How are Realtors in the Bay Area?

[LynneW]

Hi everyone,

I just moved back to the SF Bay Area after being away for several years, and I'm looking to buy. I found this site while searching for real estate agent reviews; hearing my friends complain about agents in this area prompted my search.

Real estate agents on the East Coast weren't perfect, but they were easy to get along with and seemed fairly competent, but my friends here on the peninsula say agents have horrible work ethics, and many are straight-up incompetent (communication problems mainly).

I'm looking to buy a house on the Peninsula - somewhere in San Mateo, Half Moon Bay, or maybe Pacifica, but I don't want to pay a commission to some douchetard when I could look at neighborhood's selling prices online and then hire a real estate lawyer to do the paperwork once an offer is accepted. I don't even know if that can be done, it's just a thought.

If I do choose to go the agent route, is there anything I should know beforehand? Is there something to everything I've been hearing? Like, is incompetence the status quo here (or maybe everywhere lol)? Or does it have something to do with the economy being suckish for so long, and people are bitter and tired?

Thanks. Oh and I'm not sure if this message board is for realtors or househunters. If it's for realtors, this isn't a slam, just an honest question. I'd like to know what kind of hell I'm getting into.

Thanks. =)

[Agent001]

Hi Lynn,

First let me say that Realtors everywhere are bound by strict standards of ethics established and enforced by each States Real Estate licensing authority. When I say enforced, I mean that States Real Estate licensing authority is the en***y to contact if you were to have any complaints about a licensee or brokers conduct that you couldn't work out yourself.

Without shamelessly plugging myself as a service provider, I would suggest to you that as a buyer, you're not paying anyone a commission. Sellers pay a commission to the transaction (or closing attorney) and that commission is then split up and paid to the brokers/agents involved in the transaction. While you are paying for the house, the seller is paying the commission, and that commission would be the same whether you choose to be represented by an agent or not.... It's just slit between fewer people if you don't have an agent. That being the case, not having an agent would give the seller any more room to lower his/her price. The only exception to this: for sale by owners (FSBO).

Bottom line is an agents services are essentially free for the buyer in most cases. The trick is to find an agent that 1) you're confortable with and 2) you can easily communicate with.

Hope this helps

Carl

[pwsolutions]

my experience with bay area realtors was not really good. they charge too much commissions.