What Is a Buyer's Agent?

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By Andrew Whytock Updated April 19, 2023

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Editor's note: After losing an antitrust lawsuit in March 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) implemented changes to real estate fees nationwide. Buyers now negotiate commission directly with their agent.

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

🔑 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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🔎 Looking for a great buyer's agent? Clever can connect you with a top local agent and offer cash back on qualifying home purchases!

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.

» READ: What Commission Percentage Do Real Estate Agents Make?

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.

How to find a good buyer's agent

Use an agent matching service

Agent matching services like Clever Real Estate take the guesswork out of finding a good buyer's agent and help you get connected to agents faster.

Clever can match you with a carefully vetted buyer's agent in your area, and you can even get cash back when you close on your new house. Plus, the service is 100% free, and there's no obligation to work with an agent if you aren't satisfied with your matches.

🏡 Looking for a great buyer's agent?

Find top local agents through Clever, qualify for cash back after closing! Clever's matching service is 100% free to use with no obligation. View agents in your area now.

Get recommendations from friends and family

Most home buyers find an agent through friends and family members. Talk to people you know who have recently bought or sold a house and find out who they worked with. Just make sure the suggestions are relevant. Prioritize recommendations from people in similar situations who bought homes in your area and price range.

Interview local agents

Search for local agents on Google and Zillow, then call a few of them up or even meet them in person to see what they're like and how they would address your goals as a buyer.

Finding and interviewing buyer's agents on your own is a bit more time consuming (and risky) than using an agent matching service or getting a personal referral, but it gives you more control over the selection process.

Good buyer's agents will have positive reviews from customers, extensive knowledge of their local real estate market, and a personable approach that takes your priorities into account.

FAQ

How much do buyer's agents charge?

Buyer's agents are usually paid a commission of 2.5-3%, which comes out of the seller’s proceeds of the sale. As a result, it’s effectively free to work with an agent as a buyer, as there’s typically no out-of-pocket cost.

Some low-commission real estate brokers even offer rebates when you work with one of their buyer's agents.

Why should I use a buyer's agent?

Buyer's agents are usually paid from the proceeds of the sale, so there's no upfront cost to you if you want to work with one. Besides this obvious incentive, it's a good idea to have a professional working on your behalf when you make one of the largest purchases of your life.

A good buyer's agent can give you their opinion on the condition of the home, how much you should offer, and what terms and contingencies should be included in your offer.

Related articles

Article Sources

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

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