"Adventures in 1st Time Home Buying, Part 2"

Welcome once again to "Real Estate in Kitsap County." My name is Rich Jacobson, a licensed professional real estate agent out on the Kitsap Peninsula in scenic Washington State. This blog was previously posted on the ActiveRain Community.

This is the second installment in an on-going series of posts dedicated to helping 1st Time Home Buyers successfully achieve their purchasing goals. We have been identifying and discussing, in chronological order, key events in the home buying process. In the last post, we talked about Mortgage Lenders and Loan Pre-Approval.

Today’s topic is Choosing Your Real Estate Agent - Side A

One of the most satisfying aspects of my career in real estate is helping people achieve success in their home buying adventure. This is especially true with 1st Time Home Buyers.

However, before we begin, let me first stress the importance of having a real estate agent to represent you, particularly if you are a 1st Time Buyer. As we will discuss further, you owe it to yourself to have someone who is dedicated solely to representing Your best interests.

With that said, the following is a list of traits to look for when choosing your agent:

Top Ten Traits of a Great Real Estate Agent

Advocate: You will hear a lot about real estate agency law. Professional agents take representation very seriously. The process is not about us, or our commissions, it is all about You, the Buyer. We exist solely to represent Your best interests, period! Listing Agents are under contract with the Sellers. They represent the Sellers. A Buyer’s Agent owes their fiduciary or statutory duties and obligations to you and you alone. When you meet with a prospective agent, ask them to explain agency law. Ask them whom they would represent in the purchase transaction. A great agent is passionate about working for their Buyer’s best interests.

Knowledgeable: A great agent is a knowledgeable agent. They understand local, state, and Federal laws concerning real estate. They are proficient with purchase & sale contracts, and can explain all the various forms and addendums to you. They know the local market they serve intimately. And, if for some reason, they don't have the information you need, they know where to get it quickly.

Ethical: Licensed real estate professionals are held to a very high standard, the National Association of REALTOR® Code of Ethics. While there may be a few exceptions, most agents genuinely strive to maintain these ethical practices in their daily business. They don't just talk about being ethical, it's who and what they are.

Accessible: Great agents will make themselves easily accessible and available to their clients. This doesn't necessarily mean that they have no life and you can call them 24/7 with your questions. But it does mean that they will make you feel as though you're their only client! If they aren't available to take your call, they'll actually return your messages promptly and on the same day! Great agents also make good use of new technologies to provide greater accessibility for their clients.

Communicator: A great agent constantly communicates relevant information to their clients. This is especially critical for 1st Time Buyers. They can never have too much information. Your agent should provide you with good information and often.

Well, that completes Side A. Look for the remaining 5 Traits of a Great Real Estate Agent in my next post, coming soon! And then you'll be better equipped to successfully achieve "the Next Adventure in Life!"

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com