recommended real estate agents?

[toonhead-npl.livejournal.com]

I'm doing some very early footwork on a potential move sometime next year, so I'm asking around about recommended real estate agents serving the Davis Square area: I like the area, and have my sister (she lives up Highland Ave) and many friends there, so it's high up on my list of possible places. I'm in the market for a one bedroom condo (my first home buy) not too far from public transport and have no pets or cars to worry about.

And if your experience says I'd be better off looking elsewhere (like, say, Craig's List), don't be shy about offering your opinion. Thanks, folks!

Comments

[rifmeister.livejournal.com]

I and a bunch of my friends used Patti Reilly at Channing Realty, and we all thought she was excellent. She's not solely a buyer-broker, which worried me at first, but it didn't turn out to be a problem, and now I know who to call if I ever need to sell (and I don't do it myself). I met her when I walked into an open house for a place she was selling, and I just immediately got a really good vibe off her (often, I find the selling realtors at open houses just a little creepy). Very friendly, very helpful, very easy to deal with. Highly recomended.

I have a number of friends who've bought places without realtors and had no problem, but I see no reason not to use a realtor --- the seller pays your broker's commission when you buy. (In theory, one might imagine you could get a slightly better price out of someone if they know they don't have to pay your broker. In practice, I don't think pricing's that accurate, and I don't think the market's that liquid.) For a condo, you WILL need a real-estate lawyer in any case.

Good luck to you whatever you choose.

[ceo]

The buyer's broker splits the commission with the seller's broker; the cost to the seller is the same.

[rifmeister.livejournal.com]

Commissions are in theory negotiable. I have known people who have said, "I will buy without using a realtor, and negotiate with the seller and his agent to reduce both the price and the total commission by the buyer's agent's commission, with the seller keeping the entire reduced commission."

A seller's agent should in theory have no huge problem with this. On the other hand, I think having a buyer's agent is convenient, especially if you're new to home-buying, and I'm unconvinced you'll really get a lower price this way.