is working for the best interests of them. If you want someone working in your best interest, you need to hire them.

Since the seller has signed a contract and therefore is paying the selling fees, this is why it is commonly said that the buyer isn't paying the commission. Another thing that muddies the water is that you may want $400K and bump it up to $424K to include the fees but after six months of no sale, you may move the price down to $409K or accept something even lower. Then it's unclear if you could have sold it for more without a realtor.