There are a few ways to buy a home. Naturally, RE/MAX Excalibur advocates the employment of a licensed REALTOR®. Here are just a few reasons why:

A licensed REALTOR® will:

• Research your specific needs and narrow the choices so you do not waste your valuable time.
• Only show you homes currently available.
• Evaluate the trends for that specific neighborhood.
• Furnish FREE School Reports for that specific neighborhood.
• Direct you on how to research specific crime statistics in any neighborhood.

Using experienced negotiating skills, a REALTOR® can get the best possible "deal" for you. Not just the best price possible-this may include the best move-in date for you, the best financing program, etc. You can check every newspaper and magazine known to man for the limited amount of advertised homes. You can drive around and attend every Open House every weekend in your spare time. Then, tour the house whether it's what you need or not because you don't want to "hurt anyone's feelings". You can call every "For Sale" sign you drive by, hope the agent is available and/or wait for a call back. You can even surf the Net-e-mail every agent whose house looks and/or sounds good, wait for your reply, and then meet with every single agent to see the home if it is still even available. It's pretty hard not to get frustrated going through that old-fashioned process! And who would want to? Please, take a moment to read our most Frequently Asked Questions. It will only take you a moment and will actually enlighten you to the whole process.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHY SHOULD I WORK WITH JUST ONE REALTOR®? WOULDN'T IT BE MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO ME IF I HAD SEVERAL AGENTS "LOOKING" FOR ME?

Sounds good in theory but doesn't work in practice. All REALTORS® who are members of the Multiple Listing Service have access to current available homes. Unless you are in their car, they aren't able to "look" for you. Also, unless they have your commitment to them, you won't have theirs. IF A REALTOR® IS "WORKING" WITH ME, DOESN'T THAT MEAN THEY ARE WORKING FOR MY BEST INTERESTS? Not unless you have hired them. In Arizona, we have a Buyer Agency Contract that spells out what the REALTOR® and Client can expect from each other. Unless you have a contract with the REALTOR®, you, no matter how "nice" the agent is, do not have the best representation available to you. The Seller has better representation that you, the Buyer.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DUAL AGENCY AND BEING A DUAL AGENT?

A Dual Agent is an agent who represents you the Buyer and his/her Seller. For example, your Realtor shows you a listing that he/she has under his own name. You decide to purchase the home. The Realtor now represents both Buyer and Seller. Dual Agency simply means that a real estate company (the Broker) will have an agent who represents the Buyer and a different agent who represents the Seller.

IN THAT CASE, SHOULDN'T I CHOOSE ANOTHER REAL ESTATE COMPANY TO REPRESENT ME? ISN'T THERE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

When this happens there are certain procedures that an agent must follow by Arizona Real Estate Law. You could go to another company but they can't do anymore for you than your agent could. Both are able to research comparable properties for you. Both can give solid advice. If you trust your REALTOR® there is no reason to introduce a third party at this juncture.

BUT I CAN GET A BETTER DEAL IF I GO STRAIGHT TO THE LISTING AGENT!

A common misconception. Commissions are paid by the Seller and the amount has already been determined by the Listing Contract no matter if it is one or two REALTORS.

HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE "SPECIAL REPRESENTATION" OF HAVING A BUYERS' AGENT?

Usually nothing. Buyers' Agent commissions are usually paid for by the Seller. However, there can be times when you want to hire an agent for consulting purposes. You and the REALTOR® would negotiate at that time.

I'M INTERESTED IN BUYING A NEW HOME. WHY DO I NEED A REALTOR® FOR THAT?

When you buy from a Model Home agent, he/she represents the Builder exclusively. An experienced REALTOR® will verbalize contracts aimed specifically for your interests. He/she will know how to squeeze the most from the Builder that a Buyer couldn't possibly know because they do not deal with this everyday.

WON'T I GET A BETTER "DEAL" FROM THE BUILDER IF I GO IT ALONE?

No. when a Builder plans out the neighborhood, the Builder knows that he will pay "X per cent" for REALTOR® commissions. When you go in alone two things occur: 1. The Builder is not paying a REALTOR® for your benefit and pockets the difference. 2. He cannot pay you the amount because in Arizona, the Buyer must be a licensed agent. There is no negotiations on REALTOR® commissions. The only real thing that happens is you go in unprotected. And remember, the Builder pays the REALTOR® commissions!

DO I NEED TO GET A PRE-APPROVED COMMITMENT FOR A MORTGAGE BEFORE I BUY A HOME?

Yes. In Arizona, a REALTOR® must submit a conditional loan approval at the time a contract is written. This procedure also allows you to only look at homes in the price range you can qualify. It has been proven to be very advantageous to the Buyer in negotiations when the Seller knows he/she has a qualified Buyer. And now, it is required by the Contract. At RE/MAX EXCALIBUR we are committed to giving you the highest possible representation. It's about time the Buying public got the same legal representation that a Seller enjoys. With RE/MAX Excalibur, you finally do!