Found a Vacation Home Online - Do I Need an Agent to Buy It?

Reader Question: "I found a vacation/retirement home I'm considering buying. I saw the listing online and it is about 3 hours from my current home. The house is listed through an agent. Do I need an agent also, because I'm aware the agent that listed the house is working for the seller? We are driving up to look at the house with the Agent that has the property listed on Saturday. Please help - it has been so long since I purchased my home and that was way before internet shopping."

The agent listing the house represents the seller, and only the seller. He or she is contractually obligated to represent the seller's best interest. In other words, the listing agent is not looking out for you at all. The listing agent's job is to (A) get an offer on the property, and (B) get the buyer to pay the full asking price ... or more.

As long as you understand this dynamic, there's nothing wrong with at least looking at the place. But I would not say very much to the listing agent, aside from pleasantries. He or she will probably try to schmooze a lot of information out of you -- such as how much you're willing to pay, how close you are to making an offer, etc. I would avoid answering these questions, because the agent will simply use it to give the seller more leverage.

The Internet helps people find and evaluate homes, but the rest of the the real estate process is the same as it has always been. Once you make an offer on a home, it's mostly a paperwork process -- not an Internet process.

If it has been a while since you purchased a home, you might want to hire a buyer's agent (the kind of agent that represents you, and only you). Good luck!