Should You Buy a Home Without a Real Estate Agent?

Should You Buy a Home Without a Real Estate Agent?

Buying a house is one of life’s most important decisions a person -or a family- has to make in their life. It’s a lengthy process that involves visiting several houses, looking for the right mortgage, filing paperwork, and many more things — it can become a terrible headache for most people. Luckily there are professionals who can guide you through the home-buying process.

Should You Buy a Home Without a Real Estate Agent

A real estate agent is a great ally to have when you are ready to buy a home. It’s a person who knows what they’re doing and wants you to get the right house for the best price possible. Here are eleven reasons to hire a real estate agent when you want to buy a house:

Top 11 Benefits of Hiring a Real Estate Agent

A Real Estate Agent Knows the Local Market
You decided to take the first big step toward buying a house. It’s time to start looking for properties for sale around your area, but where are they? A real estate agent knows where every home listed for sale is and better yet knows where you should be looking to buy a house. The local real estate market in each part of town differs from one another in a lot of ways.

You may not know it, but a real estate agent knows the housing market value changes from town to town and even from neighborhood to neighborhood. A real estate agent can point you in the right direction, one that you might not even have thought existed. If you are dead set on a particular neighborhood, a real estate agent might know where the hidden gems are as well. One of the many reasons why buyers shouldn’t try to buy a home without a real estate agent.

A Real Estate Agent Can Keep You Off the Emotional Rollercoaster
Buying a home especially one you are going to live in can be an emotional, bumpy ride. It doesn’t matter if you can keep your cool under pressure, most people will crack in the middle of their home purchase. It’s completely understandable: you are putting a lot of money down, getting a long-term mortgage, you don’t know if you are going to feel the same in ten years about the whole ordeal and you might get scared before buying.

Most real estate agents have experienced this firsthand with their own home purchase and have seen other people go through this scenario as well. They’ll be more than qualified to help you with your doubts and emotional trouble and be more than prepared to tell you if you are right or wrong about it all.

Should You Buy a Home Without a Real Estate Agent Agents Have Access to Homes for SaleA Real Estate Agent Has Access to Homes for Sale
Every licensed real estate agent will have access to the MLS, the multiple listing service, where all homes are listed for sale. It’s the original and main source for real estate listing, which only agents have access to.

As soon as a new listing is entered into the MLS that meets a buyer’s needs they’ll be notified immediately. While that new listing may not even be on 3rd party websites until minutes, hours or days later. Being the first to know about a new listing is imperative to securing your dream home.

In addition to having access to new listings, your real estate agent will be able to show you all homes for sale. So you don’t have to worry about calling around trying to find an agent to show you the property, that is if it’ll still be available by then. Scheduling appointments to view homes can be time-consuming and agents are experts at getting appointments set up. One of the many things a buyer will have to go through alone if they choose to buy a home without a real estate agent.

A Real Estate Agent Will Guide You to Make the Right Decisions 
When you think about it, most people don’t know a lot about houses. Regular people will probably walk into a couple of dozen houses -at most- in their lifetime. With such little experience, you won’t know what to look for when buying a house. A real estate agent has walked in hundreds of houses and knows exactly what to look for, the good and the bad.

They’ll see red flags right on the spot: things like roofing issues, possible pest infestations or house violations that might not be visible for an excited would-be buyer. The hard, cold assessment of a real estate agent in addition to a home inspector will let you know their findings. That way, you won’t have any regrets with your home purchase.

Real Estate Agents are Expert Negotiators
Negotiation is the bread and butter of most real estate agents. They are constantly helping people buy or sell properties. An agent knows how much each property is worth and if they don’t know with a little research will quickly find out. They also know whether a seller is overpricing their house or if it’s an incredible price to jump right on. When it comes to hidden costs, fees, and taxes you may have to pay or you may be able to waive they know that too.

