If you plan on purchasing a home in the near future, you have probably noticed that there are plenty of options available. The market changes quickly, the perfect house may come and go before you get a chance to see it, and you might have a hard time figuring out which house is right for you. A buyer’s agent can be helpful, but do you actually need to work with one? There are several important points to keep in mind.

A Buyer’s Agent Represents Your Interests

You should consider working with the buyer’s agent because they will represent your best interests. Their main goal is to help you go through houses that could be right for your needs, pointing out potential problems while highlighting specific features.

They will help you find a house that suits your requirements and your budget, helping you fulfill as many items on your wish list as possible. They will also draft offers on your behalf, help with the negotiation process, coordinate closings, and handle paperwork. They are important because they can prevent a real estate deal from falling through.

A Buyer’s Agent Is Not Necessarily Required

You are not legally required to hire a real estate agent or buyer’s agent to help you find the right house. At the same time, it is typically better for you to hire a real estate agent to help you with the process. A knowledgeable buyer’s agent is important for giving you a competitive advantage when you are bidding on a house.

They are even more helpful if there is a lot of demand for homes and not a lot of supply on the market. A real estate agent also understands how to fill out paperwork, and they can tap into their referral network to see if there are houses you might be interested in that are not yet on the market.

Who Pays For A Buyer’s Agent

You should also consider working with a buyer’s agent because you don’t necessarily have to pay them. The vast majority of buyer’s agents are paid on commission, and the commission comes from the sale price of the house. This means the seller will pay for your agent and the buyer’s agent. 

Filed under: Real Estate Tips by Julie Woodward
Comments Off on An Overview Of A Buyer’s Agent

In the state of Texas, Realtors® have to keep information on their clients confidential—with very few exceptions.
The duties we, as Realtors, have include:

• Loyalty
• Obedience
• Disclosure
• Confidentiality
• Reasonable care and diligence
• Accounting

One of the most important is confidentiality. When you entrust your information to a Realtor, you need to know that it’s safe and that you’re in good hands.

Confidentiality in Texas Real Estate Transactions

We’re obligated to safeguard your lawful confidences and secrets. We can’t disclose information that will compromise your bargaining position. For example, if we know that you, as a buyer, will pay more for a property than you’ve offered to pay, we can’t tell the seller.

As a Seller’s Agent

We must tell the seller everything we can find out about potential buyers, including whatever financial details we can obtain. We have to conceal everything about you, the seller, that would help the buyer gain an advantage (such as an impending foreclosure, the fact that you need to move in a hurry, or that you want to sell to settle a divorce).

As a Buyer’s Agent

We must keep all information about you, the buyer, confidential. We can’t tell the seller about your ability or willingness to pay more for the property, nor can we tell them about your motivation for buying.

Do You Have Questions About What Realtors Do?

We’d love to answer them, but our primary focus is helping people buy and sell homes.
While you’re here, check out our:

• All-in-one mortgage calculator
• Free homebuyer handbook
• Free eBooks about buying a home (and more!)

Are You Looking for a New Home in Port Aransas or on North Padre Island?

Whether you’re looking for a home for sale in Port Aransas or North Padre Island, we’d love to help you find the perfect place to live.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll start searching right away.

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Filed under: Blog, Transactions by Julie Woodward
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