WHAT IS A BUYER'S AGENT?
The home buying process is something best navigated with a trusted professional by your side. Your buyer’s agent (aka, realtor) will guide you every step of the way–from helping your narrow down a long list of possible neighborhoods to the one that is a best fit for you; to scouting out the perfect properties, to making certain that the transaction goes smoothly.
A Buyers Agent will help you negotiate the best deal possible so that you can feel comfortable and achieve the best possible outcome. They also know each of Dallas neighborhoods and will help you decide which is the best fit for you and your family. Once you’ve found your dream home, they will guide you through the inspection, appraisal review and mortgage approval process, and communicate at every step so that you are in the driver seat.
They are not only your consultant but they orchestrate all the moving parts in the transaction to make sure every professional does their job and meets their deadlines. A good agent will help ensure that you close on time and will allow you to focus on the fun part of buying a home.
Experience matters
We have helped 100's of clients buy their dream home including families relocating to Dallas and clients moving to DFW from other states. We hold 5-star ratings on Google, Zillow, and Facebook.
Buying a home can be one of the most important and most expensive endeavors of your life, and also one of the most exciting. With an OnDemand Agent as your guide, you are in the hands of seasoned pros who have closed hundreds of deals yet treats each one as the first.
Do you have to pay for the buyer’s agent?
This is a common misconception regarding buying a property. The seller will pay the buyers agent. Meaning a Realtors services are ABSOLUTELY FREE when purchasing a home.
Ready to talk?
If you have any questions about the home buying process and/or you would like to discuss the current real estate market, reach out to us below! We would love to work with you to find your new home!
The home buying process is something best navigated with a trusted professional by your side. Your buyer’s agent (aka, realtor) will guide you every step of the way–from helping your narrow down a long list of possible neighborhoods to the one that is a best fit for you; to scouting out the perfect properties, to making certain that the transaction goes smoothly.
A Buyers Agent will help you negotiate the best deal possible so that you can feel comfortable and achieve the best possible outcome. They also know each of Dallas neighborhoods and will help you decide which is the best fit for you and your family. Once you’ve found your dream home, they will guide you through the inspection, appraisal review and mortgage approval process, and communicate at every step so that you are in the driver seat.
They are not only your consultant but they orchestrate all the moving parts in the transaction to make sure every professional does their job and meets their deadlines. A good agent will help ensure that you close on time and will allow you to focus on the fun part of buying a home.
Experience matters
We have helped 100's of clients buy their dream home including families relocating to Dallas and clients moving to DFW from other states. We hold 5-star ratings on Google, Zillow, and Facebook.
Buying a home can be one of the most important and most expensive endeavors of your life, and also one of the most exciting. With an OnDemand Agent as your guide, you are in the hands of seasoned pros who have closed hundreds of deals yet treats each one as the first.
Do you have to pay for the buyer’s agent?
This is a common misconception regarding buying a property. The seller will pay the buyers agent. Meaning a Realtors services are ABSOLUTELY FREE when purchasing a home.
Ready to talk?
If you have any questions about the home buying process and/or you would like to discuss the current real estate market, reach out to us below! We would love to work with you to find your new home!
Reach out to us today!
DALLAS HOMEBUYER REPRESENTATION FAQ
Hire a professional buyer's advocate to guide and advise you. In almost all cases you receive this service at no additional cost to you. The seller of the home you buy pays for this service. This takes your relationship from one of being a customer who is being sold a home to one of being a client working closely with your trusted real estate adviser who presents and helps you evaluate the pros and cons of all available homes in your price range with all of your required features and many of the desired additional features you always wanted in a home.
Homes are not a commodity that is all alike. They are individual and unique. You need a trusted advisor who has evaluated thousands of homes to apply that expertise to helping you select your new home! Your home may be your biggest investment. Don't you want to make sure you are making the right decision on many different levels
What is the buyer’s representative?
Defined most simply, a buyer’s representative (also known as a buyer’s rep or buyer’s agent or buyer's broker) is an advocate for the buyer—not the seller—in a real estate transaction. Real estate laws and regulations vary from state to state, but Texas buyer’s representatives owe full fiduciary (legal) duties, including loyalty and confidentiality, to their buyer-clients and work in their clients’ best interests throughout the entire transaction.
What services are provided by a Dallas buyer’s representative?
If you’ve established an agency relationship with a buyer’s representative, common services include:
Helping you clarify your priorities.
Suggesting sources of financing and other service professionals, such as inspectors and exterminators.
Providing sources of accurate and lawful information about neighborhoods, schools, nuisances, zoning changes, building permits, and communities.
Selecting and arranging property showings.
Evaluating particular properties.
Explaining forms and agreements.
Suggesting contract contingencies to protect you, rather than the seller.
Assisting in the negotiations for a favorable price and terms.
