Why Do I need a Realtor? In today's market, it is estimated that over 95% of home buyers turn to the internet at some point during their home search. Surprisingly, the vast majority of them use their smartphones to search! While these savvy buyers may feel that they are doing the research and investigation themselves, it is still critical to have your own agent represent you (separate from the listing agent).
You may be asking yourself, "Do I need a Realtor to buy a home?" The answer is YES; you need your OWN licensed agent to represent you.
During the distressed market (REO and short sales) when the fate of transactions was up to the short sale lender or investor, some buyers turned to the listing agent directly to represent them. Now that the market has changed, it is very important to have an agent who represents YOU and YOUR best interests. You need a professional on your side who will advocate for you during the entire transaction, from research to writing and presenting the offer, through the complexities of the transaction and ultimately closing. The listing agent has a fiduciary obligation to the SELLER and it is difficult to properly represent a buyer as well since they may have conflicting interests and goals.
Having a full-time and experienced agent on your side is the best real estate decision a buyer can make. As a dedicated buyer's agent, these are the top five areas where I can help YOU:
#1: PRICE NEGOTIATION: The listing agent could be faced with a conflict of interest when trying to get the buyer the best deal possible and get the seller the most money for the house. It is a gray area for an agent to write up an offer for a buyer and then counter this same client after checking in with the Seller.
#2: NEGOTIATING TERMS OF SALE: A strong buyer's agent will negotiate the terms of sale with the Listing Agent. We can independently represent you to get you as many reasonable and customary "seller paid" items agreed to on the contract. It is customary for the seller to provide a home warranty or Section 1 termite clearance, but sellers may not want to pay this and ask the buyer to pay it. Having an agent representing both sides may not best meet the needs of the buyer.
#3: DETERMINING COMPARABLES: The Seller sets the listing price with the guidance of the listing agent based on the reports the listing agent provides. An experienced buyer's agent may view data in a different light and can work on your behalf to make sure that you get a fair price for the home and present your position to the listing agent and seller in an objective manner.
#4: DETERMINING AFFORDABILITY: Having your own agent by your side throughout your home buying experience can help guarantee that you will find a home that you love that you can also afford. A buyer's agent will help you understand the taxes, mello-roos, HOA fees and other costs associated with homeownership. There is much more involved than just purchase price. Together with the lender, we can be sure that our buyers are fully informed.
#5: FINDING THE RIGHT HOME: Many buyers enjoy looking for homes online. Having your own agent can help you be a link to the realities of the market. Homes can appear online when they are not really ACTIVE listings. They could be pending (under contract), in the midst of reviewing and accepting offers, or in some cases even sold. We would encourage you to share your "saved" or "liked" homes with us because this gives us a great idea of what you are looking for so we can help guide your search.
Contact me today to get started. I will work for YOU to make sure that your needs are best served in your real estate transaction.
Troy Huerta
BRE#: 01028204
760.420.5498
Tiffany Ayres
BRE: 01840433
951.226.5447
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