When buying or selling real estate, you may find it helpful to have a real estate agent assist you. Real estate agents can provide many useful services and work with you in different ways. In some real estate transactions, the agents work for the seller. In others, the seller and buyer may each have agents. And sometimes the same agents work for both the buyer and the seller. It is important for you to know whether an agent is working for you as your agent or simply working with you while acting as an agent of the other party.

The only reason why not having a real estate agent could save you money would be if you find a "For Sale by Owner" home.  However, if you have never purchased a house before (and even if you have purchased a home previously), it is advisable to get the help of the real estate agent so they can offer additional advice and guidance, to ensure you get the best value and there are no major mistakes made during the process.

When you are looking to make such an important life-long investment, it is a good idea to use the real estate agent because they are an excellent source in finding the exact house that meets your needs.  They can quickly and efficiently search for houses.  They can alert you the day a new house comes on the market. Many times, a day or two will make the difference between your ability to buy your dream house or not.