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Thinking About Buying a Home in Portland . . . Think About Using a Portland Buyers Agent

By
Industry Observer with RETIRED / State License is Inactive Inactive License Oregon

In A Real Estate Transaction . . . Who "Represents" Whom?

In the beginning . . . everyone worked for the Seller.

In recent years BUYER AGENCY has emerged and home buyers across the Nation can have their OWN BUYERS AGENT REPRESENTING THEM when buying a home.

The concept of buyers having their own representation has been supported from many top real estate agents around the states.

I couldn't agree more. When Portland buyers turn to the listing agent they are NOT getting proper representation.  Period.

"In most U.S. states and Canadian provinces, until the 1990s, buyers who worked with an agent of a real estate broker in finding a house were customers of the brokerage, since, by most common law of most states at the time, the broker represented only sellers. It is only since the early 1990s that states passed statute law to create buyers' agency.

Buyer agency can exist exclusively (where a brokerage firm chooses to only represent buyers and never sellers, as an exclusive buyer agent) or, in a full service company, by offering buyer agency to buyers who become clients. Buyers would have to agree to some form of dual agency in the event that they wished to buy a home which that company has listed for sale and for which it represents the seller. ~~ Wikipedia.org"

What Top Realtors® Across the Country Are Saying About Buyer Agency

Deba Maxwell is a Broker with Savvy + Company in Charlotte, NC. She has posted several articles about Buyer Agency and Buyer Representation. She's an experienced agent working with both buyers and sellers in the Charlotte, NC market. To hear Debe tell it, you'd think Buyers would realize this valuable concept.

Jane Peters is a Broker in the Los Angeles area and works the high-end area of the Los Angeles marketplace and focuses attention on condos in the Wilshire Corridor. Jane works for clients in high-end leases, rentals, assists property owners, buyers, sellers, etc. When she writes about the benefits of using a BUYERS AGENT. . . she's got a point coming from years of experience.

Renee Burrows is a Broker in Las Vegas. Renee does high-volume work with REO's, as well as traditional listings and working with buyers. Her recent article is a very astute tongue-in-cheek example of how buyers who are unrepresented in the Las Vegas market are not doing themselves any favors.

What This Buyers Agent In Portland Has Written

In the past, I've written several articles about buyers having their own representation.

The Message to Buyers is Clear

Agents all across the country agree that having your own buyers agent is critical when buying a home:
 

From Realtors® across the Nation, the message is clear:

Buyers need their own representation when buying a home.

Carla Muss-Jacobs is one of the few agents in the Nation who practices Exclusive Buyer Agency and is a member of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents.

 

Posted by

 

 

Carla Muss-Jacobs has RETIRED effective May 1, 2018

Representing Buyers in the Portland Metro Real Estate Market | Clackamas Multnomah and Washington Counties | Since 1999

Carla Muss-Jacobs, REALTOR®, ABR, CEBA, ePro
Principal Broker/Owner ~~ INACTIVE

Carla Muss-Jacobs' retirement became effective May 1, 2018

Direct: 503-810-7192 

 

All Rights Reserved © 

Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Carla, I think that so many of the image problems we have as Realtors® stem from ambiguities over the whole issue of representation and how we practice it.  I can't imagine representing two parties in a transaction.  Nor can I imagine what agents are thinking who write two offers for two parties wanting to buy the same house. 

Sep 26, 2011 03:43 PM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Carla, love the video and the explanation for buyers who do not have their own representation. Portland area Buyers need their own agent looking out for them in the transaction.

Sharon

Sep 26, 2011 04:50 PM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

I keep getting comments on buyer agency froma post I wrote a while ago.  It proves that most buyers just haven't a clue as to how risky going into a negotiation on a home without representation really is.

 

LOVE the video....

Sep 26, 2011 05:00 PM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Lots of good information here Carla and they will be well represented when they choose you or any agent from this post to represent them in a transaction!

Sep 26, 2011 11:48 PM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Carla - We're Transaction Brokers, so we're suppose to represent the transaction, but I'm sure there are listing agents out there who are handling both sides of the transaction only looking out for the seller.

I knew a couple who went directly to the listing agent thinking they were saving on commission, little did they know the listing agent most likely got both the listing side and selling side of the commissioin.  Anyways the deal feel apart and the home sold for $43K LESS than what these buyers were under contract for.  Considering the commission their agent would have received if they had one would have been around $16K it doesn't appear they saved on commission at all.

Sep 27, 2011 02:38 AM
Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Carla, educating the public (and some real estate professionals) on Agency seems to be a never ending task.

Sep 27, 2011 02:38 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Hi Pat . . . "representing" is the key word.  There is no representing which could be affective in a dual agency transaction. 

Hey Sharon -- thanks for the comments!!

Hi Ruthmarie . . . most consumers don't understand real estate agency law in their states.:-(

Hey Debra -- good agents aren't hard to find, but consumers just don't know the difference.

Hi Michelle . . . wow, your tale sounds like a no-win for all.

Hey Maria -- you're so right.  Consumers don't know from real estate agency law.  That's why I love Debe's "Buyer Awareness" ribbon (which she let me use)

 

Sep 27, 2011 05:10 AM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

I am an Accredited Buyer's Representative in San Antonio TX Carla and I have to say that I completely agree with you.  Buyers need their own representation with a lisenced Realtor(r) who is trained and educated on representing buyers for one of the most important invenstments of their life...their home :)!  Suggested by the way.

Sep 27, 2011 05:21 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Yep, more of that niche service. We can't be all things to all people. Best to do what you do extremely well, I am good at listing homes and marketing them to consumers. You are a good buyer's agent. It's important to know your niche and super service the heck out of it.

Sep 27, 2011 06:33 AM
Jack Tenold
Jack Tenold LLC - Spokane, WA
Specializing in Reverse Mortgages

Enjoyed the video.  Thanks for driving your message home.  I use to be a lawyer.  I would never represent clients from opposing sides and can't imagine why a real estate agent would.  Everyone needs representation.

Sep 27, 2011 11:34 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...
Carla ~ thanks to Brenda's reblog I did not miss this information you shared with the ActiveRain community about Buyer Agency! Thanks to all ~
Sep 27, 2011 02:13 PM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Hi Brenda . . . I'm an ABR too!  And thanks for the re-blog!

Hey Debb -- sometimes I wish I worked listings . . . oh the things I would do for my clients!!  ;-)

Hi Jack . . . it's the only "license" I can think of that allows for dual "non-representation" because when there is dual agency, "representation" of one party over the other is verborten.

Hey Frank and Karen -- thanks for letting me know Brenda re-blogged and thanks for your comments.

Sep 28, 2011 07:33 AM
Marge Piwowarski
Phoenix AZ Horse Property - Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix AZ Horse Property, LLC

Carla,

I don't think anyone has ever presented this so well.  This is bookmarked and stands as an example of "how it is done right".

Sep 28, 2011 03:43 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hey, Carla!  I included this post in Last Week's Favorites.   Have a great Sunday!

 

Oct 02, 2011 02:39 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

How on EARTH did I miss this post, Carla?!!  You're so right about buyers agency and I love that this IS what you do!  Your clients are SO lucky to have you!

Jan 08, 2012 02:17 PM