Search on Your Own But Be Sure to Use a Real Estate Agent

There are hundreds, no thousands of real estate websites out there, not to mention individual real estate agent websites such as this one. Homebuyers have thousands of choices, and real estate agents as well have a lot of options on how to present property searches on their websites.

Homebuyers also have national websites such as Trulia, Zillow, Realtor, Homes and more to choose from, but the problem with these national sites is that the information could be skewed as to what the actual information is on a property. Each website will display different information such as past property sales, mortgage calculations and the basics of each MLS listing. 

However, most individual real estate websites will have the information pulled directly from the local MLS. Each County, city or region has its own multiple listing services into which the real estate agent must buy. Once they have done this, they can present the information on their own website. This information is deemed more accurate; however, if the information is entered incorrectly by the real estate agent listing the property, the information will be inaccurate on all of the websites syndicated across the country.

This is where using an actual real estate agent that is local and knows the area is so valuable. Yes, you can use these national websites and even individual websites to learn about an area, get a feel for the average home price and about how much you'd be paying a monthly mortgage, but for the most accurate information, a real estate agent will be able to obtain the details you need in order to make an informed decision.

 Large companies such as Zillow and Trulia won't be able to tell you about the coffee shop opening on the corner or the eyesore across the street that's been a derelict property for decades. These are things that a local real estate agent will know and be able to share with you. National websites and even regional MLS sites can only offer information that has been input either by tax records or actual listings. A local real estate agent will be able to tell you the nuances of the property, details on school districts, homeowner associations or any upcoming news of construction or neighborhood improvements.

So, while it's perfectly convenient and acceptable to search through hundreds of websites when it comes down to actually viewing and purchasing a property, nothing beats a local real estate agent.

Here are some tips from real estate professionals on the benefits of using your own agent when buying a home or property.

"There is so much legal jargon associated with a real estate transaction that you could put yourself in hot water if something is done illegally. Of course, you could hire a lawyer, but that would really cost you money instead of using the help of a buyer's agent ... which is FREE to the buyer!" - Katie Nobel, Park City Utah Realtor

"Some agents are exclusively buyer's agents, which means they don't deal with sellers at all. This means your needs and negotiation strategies are of the highest priority and they specialize in helping JUST buyers. While they may have a separate team for sellers that they can draw potential properties from, their sole goal is to only work for the buyer." - Orlando Buyers Brokers

"Many professional agents have their own insight into listings that are either not on the MLS or not available to the general public, or at least not yet. Knowing first-hand new listing may mean you get dibs before any other buyer!" - Alexander Gutierrez - Mesquite NV Realtor®