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Questionnaire
| HARBOR
CITY HOMEBUYER LEARNING CENTER |
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MESSAGE FROM BROKER/TOC
A. FIND YOUR LENDER
B. FIND YOUR REALTOR
C. FIND YOUR NEW HOME
D. NEGOTIATE YOUR PURCHASE
CONTRACT
E. GET ORGANIZED FOR YOUR
CLOSING
F. CLOSE YOUR DEAL
FIND YOUR REALTOR
1. Should
You Engage a Buyer’s Agent to Represent You? Your
election to engage a buyer’s agent is a personal decision.
The decision often turns upon a particular buyer’s personal
experience, real estate education, market knowledge, access to information,
and negotiating skills. At Harbor City, we believe our agents add
value because of the following:
- Loyalty to You.
At Harbor City, the practice of "dual agency" is strictly
prohibited. We never serve two masters.
- Education, Experience and
Negotiation Skills. Harbor City’s Broker-in-Charge
and several other agents are experienced real estate attorneys.
We understand the process from start to finish. Collectively,
we have participated in hundreds of real estate closings in various
roles. We are also experienced negotiators.
- Market Knowledge and Information
Access. Because real estate is our business, we
are constantly absorbing market information as part of our daily
routine. As a member of the MLS system, we have access to a huge
library of data regarding recently closed transactions and currently
listed properties. We can assess when a seller is asking a reasonable
price and when they are trying to push the envelope.
2.
Will It Cost You Any Money to Engage Harbor City as Your Buyer’s
Agent?
- MLS Properties: Commissions
Paid by Listing Agent at No Cost to Buyer.
It is the customary practice in this market for the buyer’s
agent to be paid a portion of the total commission that the seller
has agreed to pay to the listing agent. Because Harbor City is
a member of the MLS system, all agents that list property on the
MLS system have agreed in advance to pay Harbor City a portion
of the listing agent’s commission if we succeed in finding
a buyer for their MLS listed property. If you were to try to purchase
a listed property without a buyer’s agent, the purchase
price is very likely to be the same – with the only difference
being that the listing agent keeps the entire commission, rather
than sharing it with a buyer’s agent.
- What About “For Sale
By Owner” Properties?
Where a property is “For Sale by Owner”, there is
no listing agent. Harbor City may sometimes show you a property
that is “For Sale by Owner”, but we will not do so
until the seller has agreed in advance to be responsible for paying
a commission to us. We find that most “For Sale By Owner”
sellers are willing to cooperate with a buyer’s agent, especially
considering the fact that the total commission they pay to a buyer’s
agent is often half the amount that they would pay had they listed
the property on MLS with a listing agent.
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