How to Buy Irvine CA Homes for Sale with the Help of a Real Estate Agent - Part 1

Most home buyers assume that sellers are paying agent commissions because the listing agreement and sales contract spell that out. However, the savvy home seller and their agent always compute sales commission in the price of the home. Savvy home buyers even deal directly with home sellers to get the best price but that is another story.

Understanding this pricing mechanism is so important in real estate markets that are priced on the high side like communities in Irvine, CA. In the end, the commission is also paid for in part by the home buyer. Since you as a home buyer are paying your agent as part of the sales price, you need to realize that you must get the best agent that will represent you.

The first step in getting help from a real estate agent is to choose the right agent.

The real estate agent that is best for you does not have to be the top producer or the one with the most years of experience. The right real estate agent is the one who best matches your situation and your needs. He or she should be a good listener, easy to work and get along with, has the skills and access to the tools to swiftly complete the sales transaction.

You have unique challenges when you are looking to purchase your home. You may have issues with your credit score. You may be buying from out of state. You may have to sell your current home before you can buy the new home that has just become listed.

Real estate agents also have a wide range of skills and different areas of specialization.

Here are a few guidelines in finding the real estate agent that will be the best fit for you.

1. Get good agent referrals from your friends and family members. When asking for referrals, you need to be specific as to what kind of agent you are looking for based on what you need and how soon you need to buy your home. For example, if you want to buy your home in a couple of weeks, it does not make sense to work with an agent who is too busy to set up an appointment with you. With that information, your friends and family can zero in on who to refer to you based on your needs. A referral from friends and family is a safer bet than looking for an agent in the classifieds or the internet.

2. Interview several agents and don't immediately pick the first one you speak to. You do not have to work with the first agent you meet because there are just so many others. Although interviewing a handful might be good, you do not have to interview too many. Referrals from friends and family should at least narrow down your choices right out of the gate. If you are not getting any referrals from friends and family, approach your business contacts.

If there are none or not enough referrals there, you might want to check out the local chamber of commerce in the city where you want to buy in.

You can also check out the local or regional realtor association to find out a realtor who specializes in the area that you are interested in.

Watch out for Part 2 of this article for 3 more guidelines.