Simply put, a real estate agent is worth their weight in gold when the time comes to settle on a price. Even if you know your way around negotiating, real estate agents have their own proven tactics and techniques that have worked over and over in real estate-related deals. So for those buyers who think it’ll be easy to buy a home without a real estate agent could end up paying more for a home because they’re not an expert negotiator.

Buyers often wonder if they can buy a home without a real estate agent or if they can do it on their own and here's the answer! #realestate #homebuying Click to Tweet

Top Benefits of Hiring a Real Estate Agent (Continued)

A Real Estate Agent Can Help Secure the Best Financing
Once you find your dream home and your real estate agent fought tooth and nail to get the right price, it’s time to get the money to pay for the house. Most people don’t have enough money to pay cash and even if they do many are opting for financing with today’s low-interest rates. with the low-interest rates many are opting for financing.

A mortgage loan is a complex decision that will affect you for decades. Most mortgages have a 30-year lifespan, although you can re-negotiate it later on. If you are trying to get a mortgage, you probably have never done it before. But fear not, because a real estate agent can refer you to the best lenders and help you get approved for a mortgage. However, if you decide to buy a home without a real estate agent you won’t have that additional guidance.

A Real Estate Agent Will Help with Paperwork You Didn’t Even Know Existed
You have the house, you have the right price and you have secured your mortgage to finally sign the dotted line. That’s right, there are a lot of complex documents involved with buying a home. And unless you are a lawyer with plenty of experience in this field, you probably don’t know what goes where regarding legal documents. That’s where your real estate agent comes in, once again.

You will find plenty of legal related issues in your house contract: deadlines, contingencies and many more things which you probably have never heard of before. A real estate agent knows about them all and is ready to draft the best contract for you to sign. That way, you won’t be caught in any legal trap and know you will be benefiting on the purchase of your home too. So this is one of the many reasons why you shouldn’t buy a home without a real estate agent.

Should You Buy a Home Without a Real Estate Agent Agents are ConnectedA Real Estate Agent Can Help You or Call People Who Can
There are a lot of things that can go wrong when buying a home. Some of them you already know, like home inspections and mortgages. There are other things you may need: a good contractor, pest control, landscaper and many other things. If you’re new to the area you’ll need a new doctor, vet, dentist, chiropractor and more.

You may know a lawyer or a banker, but you probably don’t know anyone who specializes in the housing industry. A real estate agent knows enough people to fix any problem you may encounter before you buy the house or down the line. However, if you buy a home without a real estate agent you won’t have these additional resources.

A Real Estate Agent Knows How to Keep Your Information Safe
When you are buying a house, there is a lot of sensitive information you might have to give up to someone. Your bank statements, background checks, your contact information, amongst other things. Are you willing to give them up to the seller’s real estate agent? He has no legal responsibilities with you. If you hire a real estate agent to aid you with your purchase, you can hand everything to one person and that person must protect your information under the law.

If you hire a real estate agent, they are going to tell you the truth at all times. Meanwhile, someone trying to sell you a house might be more “creative” when it comes to the truth.

Having a Real Estate Agent Can be Beneficial in the Future Too
Right now, you are looking to buy a house to live in. That might seem like a short-term relationship for you. But if your real estate agent does a good job they know you can call them for any real estate needs down the line. You might want to sell your house in a couple of years, or you might be in a better financial position and you want to buy a second one. Nobody knows what’s going to happen, but one thing is for sure: having a real estate agent you can trust is a great thing to have.

If you’re ever curious about the value of your home you can call your real estate agent. Thinking about selling? They’ll be able to tell you if now is a good time. Need advice on what renovation to do? Your real estate agent will be able to let you know what renovations will have the best ROI.

Hiring a Real Estate Agent Won’t Cost You a Dime
9 out of 10 times (probably more) you won’t have to pay for your real estate agent. They certainly don’t work for free, but the seller pays their real estate commission. That means, you won’t have to pay anything extra for your real estate agent, you only have to pay for the house and everyone’s happy!

