Many home buyers are familiar with the concept of a real estate agent. They meet with them to find homes that they feel comfortable in and work closely with them during the entire purchase process. However, not everyone realizes exactly what a real estate agent does—and why they're important!
A quick online search will show you results for mortgage companies, listings, and homes for sale, but who helps connect these things together? Who negotiates between all parties involved so that things go smoothly? The Texas United Mortgage group delivers insights about why seasoned and first-time buyers need a good real estate agent!
You might think a REALTOR® is simply an extra person that gets a commission when you buy a house. Many new homebuyers rely on Zillow or other online searches to find homes, then try to navigate the showing, offer, and purchase process on their own, assuming that they're saving money without hiring a real estate agent.
However, you should know that you don't pay the commission for their services after closing on your new home as the buyer! In most cases, the seller pays commissions for both the buyer's agent (your agent) and their seller's agent.
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REALTORS® are licensed professionals who understand real estate laws, work with the best mortgage companies Texas offers, and help connect buyers and sellers to close a sale. While it was once simpler to find a house without expert help, today's buyers should rely on agents to find homes, help them through the offer and pre-approval process for FHA loans, and negotiate the best deal on a new house.
The best real estate agents assist with every step of the buying process, ensure deadlines are met by parties involved, and guide first-time homebuyers through a stressful process. A homeowner's listing (or selling) agent handles everything for the sellers, including listing the home, setting the price, arranging the valuation, negotiating on their behalf, and processing paperwork on their side of the sale.
Yes, but we don't recommend it! As one of the best mortgage companies Texas offers, we hate seeing new buyers struggle through the homebuying process. Without a good agent and with competitive real estate markets, it can be challenging to identify your price range, find good homes in that range, and get a bid in before the home goes to another buyer.
We've seen too many first-time homebuyers struggle with pre-approvals, commit to homes they can't afford, or experience a lengthy and frustrating process without the help of a reputable real estate agent. While our job is to connect you with the best mortgage rates, FHA loans, or USDA loans, we want your home purchasing experience to be a good experience from start through closing!
While an agent's primary responsibility is to facilitate your new home search and purchase, not having an agent can also leave you without options. In many cases, selling agents won't show homes to buyers without an agent. In Texas, with so many competitive markets, homeowners agents look for potential buyers who are serious about making an offer soon. Without an agent representing you as the buyer, sellers and their agents might not consider you a serious buyer.
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While it's important to work with a real estate agent and the best equal housing lender, not all agents are the right fit for your needs. If you're a first-time homebuyer, find an agent that specializes in helping new purchasers.
Choose a REALTOR® that:
Your real estate agent can either ruin the home buying experience for you or make it memorable in all of the right ways! When it's time to review documents and finalize the sale with your mortgage company, they'll be a valuable asset to make sure nothing is missed, and your purchase completes without a hitch.
You may be thinking, "I know I need a mortgage company to help me finance my home—but do I also need an experienced real estate agent?" The answer is yes!
With the right agents on your team, you'll find a house that meets your needs and budget quicker than if you were going it alone. In addition to negotiating the best price and other terms of sale with their expertise in this field, the right agents have relationships with the best lenders who can provide competitive rates for mortgages or refinancing loans that fit into your financial goals. Contact Texas United Mortgage to learn more about Texas FHA loan requirements, VA loans, and other financing options!
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