I have had several buyers who have relocated to the Westchester County area over the past few months from other areas of the country.  The practice of real estate is local, there are differences from area to area.  These buyers come from areas where real estate is consumer centric, the consumer is foremost.  One of the areas is Denver.  This buyer expected free choice in terms of who she used as a real estate agent and I was glad I could tell her that Westchester County is also conumer centric and that her rights as a consumer to pick her own agent and that she would have full access to available property exists here.  She can work with a buyer's agent who will work in her best interests.  She was relieved.

Historically before the internet, before agency disclosure laws agency's would withhold listings and try o force buyers to use their company.   They tried to sell the listings within their own agency and this is what is called agent/agency centric. They did not share the listings or put them online which meant that a buyer's rights to pick their own agent were taken away from them.  They were forced to use specific agency's for access to listings.  In New York State this is considered discriminatory.  A buyer, according to the Department of State, can not be denied acccess to a property because she is using an agent from another company.  There are pockets in the country who simply do not care about the buyers or sellers in their areas, for them it is about selling within their own agency's and making both sides of the commission.  Buyers rights be damned.  When I began selling real estate it was prior to sharing listings on the MLS buyer's were driven crazy having to go agency to agency simply because the agents wanted both sides of the commission.  One of the agency's in Westchester County that was still trying to sell real estate "the old way"  has suffered the consequences.

If you are relocating to Westchester County rest assured that the real estate community here is doing the right thing for the buyer's and seller's in our community.  The Westchester Putnam Multiple Listing Service works well, is well run and they keep on eye on things for you.  It is about you!  NOT ABOUT US!