The Buyer's Representative Agent

A good buyer's specialist can help new buyers successfully purchase their first home.

Today's Snohomish County Real Estate market is fast-paced. The best bargains are never advertised, may sell in less than five days, and the "for sale" sign is still up, even though the home sold 3 weeks ago! Why? Due to the computer database, of course.

All agents have instant access to houses listed for sale with the multiple listing service. Under our personal codes, clients are listed by their needs and matched up automatically to properties. Each day we scan our e-mail for new listings and price reductions. We love to hear your new ideas. Be prepared for multiple-choice questions! Expand your thinking! We are determined our loyal clients will be the first to view the latest and greatest homes available.

Shop for the right realtor. Realtors must be patient because we know the home buying process can take 6 months. In order to know all of our markets, we must also shop the advertisements placed by owners, hoping their homes are reasonably priced, even offering market information to encourage them to allow agents to view their homes.

We know they normally wind up with a real estate agent after trying it on their own for a while. After all, when the fourteen ounces of paperwork for the purchase and sale is negotiated, who will help hold this transaction together? (There is usually some glitch that needs to be overcome.) Your calm, third-party realtor acts to ease the strain in a seller-buyer relationship.

Your busy lender will need a nudge. This season, you may find your 30-day closing has been extended to 45+ days. You have jumped through hoops in a hurry for them, but now they're not returning calls as you expect. Behind the scenes, you are wondering, "What happens next?" Who do you talk to about it? The Realtor you've come to trust, and who is trusted by your lender, as well.

By the time you've moved into your new home, you should be ready to recommend your realtor and your lender to your friends and relatives. In fact, your realtor would see it as a privilege to throw a housewarming party for you, and invite them all.