Whether you choose to buy your new
home on your own or with an agent depends on your needs. Each method has
its pros and cons. Read below to get the information you need to make the
choice that's best for you.
Buying Without An Agent
Buying your home
yourself can save you a lot of money. The trick is zeroing in on
properties sold by owner and coming to the negotiating table fully
informed.
Savings
Finding your home yourself can save you
thousands of dollars if you negotiate with the seller to share the unpaid
commission with you. Just remember, you need to be a good negotiator and have knowledge of contracts and the laws to protect yourself, and make the savings a reality.
Control
No one wants to waste time looking at
houses they know they don't want. When you take the reins, you make the
choice of what you will see and when you'll see it.
What It Takes
You shouldn't consider buying without an agent unless the home you are considering is being sold by the owner without an agent because the law often prohibits agents from sharing
commissions with non-agents. By-owner sellers do not face this
restriction, but you must rely on the seller to agree to share the saved
commission with you. Good negotiating skills are very important to make
buying by owner work to your advantage.
Free Services
This website gives you simple instructions, helpful
articles, daily mortgage rates and much, much more to help you succeed.
Best of all, these services are absolutely free.
Buying With An Agent
An agent can usually show you the widest selection of
homes. S/he can also provide you with valuable guidance through the
transaction, protecting your interests.
Professional Guidance
An agent can show you a
broader offering of properties, and many people rely on them to conduct
negotiations and cover all of the legal bases. Agents will help find you
what you're looking for and close the deal with confidence.
MLS Access
Agents have access to
your local Multiple Listing Service (or MLS), the industry's marketing
tool. Your agent will find properties for you that you simply will not
find on your own. And you can still search Owners.com's listings for homes
not available on the
MLS.
Click here
to get information about the best way to find a home in an area.
Click here
to learn more about financing and whether you can afford your dream home.
Click here
to learn more about the Escrow process and what you can do to speed it up.
Click here
to get information about the Closing process and resources you'll need after the closing.