As a buyer, you don’t gain anything by not using an agent, because the seller pays the agent a commission. Typical commissions range from 5 to 7 percent of the selling price of the listing.
-Agents have access to multiple Listing so that they are aware of many homes for sale. You can also find houses on your own by attending open houses, reading the real estate section in your local paper but your agent is the best point of access for all the properties you might be interested in and can arrange showings for those properties.
Your agent can help you narrow your search by going through a home with you and noting all that you like and the stuff that you dislike. The agent is also a source of information about the home itself, for example how long it’s been on the market, the neighborhood and school system, the best features the home has and other similar issues. Rather than being bombarded with properties of all type, your agent can help you find a wonderful property that’s a match for your specific needs and wants.
-Your agent can also answer questions about the current real estate market, interest rates and other home buying issues and he can also refer you to other specialists in overall process whom you will need, including the very important potential lenders.