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Buying a Home? Look for an Exclusive Buyer Agent

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Buyer's Broker of Northern Michigan, LLC

Do home buyers really need the help of a buyer's agent in a buyer's market?  According to a recent article "Real Estate: Call Your Agent," by Linda Stern in the July 16, 2007 edition of Newsweek, those working without an agent may be losing out in a couple of big ways.

First off, without an agent to search the MLS on their behalf, house hunters may be missing out on properties which may suit their needs.  Also, without an agent negotiating on their behalf, potential home buyers may not get their best deal.

However, when looking for an agent, home buyers are advised to seek out the services of an exclusive buyer agent who is a member of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (http://www.naeba.com/).  Stephen Brobeck, of the Consumer Federation of America, warns that agents whose firms also list properties for sale may steer clients to company listings first, which Brobeck calls "an irreconcilable conflict of interest".

 Buyer's Broker of Northern Michigan, LLCBuyer's Broker of Northern Michigan, LLC is the only exclusive buyer agency serving the Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix, Boyne City, East Jordan, Bay Harbor, Burt Lake and Walloon Lake real estate markets.  Contact us and find out why the experts recommend using an exclusive buyer agent for you next real estate purchase. 

Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate
no comments?  The Chicago EBA got comments on his coverage of this article.   Maybe you posted yours for consumers and he posted his to the real estate industry... and I should not be commenting. I will have to go find his.  Something Fred in Hershey PA wrote about comments made me think of this entry and the one from the other AR member who I'd noticed. 
Jul 10, 2007 09:00 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate
Or maybe I just dreamed up the other entry ... by an EBA in Illinois.  It is harder to search on AR than it used to be.   
Jul 10, 2007 09:10 AM
Gary Smith
Agent Marketing Today - Commerce Township, MI
Stefan,  Other than the EBA part, I couldn't agree more. Yes, it would be a conflict of interest for a buyers agent to steer buyers to company listings. Although, there are some agents that simply ignore the part about reprisenting their clients best interests.
Aug 03, 2007 12:46 PM