Do You Need a Real-Estate Agent to Buy Property?
While there is no law that prevents you from buying or selling property without professional help, in most cases a real-estate agent is very helpful. As a buyer, it is possible to search for homes, arrange tours and negotiate with sellers on your own, but the question is why would anyone want to do all the extra work? The answer is that many first-time buyers have a misconception that by working with an agent they will be forced to pay a commission, even though this in not true.
The commission to the agent is paid by the seller, not the buyer. Perhaps there are some buyers who would still prefer to go without an agent, and these buyers often end up looking at properties that are listed as "For Sale By Owner" (FSBO). In this case the buyer must try to determine whether the house is worth the price the seller is asking without the help of an agent, and this can be a daunting task when so much money is on the line.