Evaluate and advise you regarding inspection reports, repair negotiations, seller disclosures, preliminary title report issues, appraisal issues, homeowners association disclosures, escrow procedures, home warranty, ensuring all aspects of the purchase contract are performed on time as prescribed, etc.
Keeping all information confidential that could weaken your bargaining position.
Monitoring the entire purchase process, assisting with issues that arise through closing.
What is the standard compensation structure for real estate professionals in Dallas?
For the most part, real estate professionals are compensated by commission, based on a home’s selling price. Commission rates are not standardized, but vary, as does how the sales commission will be divided between the agents on the selling and buying side of the transaction. There is consistency, however, in how commissions are paid. When a seller signs a listing agreement, their contract is with a listing brokerage firm. All fees must pass through that brokerage firm. Typically, the seller’s representative - and your buyer broker per MLS cooperative rules - will be paid by the listing broker after the transaction successfully closes.
When a buyer hires a buyer broker, the buyer agrees to pay the buyer broker fee for services rendered that are typically a percentage of the sales price. Often the amount paid to the buyer broker equals the typical buyer broker compensation offered through the MLS and there is no additional fee paid by the buyer. In the event the buyer broker finds a home that meets all buyer needs that are being sold by the owner directly and not listed in the MLS, the buyer broker will negotiate buyer broker compensation with the owner in advance of the property being shown to the buyer. This additional step ensures the owner will pay the fee negotiated between the buyer and buyer broker. If the owner will not pay all of the buyer broker compensation, the buyer broker will negotiate the sales price down to match or exceed the buyer cost of the buyer broker fee.
What services can I expect to receive?
This depends on what level of service you have established as a home buyer. If you have not formed an agency relationship, you are probably considered a customer, rather than a client, and you will likely receive a lower level of service. The terms vary from state to state, and each buyer’s representative can set their own guidelines within their state parameters and their brokerage practices. So you should clarify, preferably in writing, the services you are entitled to receive before you start viewing properties.
It’s also important to understand that if you do buy a home, your buyer’s rep will probably receive compensation (through the listing broker), regardless of whether you are a customer or a client. So more times than not, it’s in your best interest to formalize an agency/representation relationship, so you’ll receive the highest level of service possible.
What is the best way to search for homes online?
Utilize the MLS search capabilities found at www.OnDemandDFW.com. This site has all property listings in the Texas MLS. It also provides a wealth of other valuable information resources for home buyers including automatic notifications of new listings matching your search criteria updated in your custom MLS Portal and emailed directly to your Inbox.
How much house can I afford?
Utilize our free mortgage calculator to find out how much you want to spend monthly!
Utilize Wells Fargo DTI ratio calculator to find out how much you can get approved for!
What’s the difference between being pre-qualified and pre-approved for a mortgage?
You will initially be pre-qualified for a mortgage, then pre-approved after you provide your lender before you have found the specific home you wish to purchase. What is the difference?
Pre-qualification: An informal determination by a lender or mortgage broker stating how much mortgage you can afford. Usually, a lender will request permission to contact the credit reporting agencies to learn your credit score and review your credit history. This can be done while you are on the phone speaking with the lender.
Having the lender indicate on your Texas Specific Pre-Qual Form (PQF) your credit has been reviewed is very important to the seller reviewing your offer to determine the probability the buyer will be able to qualify for a loan. No seller wants to accept an offer and take their home off the market unless they are confident the escrow will close.
Pre-approval: A guarantee in writing by a lender to grant you a loan up to a specified amount. Having loan Pre-approval is as good as being a cash buyer. The only condition to closing is the home appraising for the contract sales price and an appraisal can be done within a week.
What are the advantages of being pre-approved?
There are three advantages of being pre-approved for a loan as early as possible in your home-buying process:
1. Sellers find your offer more credible when you are pre-approved for a home loan.
2. The length of time to closing escrow is greatly reduced and the uncertainty of you qualifying for a loan is gone when you have completed all the steps to secure mortgage approval prior to signing a contract to purchase a property. Your offer is as good as a cash offer.
3. You have peace of mind knowing you can close on the home of your choice in your price range and the seller knows he has sold his home as soon as price negotiations are finalized.
Hire a professional buyer's advocate to guide and advise you. In almost all cases you receive this service at no additional cost to you. The seller of the home you buy pays for this service. This takes your relationship from one of being a customer who is being sold a home to one of being a client working closely with your trusted real estate adviser who presents and helps you evaluate the pros and cons of all available homes in your price range with all of your required features and many of the desired additional features you always wanted in a home.
Homes are not a commodity that is all alike. They are individual and unique. You need a trusted advisor who has evaluated thousands of homes to apply that expertise to helping you select your new home! Your home may be your biggest investment. Don't you want to make sure you are making the right decision on many different levels
What is the buyer’s representative?
Defined most simply, a buyer’s representative (also known as a buyer’s rep or buyer’s agent or buyer's broker) is an advocate for the buyer—not the seller—in a real estate transaction. Real estate laws and regulations vary from state to state, but Texas buyer’s representatives owe full fiduciary (legal) duties, including loyalty and confidentiality, to their buyer-clients and work in their clients’ best interests throughout the entire transaction.
