What Is a Buyer's Agent?

Editor's note: After losing an antitrust lawsuit in March 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) is implementing changes to real estate fees nationwide. Starting August 17, 2024, real estate commissions for buyer’s agents will change. Read our complete guide to the NAR lawsuit to learn how these changes impact you.

Do I need a buyer's agent? | What buyer's agents do | Commission | Buyer's agent agreements

🔑 Key takeaways:

  • Buyer's agents are real estate agents who represent home buyers. They help buyers find properties, make offers, and negotiate with sellers.
  • Buyer's agents are usually paid commission (2.5-3%) from the seller’s proceeds on the home sale, so there's no out-of-pocket cost for the buyer.
  • Most buyer's agents won't lock you into an agreement until you're ready to make an offer, but some will ask for an exclusive contract up front.
  • If you don't sign an upfront agreement, you can technically house hunt with multiple buyer's agents.
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Buyer's agents represent home buyers throughout the process of buying a new home — all the way from a casual first showing through closing.

Buyer's agents have the same basic credentials as listing agents: a real estate sales license from their state and the sponsorship of a real estate broker.

Some real estate agents specialize and represent buyers exclusively, but most also represent home sellers as listing agents.

Do I need a buyer's agent?

Most people should find a good buyers agent before they start house hunting. You don't have to work with a buyer's agent when you buy a house, but about 90% of home buyers do, because:[1]

  • They can help you navigate the stress of buying a house.
  • There's no out-of-pocket cost to you since the seller typically covers the buyer's agent fee.

A good buyer's agent has several years of experience helping buyers, local real estate knowledge, and negotiating expertise. They help people buy houses for a living, so they know what questions to ask, what red flags to watch out for, and how to prepare offers that will protect your best interests.

👍 Reasons to work with a buyer's agent

  • Negotiation skills: An agent can use their experience to help you negotiate a fair price with the seller.
  • No out-of-pocket cost: Buyer's agents typically earn commission from the proceeds of the sale, so you don't have to pay anything out-of-pocket to work with one.
  • Local market knowledge: A real estate agent can give you an expert opinion on a home's condition and price relative to other properties in the area.

👎 Reasons not to work with a buyer's agent

  • You have experience in real estate: If you've bought and sold lots of properties, you might feel more confident representing yourself.
  • You know the seller: When you're buying a home from a family member or friend, you might have more knowledge of the property than a typical buyer, and negotiating might be easier if you work directly with the seller.
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What does a buyer's agent do?

Buyer's agents assist home buyers through all steps of the home buying journey.

A buyer's agent's responsibilities typically include:

  • Finding properties that match the buyer's taste and budget
  • Booking showings so buyers can view the homes they're interested in
  • Talking to listing agents to get more information about properties being sold
  • Giving the buyer advice about the condition of a home and how much it might be worth based on other recent sales in the neighborhood
  • Making and negotiating offers
  • Attending the home inspection and renegotiating as needed
  • Acting as the liaison between you and the seller, listing agent, and/or real estate attorney throughout the process
  • Attending final walk-through to ensure contract stipulations have been met and home is move-in ready
  • Helping coordinate the closing process and any move-out and move-in logistics

🤓 More ways a buyer’s agent can help

You can leverage your agent's local knowledge, especially if you’re from out of town and need to know about things like the best school districts, the safest neighborhoods, and so on.

Also, agents can usually recommend home inspectors, attorneys, interstate moving companies, painters, handymen, landscapers, contractors, etc.

Keep in mind that while your agent's recommendations could save you time, they won't necessarily be the best. For example, an agent might recommend a home inspector because they're a personal friend, not because they're the best inspector in the area.

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How does buyer's agent commission work?

The buyer’s agent fee typically comes out of the seller’s proceeds at closing. The total commission fee (usually about 6%) goes to the listing agent, who then shares an agreed upon portion with the buyer’s agent.

Buyer’s agent fees vary, but the average real estate commission rate lands in the 2.5-3% range. As of this writing, the nationwide average buyer’s agent commission rate is 2.58%.

Because the buyer's agent fee typically comes from the sale proceeds, there's no out-of-pocket cost for the buyer.

How do buyer's agent agreements work?

Buyer's agent agreements formalize the agent/client relationship when a buyer is shopping for a house. These agreements include details like how much commission the buyer's agent wants, and the agent's responsibilities to the buyer.

⚠️ Quick tip: You aren't legally required to sign a buyer's agent agreement until an agent submits an offer on your behalf. A good buyer's agent should give you a chance to get to know them and see if they're the right fit before they ask you to sign anything. Signing an agreement without carefully vetting your agent could get you locked into an unsatisfactory situation.
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Exclusive vs. non-exclusive buyer's agent agreements

An exclusive contract with a real estate agent allows you to work with only one buyer's agent for the duration of your contract. A non-exclusive buyer's agent agreement permits you to work with as many buyer's agents as you like.

Exclusive buyer's agent agreements, like this one below from the Georgia Association of Realtors, guarantee the buyer's agent will get paid commission when you purchase a home, regardless of who actually shows you the home.

Buyer's agent agreement

Non-exclusive buyer's agent agreements give you maximum flexibility as a home buyer. If you aren't satisfied with the homes your agent is showing you, or the effort they're putting in, you can walk away and start working with a better agent.

Article Sources

[1] National Association of Realtors – "2020 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers".