A buyer's agent is someone who represents home buyers throughout the process of buying a new home. A buyer's agent will help you find available homes, set up showings, make an offer and negotiate, and connect you with other professionals you'll need to buy a house, like inspectors, mortgage lenders, and more. They'll also answer all your questions and handle loads of unpleasant paperwork—and sometimes they'll even bring you a special congratulations present at closing!
Finding a good buyer's agent is not easy—there are a lot to choose from and some are better than others. When you work with Clever to find your agent, we match you with the top real estate agents in your area and only recommend the best. Plus, you can qualify for up to $500 cash back when you buy with Clever. We've made a lot of homeowners very happy—we have over 3,700 five-star Trustpilot reviews. Fill out a quick form to get your free Clever agent matches today.
What does a buyer's agent do?
Buyer's agents assist home buyers through all steps of the home buying journey. 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. So if you're selling and buying a house, you could potentially use the same agent for both to keep things simple.
Here is a list of what a buyer's agent will typically do for you:
- 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
How to find a good buyer's agent
You can find a good buyer's agent by using an agent-matching service like Clever Real Estate, getting recommendations from friends and family, or interviewing local agents on your own. Whichever route you choose, always talk to at least 3-5 agents before signing with one. This will help you notice what you like and don't like and how agents differ in their approach to helping you buy a home.
1. Use a good agent-matching service like Clever Real Estate.
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 while saving you hours of research. Clever vets thousands of agents and only works with the most top-performing, reliable agents nationwide. Getting your agent matches is 100% free, and you can even qualify for up to $500 cash back when you buy with Clever.
2. Get recommendations from friends and family.
Many 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. And always interview the agents on your own first—what worked for someone else might not work for you. Don't feel pressure to use the same agent as a family member if it's not a good fit for you.
3. Interview local agents you find on your own.
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.
Who pays the buyer's agent?
The buyer’s agent fee typically gets paid out of the seller’s proceeds at closing. The total commission fee (usually about 6% of the home price, which includes about 3% for the buyer's agent and 3% for the seller's agent) 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 per agent lands in the 2.5-3% range. As of this writing, the nationwide average buyer’s agent commission rate is 2.75%.
Because the buyer's agent fee typically comes from the sale proceeds, there's usually no out-of-pocket cost for the buyer as long as you negotiated with your agent that the seller will pay their commission. Some buyers set up contracts where they are required to pay the buyer agent's commission.
Can a seller refuse to pay the buyer's agent?
Yes, a seller can technically refuse to pay the buyer’s agent, but this is very uncommon. Although we will say that buyer's agent commission is a little more complex than it used to be. Traditionally, sellers commonly agreed to cover both the listing agent and buyer agent commission, and the listing agent negotiated that with the buyer's agent. However, following the National Association of Realtors (NAR) settlement in 2024, sellers are no longer automatically required to pay the buyer’s agent. Buyers are expected to negotiate commission with their agents beforehand.
The buyer’s agent must have a written buyer‑agency agreement with the buyer specifying the compensation, and compensation offers can’t be advertised on the MLS. So while a seller can still choose to pay a buyer’s agent their expected commission (and many do to make their listing more attractive), buyers should enter into an agreement with their agent beforehand on what that amount will be—and both sides should clarify who pays what upfront.
Do I need a buyer's agent?
Yes, most people will need a buyer's agent unless you have extensive real estate experience or are willing to navigate the deep waters and paperwork on your own. You should also find a good buyer's agent before you start house hunting. Although you don’t have to work with a buyer’s agent when you buy a house, about 88% of home buyers still do. [1]
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. Their service will pay for itself and more.
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FAQ about buyer's agents
How much do buyer's agents charge?
Buyer's agents are usually paid a commission of 2.5-3% of your home price, which comes out of the seller’s proceeds of the sale. As a result, it’s usually free to you 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?
You should use a buyer's agent because they'll help you make a smarter home purchase and save you hours of time with paperwork and logistics. They're also great emotional support! Plus, 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. It's always 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.to