There are no stupid questions. Do you remember that mantra from your school days? Well that stands true in our office, and we want you to feel comfortable enough to ask us anything. We have assisted hundreds of first time buyers over the years making it like second nature to us. We will assure you that any question, concern or uncertainty you have about the process can be easily answered by our team, and has probably been asked before.
One of the most common misconceptions we would like to address is how a Broker/Realtor typically gets paid, and why you should use one. If you have decided to purchase a home and have been looking on Zillow or any of the popular search websites calling Realtor after Realtor to see or get information about a property; it may seem like a huge hassle. The easiest way to simplify this process is to put an Agent to work for you. In most cases this costs you nothing, while providing you with tremendous benefits. How is that? Well, basically the seller of a property typically signs a listing agreement with the Broker/Realtor of their choice, agreeing to pay them a set commission upon the sale of their property and lists it in the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This listing commission is the payment, for the successful marketing, negotiating, and selling of the property (including all the associated contracts, inspections, etc).
If you recruit a Realtor to help you find a house, they can show you anything listed in the MLS in your area, regardless of who the listing broker is. After looking at multiple houses, you find your dream castle and your agent who has been showing you properties prepares you a contract and all the fixings that go with it. He/she submits it to the selling agent, and away you go. Once the contracts, inspections, and financing are all satisfied and the house is yours, the listing agent splits his commission with your agent compensating him/her for the work they contributed to selling the property. By using this agent to represent you, you have gained a knowledgeable professional assisting you all along the way, with no cost to you.