How Much For That Buyer ' s Agent In The Window?!

You've got good credit, you'll GET a good tax credit, and you've been saving for your down payment.  You've even gotten pre-approved. You don't have a property to sell, and you're really sick of renting. You no longer want to pay someone else's mortgage. You're ready to make a change. Sounds like this could be YOUR year to become a homeowner. Not sure where to begin?  Okay, let's back up. Although you can certainly look for a home on your own - lots of people do - you may end up surfing the Internet till all hours for listings, dragging your missing-football-game partner, your missing-naptime new baby, or your missing-patience mother-in-law to Open Houses all winter long, trying in vain to figure out WHAT to offer for a house. What if you offer too much? How will you know? Once you get a house "under agreement," what happens when the Inspection doesn't go well? What if you need a new roof or heating system and the Seller won't pay for it? What if there are termites? What if your financing falls apart right before your P&S? What do you do then? Remember that Listing Agent? Well, they work for the SELLER, not for you. Their job is to get the BEST deal for the Seller. So who's going to help YOU? If you had a Buyer's Agent, you could turn to them. So... just what is a Buyer's Agent? What will a Buyer's Agent do for you? And more importantly, how much does a Buyer's Agent cost? WORKING WITH A BUYER'S AGENT IS FREE.   A Buyer's Agent earns a commission at closing that is a portion of the fee that the Seller has agreed to pay an agent.  So the fee is paid from the proceeds of the sale of a home.

What Is A Buyer's Agent?

A Buyer's Agent is a real estate professional who works for home buyers. A good Buyer's Agent will be your advocate, assertively guiding and advising you through every step of the complex homebuying process. A Buyer's Agent will put your best interests first, negotiating the best price, terms for your new home. Working with a Buyer's Agent will save you stress, time and money.

How Much Does a Buyer's Agent Cost?

Working with a Buyer's Agent is FREE.

How Does A Buyer's Agent Get Paid?

A Buyer's Agent is paid a percentage of the proceeds of the sale from the Seller at closing. When a homeowner decides to sell his/her property with a Realtor (the Listing Agent), they agree to pay that agent a percentage of the sale as commission. The Listing Agent works for the Seller to market the home and find a Buyer. Their loyalty lies with the Seller, not the Buyer. When the house is sold, that commission goes to the Listing Agent. If there is a Buyer's Agent (which there usually is North of Boston), then the commission is split between the Selling Agent and the Buying Agent. So, there is NO upfront cost to you when you work with a Buyer's Agent.

A Buyer's Agent will help you:

• Recruit your Home Team: lender, real estate attorney, and inspector.
• Advise and assist you with the pre-approval process.
• Find and preview properties for you.
• Schedule showings for you.
• Tour houses with you.
• Formulate Offers and Counteroffers with you.
• Oversee inspections, radon tests, contingencies, paperwork.
• Manage all aspects of your purchase & sale and closing.
• Assist in assembling your Move-In Team: home insurance company, movers, roofers, house cleaners, plumbers, electricians, and painters.

Don't forget: unless you're buying a home directly from an Owner (FSBO), the real estate agent that's listing the house works for the Seller - not you. Why shouldn't you be represented, too?! It's oh-so-much easier to work with a Buyer's Agent then to go it alone. Especially if it's FREE.