Final Thoughts

There are many risks of buying a house without a Realtor and some people try to weigh the pros and cons of buying a house without a Realtor but the reality is there are only pros. However, not just any agent will do. You should hire a top Realtor in your area and only work with that one agent, not multiple agents. By working with a top Realtor you’ll be able to avoid stress and have the smoothest real estate transaction possible.

Please consider spreading the word and sharing; Should You Buy a Home Without a Real Estate Agent?

Buyers often wonder if they can buy a home without a real estate agent or if they can do it on their own and here's the answer! #realestate #homebuying Click to Tweet

Popular Questions About Hiring a Realtor

Can I be my own real estate agent when buying a home?

Yes, if you are a licensed real estate agent you can be your own agent when buying property. If you are an unlicensed agent, you can still buy a home without a real estate agent, but you’d be considered a buyer without representation. This is handled differently in every state.

Do you need a real estate agent to sell a house?

No, you do not need to be a licensed real estate agent to sell your house. For those that decide to go this route, it’s called an FSBO (for sale by owner). However, it’s not recommended, a top Realtor is worth every penny and will not only pay for themselves but be able to guide a seller through the entire process from start to finish. Sticking a for sale sign in a yard and finding a buyer is the easy part. Negotiating the transaction and making sure it gets to the closing table is the hard part.

Do you pay a real estate agent if you are the buyer?

Customarily the seller pays the real estate commission unless otherwise agreed to. So for those who want to buy a home without a real estate agent really doesn’t make any sense.

Additional Home Buying Resources

  • Sometimes the first Realtor you hire to assist you with your home purchase isn’t the best Realtor. However, not all buyers realize they hired the wrong agent, but there are signs. Finding the right Realtor is like finding the right mate. You need someone who communicates, someone you trust, and who is available when you need them.
  • Some buyers have “bad habits” and you don’t want to be one of them! From working with multiple agents to skipping important steps, like a home inspection or walk-thru you need to avoid these common mistakes. Once again hiring the right Realtor will help you avoid all of these mistakes.
  • Home inspections aren’t required, but they are highly recommended. Buying a home is probably the biggest investment you’ll make in your lifetime, so you should know exactly what you’re getting into. Most contracts allow buyers an out and if there is something majorly wrong with the home you may want to use that out. However, if you don’t have a home inspection you won’t know about it right away.

About the Author

Top Wellington Realtor, Michelle Gibson, wrote: “Should You Buy a Home Without a Real Estate Agent?”

Michelle has been specializing in residential real estate since 2001 throughout Wellington Florida and the surrounding area. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or rent she will guide you through the entire real estate transaction. If you’re ready to put Michelle’s knowledge and expertise to work for you call or e-mail her today.

Areas of service include WellingtonLake WorthRoyal Palm BeachBoynton BeachWest Palm BeachLoxahatcheeGreenacres, and more.

Should You Buy a Home Without a Real Estate Agent?

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ABOUT

Michelle Gibson Wellington Florida REALTORMichelle Gibson of the Hansen Real Estate Group Inc is a full-time REALTOR who has been specializing in Wellington Florida real estate since 2001. This veteran of the real estate industry has expertise in technology, marketing, and social media.

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Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. is a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in residential real estate. As a customer-focused, quality organization, we achieve success one client at a time. Call 561-333-0446 or e-mail me today at [email protected].

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RELOCATING

If you are thinking about buying, selling, or renting your home, townhome, condo, or other Real Estate in the following areas; Wellington, Lake Worth, Royal Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Greenacres, Loxahatchee, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Clarke Shores, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, or Jupiter there are thousands of Realtors to choose from.

However, it doesn't cost you any more to work with a top Realtor in Wellington Florida. I would welcome the opportunity to show you how I get outstanding real estate results for all of my clients. If you are looking for a top real estate agent in Palm Beach County Florida who will make a difference you have come to the right place.

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