Due to the state of our current U.S. economy, having a buyer's agent in your corner is becoming increasingly important for home buyers. Home buyers should avoid situations where the agent is representing both buyer and seller. This often occurs when a prospective buyer finds a home listed on the Internet and contacts the selling agent directly. Since there are laws that require real estate agents to protect their client's interest, the duty of the selling agent is with the seller, not the buyer. As a result, the sales contract may not favor the buyer.

"As people go online and educate themselves about buying a house they realize that they need someone to represent them," says David Kent, president of the National Buyer's Agent Alliance.

When working with an exclusive buyer's agent, home buyers know their real estate agent is committed to hammering out the best agreement possible on their behalf. In fact, buyer's agents have helped to negotiate better deals for their clients. Buyers can be assured that their buyer's agent will concentrate on finding a property that best met their needs. Also, the agent's knowledge of the local real estate market and legal requirements was a critical success factor.

There are two types of buyer's agents: exclusive and non-exclusive. An exclusive buyer's agent works for a real estate agency whose sole purpose is to represent home buyers in their real estate transaction to purchase a home. Although they are licensed real estate agents, they do not list or sell houses. On the other hand, a non-exclusive buyer's agent is a licensed real estate agent who works with a company that is able to represent both buyers and sellers, and therefore, may not represent the buyer for any home that they listed. The fiduciary duty of an buyer's agent always remains with the home buyer.

Finding the right buyer's agent can be a difficult and time-consuming process. This is compounded if you happen to be relocating to an unfamiliar city. You need to do your homework to make sure the buyer's agent you hire has a good track record for getting the best terms for his or her clients. In the current market, having a buyer's agent on their side has helped many home buyers close transactions that otherwise might not have closed.

If you’d like to speak with an experienced Frederick Maryland real estate agent who has your best interest in mind, please contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage questions toll Free, 24/7, at 1-800-395-9636 x7 or E-mail me at bill@homes2price.com. My Office number at Real Estate Teams, LLC is 301-695-3020 x2793

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