Four Reasons Why Using a Buyer's Agent is a Must for Your Real Estate Investment

You've probably heard someone say, "It's a buyer's market"
or "It's a seller's market" when it comes to real estate.
And while it's true that conditions in the real estate
market can favor one side or the other, in a majority of
transactions, the seller has the upper hand.

Why? Because the real estate agent showing the home to
prospective buyers is working on behalf of the seller, not
the buyer. And that's the way it should be! As a property
seller, you'd want the real estate agent working to get you
– and not the buyer – the best offer possible.

But as a property buyer, this obviously doesn't work in
your favor. So it may be in your best interest to hire a
buyer's broker to act on your behalf, and here are four
good reasons why:

#1 - They help you find a home that's more in line with
your desires.

Oftentimes, a seller's agent will only show you what they
have to sell in their own portfolio. And if you stick with
that agent, you'll be faced with making concessions you
might not have had to make, if you had a buyer's broker
showing you homes from a number of different selling agents.

#2 – They'll act as your experts in evaluating homes for
potential issues.

Not everything that could affect a home sale or value gets
listed in the purchase and sale agreement. For example,
that empty lot next door the selling agent claims is
unbuildable? A buyer's agent will tell you if that's right,
or if the selling agent's just telling you what you want to
hear.

#3 – They'll negotiate a better deal for you than you could
by yourself.

Most people aren't experts at the art of negotiation. And
it's almost certain the selling agent will be a better
negotiator than you are. With a buyer's broker in your
corner, you'll have an experienced negotiator working for
you – one who's also well-versed in the intricacies of the
deal you're about to make.

#4 – They're paid out of the selling agent's commission.

Except for properties that are "For Sale by Owner," your
buyer's broker gets half of the selling agent's commission
as payment for his or her services. Some buyer's brokers
may ask for a downpayment on their services, which gets
credited toward your eventual closing costs, but otherwise,
there's no additional cost for you to have a buyer's broker
on your side.

So if you're in the market for real estate right now, or
even planning on it soon, start asking around for
recommendations. With a dedicated buyer's broker helping
you, you'll not only have a better chance of finding the
right property for you, but you'll also have a better
chance at owning it for less money.

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Alpine Lakes Real Estate has been building long-term
relationships in the White Mountains region for more than
20 years. Their extensive real estate expertise is enhanced
by their vast knowledge of the entire building process.
With offices in Lincoln and Campton, NH, they also offer
assistance with IRS 1031 "like-kind" exchanges, and the
Design-Build services of their in-house architect. For more
information, go to http://www.AlpineLakes.com .