7 Ways to Find a Buyer's Agent Near You
Looking for a REALTOR®, following referrals, and talking to your mortgage lender are three great ways to find a buyer's agent in your area.
In need of ways to find a buyers agent? There are more than two million active real estate agents working in the United States as of 2021. With so many options available, looking for the best agent for you can be difficult.
When looking for an agent to represent one of the biggest purchases made in one’s entire lifetime, buyers should have a strategy in mind to help guide their search.
Top 7 Ways to Find a Buyers Agent
As the first step to a successful purchase, explore these seven ways to find a buyers agent in your area that’s your best fit.
#1. Find a NAR® Certified REALTOR®
Buyers can find a leading agent in their area by going through associations, such as the National Association of REALTORS® and their local branches.
As the largest trade’s association in the country, the NAR® holds its agents to a strict code of ethics and encourages them to continue their education and training. Buyers working with a REALTOR® will know that they are receiving best-in-class service from a trustworthy and reliable professional.
#2. Follow a Referral
In 2020, 76% of buyers responded to NAR’s Profile of Home 2020 Buyers and Sellers that they would use their real estate agent again or recommend them to others. 22% of buyers had already recommended their agent four or more times.
Following referrals from people in your network is a good way to find an agent whose services have already been vetted by someone you know. Talk to your friends, neighbors, family members, and colleagues about their experiences with real estate agents in the community. Since agents typically stay in touch with their past clients, you’re likely to receive multiple referrals through this process.
You can also review online referrals from an agent’s website to learn more about what their past clients have shared about their experiences.
#3. Talk to Your Mortgage Lender
Mortgage lenders work closely with real estate professionals as they underwrite loans for buyer clients.
If you need a buyer’s agent but already have your lender, consider requesting a referral. Your lender will already know about your specific home buying situation and can likely point you in the right direction. There are also benefits to working with an agent that has a pre-existing relationship with your lender as it can potentially help align the buying and financing processes.
#4. Search on Social Media
One of the other ways to find a buyers agent is to search on social media.
Looking for a real estate agent through social media is a good way to find a modern, technologically savvy agent that has a robust digital presence. Agents that create engaging and valuable content on social media are likely to be forward-thinking and current with the latest real estate trends.
Explore real estate business pages for professionals in your area on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Once you find potential agents, review their website to learn more about their practice and potentially take the next steps.
#5. Find a Brokerage First
Instead of looking for an individual agent, you can find a brokerage that you would be interested in doing business with and then select an agent from their team.
Finding a brokerage first allows buyers to find an agent whose process is backed by a larger team. It’s a good idea to find a brokerage with a company culture and values that match your own.
For example, if you’re looking for an agent that curates a premier client experience through digital integration, finding a brokerage that leverages technology is a strategic first step.
#6. Browse Through Online Listing Portals
Online listings provide the contact information for their representative agents. Whether or not you’re sure that you want to move forward with a listing you see online, real estate listings are convenient ways to find agents working in your community.
Even if it’s too early in your buying process to seriously consider listings, browsing through listing portals can get you in touch with agents working in your area with properties that meet your criteria.
#7. Get Matched with the Best Agent
Buyers who want to find the top real estate professional in their area can do so in seconds with RealEstateAgents.com. This platform is one of the best ways to find a buyers agent in your community. Whether you are looking in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Miami, Phoenix, or San Francisco, make sure that you find the best agent for you - don't settle for a friend or relative who may or may not be the best fit for you.
RealEstateAgents.com analyzes millions of home sales all around the country to provide real, experienced-based data on the top performing agents in your target market. Only the best agents are recommended to buyers so that clients like you can always feel confident in their transactions. Getting matched with the best buyer agent has never been easier.
If you’d like more information on finding a REALTOR to buy a home, click here for guidance.
