without going through a realestate agent? We just started looking around and someone told us that we would save a lot of money if we found a house being sold privately ( through an add in the paper or on craigslist) I just feel like I wouldn't know where to start if we didn't have an agent. Has anyone else bought a house with out one? Just wondering
MikeandJess
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Re: is anyone considering buying a house...
when we bought our co-op we didn't go through an agent. What would have gone towards the agent went towards our closing costs so it worked out really well. We're looking for a house now and we're not going through an agent.
SparkyandAng
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Re: is anyone considering buying a house...
Posted by MikeandJess
when we bought our co-op we didn't go through an agent. What would have gone towards the agent went towards our closing costs so it worked out really well. We're looking for a house now and we're not going through an agent.
Did you find it difficult, like did you feel lost, or it was all pretty smooth?
futuremrsfab
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Re: is anyone considering buying a house...
Agents sell 95% of the houses on the market- while a lot of houses start out as for sale by owner, many end up selling through an agent because it is simply too hard to sell yourself.
If you are buying, I highly recommend working with an agent- they have access to a broad range of houses, will help you understand what you can afford and can also screen houses so you arent wasting your time.
It of course can be done yourself and there is a website forsalebyowner.com thats a good resource- but technically you arent paying the agent & in this type of market- many of the short sales are only available through an agent (short sales are amazing deals that are pre-foreclosure).
feel free to fm if you have questions
yswedding
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Re: is anyone considering buying a house...
I think you can start on your own, but agent helps when you are not getting the results you want. They have access to resources and tools you don't (or that would be expensive for you) A good agent can actually negotiate well enough to save you a lot of money and can lend their experience.
MikeandJess
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Re: is anyone considering buying a house...
Posted by SparkyandAng
Posted by MikeandJess
when we bought our co-op we didn't go through an agent. What would have gone towards the agent went towards our closing costs so it worked out really well. We're looking for a house now and we're not going through an agent.
Did you find it difficult, like did you feel lost, or it was all pretty smooth?
No, it wasn't difficult but buying a co-op (IMO) is much easier than buying a house. With the house hunting we're having a little more trouble
GtBride
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Re: is anyone considering buying a house...
We just purchased our new house. At first we worked with an agent and then on the weekends we just drove around to different neighborhoods and did most of the work ourselves. We ended up buying without an agent. We saved tons of money. We got our house from an auction. Try to buy directly from a seller so you won't have to pay the extra fees a broker comes with.
Check on zillow.com
TheFutureMrsM
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Re: is anyone considering buying a house...
If you have a specific area you are looking to buy in, you do not need an agent. I always see for sale by owner signs, and there are also ads on craigslist and that forsalebyowner website.
We sold our house back in 2004 without an agent. Agents are helpful but are not neccessary
