[Peter]

I’m considering buying a house without using a real estate agent and would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. What are the advantages and disadvantages of handling the purchase on your own?

Have any of you done it before, and if so, what was your experience?

I’m particularly interested in any challenges you faced, how you managed the process, and whether you felt it was worth it financially and logistically.

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Jim]

But why? The agent is paid by the seller. I can see wanting to sale without an agent but not buy without an agent.

[Lydia]

A good agent is worth his/her weight in gold.

[Scott]

Yes.
I’ve made direct offers to the listing agent.
Agent took my offer, of $10,000 less, over another offer, who had an agent.

Listing agent got to keep the whole 6%!

It was a REO/bank owned, so can’t make an offer directly to owner.

[Clayton]

Rules have changed that a seller isn’t required to offer compensation for a buyer’s agent.

However most sellers are still offering it & now you can ask the seller to pay your agents commission when submitting an offer (if they haven’t already agreed to pay them).

[Korey]

Yes, numerous times. Protect yourself, take your time,you’ll do fine.

[Chrissy]

I’m a licensed agent, and if I were buying in another state, I would absolutely use an agent.

A good agent will make sure you avoid the pitfalls during the process.

An exceptional agent will make it seem like they aren’t there – not saying all agents are exceptional, but one that is experienced, knowledgeable, and caring can and will save you tens of thousands in the long run. (And make it look easy!)

Are there buyers and sellers who can do this on their own?

YES. But the majority of the population can and should not…
Just my two cents!

[Sarah]

We did, but we hired our realtor friend as a consultant and she did all the paperwork

[Christina]

Yes, did it a few times using a real estate lawyer. The lawyer charges a flat rate so I feel he really has my best interest whether I close or not.

I had the listing agents show the homes and provide documents, etc.

No issues at all but we are experienced home buyers so we know what to do already.

[Zoe]

Peter, a good buyers agent will protect you and alleviate potential pitfalls.

Do your due diligence and interview at least three.

Make sure they’re full-time realtors that have sold at least 12 homes per year the last three years consecutively.

[Karolina]

I’ve bought several. No different if you know what you’re doing. I just can’t see as many houses as quickly without a buyers agent (I’m an investor)

[Kaylan]

Don’t I’ve seen a few ppl get scammed on properties and it ends up that they don’t own the property even though they paid thousands.

[Rashad]

The selling agent is in it for the seller. Why would any buyer go directly to the seller’s agent?

It’s silly to me.

[Stacy]

I bought a home without an agent (FSBO) in 2019. Waterfront too. Not a single issue.

It was so easy…. I ended up selling two homes, FSBO.

In 2021 and 2022 (this is the house I bought in 2019). Easy peasy. Both were waterfront.

The one in 2022, closed in less than 30 days from when I listed it.

Cash, no inspections.

It was a really nice, well built place in excellent condition.

He did have a realtor who I agreed to pay 2%.

But no one on my side.

All in Florida.

[Joseph]

TAL is all… Title, Attorney, Lender … Agents are a waste of money. They all claim to do so so much.

Only way to bring them in is if it doesn’t cost you a dime but with the new changes that’s a shot in the dark

[Chauncey]

I’ve bought or sold a primary house 8 times; 11 times counting investment properties.

One of those times was a purchase of a FSBO home and the seller didn’t want offers from buyers with agents.

We did the deal completely through the real estate attorney.

I got the property for a reduced price, the seller kept more in their pocket, and everything was legal using the attorney.

I still negotiated the price and still got a home inspection and title insurance and a warranty deed.

If you do a deal without using an agent, I suggest it not be your first time buying a home.

Also, make sure you are getting some value for not using the agent in the form of a reduced price or better terms, otherwise it doesn’t really make sense.

Good luck.

[Eric]

I would be asking the people who did not use an agent to buy how long ago they bought the specific home without an agent.

Alot of times liability or issues dont pop up until years down the road.

You don’t know what you don’t know until another parties does their due diligence when you’re selling etc.

[Shirizz]

We tried to do this in 2021, but no one would respond to us since we didn’t have an agent.

Once we got an agent we finally could take a look at properties.

It was a different market back then though.

[Jacquelyn]

With the new laws in place, you probably won’t even be able to see the house until you sign agency with someone.

[Lori]

Make sure you still have title insurance. You don’t want something weird popping up afterward.

Could be a real hassle later.

[Brady]

In most transactions a buyers agent is free to a buyer. So there’s really no reason not to as a *good* agent will bring a lot of expertise and make the process easier and more successful for you.

Unless you’re trying to buy a FSBO property, then using a buyers agent can get difficult, but not impossible.

I’ve had FSBO sellers offer to pay my buyers agent commission before.

If you’re working directly with the listing agent, they don’t owe any fiduciary responsibility to you unless you sign a dual agent contract with them, which the sellers might not like.

The listing agent’s fiduciary responsibly is to the seller, so you’re really losing some protection if you’re not experienced.

Very experienced home buyers and investors don’t always need agents, but a lot still like to use them just to save themselves time and hassle.

[Lilliana]

Definitely doable! (We bought back in May)
Pros, saving money doing things you can do yourself.

Cons, doing the research on your own with help from the bank of what was needed.

Finding the time to gather what was needed.

It was almost a full time job the last month but all worth it.

[Danny]

I’ve done it. No big deal. No agents on either side. Agents value is in holding a deal together when emotions run high, appraisals come in low and inspections are a problem….

In my transaction we had a few hiccups but easy over all.

[Anh]

You should ask the sellers if they want to work with a buyer without professional representative who give them low-ball offer?

If the net money to sellers is the same, would they prefer to work with professional or non?

[Maria]

I’ve bought two with no agent and directly from the seller. The bank helped me thru the process.

[Author]

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