What services are provided by a Dallas buyer’s representative?
If you’ve established an agency relationship with a buyer’s representative, common services include:
Helping you clarify your priorities.
Suggesting sources of financing and other service professionals, such as inspectors and exterminators.
Providing sources of accurate and lawful information about neighborhoods, schools, nuisances, zoning changes, building permits, and communities.
Selecting and arranging property showings.
Evaluating particular properties.
Explaining forms and agreements.
Suggesting contract contingencies to protect you, rather than the seller.
Assisting in the negotiations for a favorable price and terms.
Evaluate and advise you regarding inspection reports, repair negotiations, seller disclosures, preliminary title report issues, appraisal issues, homeowners association disclosures, escrow procedures, home warranty, ensuring all aspects of the purchase contract are performed on time as prescribed, etc.
Keeping all information confidential that could weaken your bargaining position.
Monitoring the entire purchase process, assisting with issues that arise through closing.
What is the standard compensation structure for real estate professionals in Dallas?
For the most part, real estate professionals are compensated by commission, based on a home’s selling price. Commission rates are not standardized, but vary, as does how the sales commission will be divided between the agents on the selling and buying side of the transaction. There is consistency, however, in how commissions are paid. When a seller signs a listing agreement, their contract is with a listing brokerage firm. All fees must pass through that brokerage firm. Typically, the seller’s representative - and your buyer broker per MLS cooperative rules - will be paid by the listing broker after the transaction successfully closes.
When a buyer hires a buyer broker, the buyer agrees to pay the buyer broker fee for services rendered that are typically a percentage of the sales price. Often the amount paid to the buyer broker equals the typical buyer broker compensation offered through the MLS and there is no additional fee paid by the buyer. In the event the buyer broker finds a home that meets all buyer needs that are being sold by the owner directly and not listed in the MLS, the buyer broker will negotiate buyer broker compensation with the owner in advance of the property being shown to the buyer. This additional step ensures the owner will pay the fee negotiated between the buyer and buyer broker. If the owner will not pay all of the buyer broker compensation, the buyer broker will negotiate the sales price down to match or exceed the buyer cost of the buyer broker fee.
What services can I expect to receive?
This depends on what level of service you have established as a home buyer. If you have not formed an agency relationship, you are probably considered a customer, rather than a client, and you will likely receive a lower level of service. The terms vary from state to state, and each buyer’s representative can set their own guidelines within their state parameters and their brokerage practices. So you should clarify, preferably in writing, the services you are entitled to receive before you start viewing properties.
It’s also important to understand that if you do buy a home, your buyer’s rep will probably receive compensation (through the listing broker), regardless of whether you are a customer or a client. So more times than not, it’s in your best interest to formalize an agency/representation relationship, so you’ll receive the highest level of service possible.
What is the best way to search for homes online?
Utilize the MLS search capabilities found at www.OnDemandDFW.com. This site has all property listings in the Texas MLS. It also provides a wealth of other valuable information resources for home buyers including automatic notifications of new listings matching your search criteria updated in your custom MLS Portal and emailed directly to your Inbox.
How much house can I afford?
Utilize our free mortgage calculator to find out how much you want to spend monthly!
Utilize Wells Fargo DTI ratio calculator to find out how much you can get approved for!
What’s the difference between being pre-qualified and pre-approved for a mortgage?
You will initially be pre-qualified for a mortgage, then pre-approved after you provide your lender before you have found the specific home you wish to purchase. What is the difference?
Pre-qualification: An informal determination by a lender or mortgage broker stating how much mortgage you can afford. Usually, a lender will request permission to contact the credit reporting agencies to learn your credit score and review your credit history. This can be done while you are on the phone speaking with the lender.
Having the lender indicate on your Texas Specific Pre-Qual Form (PQF) your credit has been reviewed is very important to the seller reviewing your offer to determine the probability the buyer will be able to qualify for a loan. No seller wants to accept an offer and take their home off the market unless they are confident the escrow will close.
Pre-approval: A guarantee in writing by a lender to grant you a loan up to a specified amount. Having loan Pre-approval is as good as being a cash buyer. The only condition to closing is the home appraising for the contract sales price and an appraisal can be done within a week.
What are the advantages of being pre-approved?
There are three advantages of being pre-approved for a loan as early as possible in your home-buying process:
1. Sellers find your offer more credible when you are pre-approved for a home loan.
2. The length of time to closing escrow is greatly reduced and the uncertainty of you qualifying for a loan is gone when you have completed all the steps to secure mortgage approval prior to signing a contract to purchase a property. Your offer is as good as a cash offer.
3. You have peace of mind knowing you can close on the home of your choice in your price range and the seller knows he has sold his home as soon as price negotiations are finalized.