This article is a about the logistical and financial advantages as well as vigilant consumer protections provided by an Accredited Buyers Agent (ABR)
HUD Encourages Use Of Exclusive Buyer Agents
In its first revision to its home loan booklet in more than 10 years,
the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) advises home buyers that it is their responsibility to search for a real estate agent that will represent their interests.
I love this because other consumer protection oriented organizations will probably follow suit.
It has always mystified me that more people do not use Buyers Agents. I have gone back and forth with the question and I even wrote about it here "Relocating To Boston, Why Dont More Buyers Use a Buyers Agent?" It just does not make sense.
I guess the list would go like this in order of probability:
* Laziness
* Desire for privacy
* Fear of being sold to or at
* Buyers Agency has not been practiced long enough in Mass to be on buyers "Must Have" lists
* The population got so used to everyone representing the seller, they think Buyers Agency is a ruse anyway.
* They just do not believe that a Buyers Agent would REALLY have their best interest at heart
Things have changed, Buyers Agency is being practiced in Massachusetts now and it is empowering buyers and saving them time and money. There is so much that a good Buyers Agent does for the consumer, I dont know where to start.
I find myself using the term Buyers Advocate often. Because in its very purest essence there is detachment from a profitable outcome of the transaction. Its contrary to the actual definition of Buyers Agency to do something self serving like pushing a deal through and not disclosing certain deal breaking details.
In addition to making sure everything about a real estate transaction goes well, a Buyers Agent does a bang-up job of showing ALL the appropriate inventory. As difficult as that may be it is also in the definition! How could you not show properties when you yourself would never buy without first seeing those properties. Sellers Agents will not do that, they have their own inventory to market.
The next statistics really made my heart sing because I knew it was true but I did not know how to quantify it.
If you need ANOTHER reason to be working with a Buyers Agent, this should get your attention. Additionally, a survey conducted by the National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents (NAEBA) found that among survey respondents, there were only 15 foreclosures out of 1,849 closings. That represents a foreclosure rate of just 0.8 percent, compared to the nationwide rate of 1.84 percent (more than double) in 2008.
This last bit of information I was expecting and waiting for as I think that other Buyers Agents like myself end up talking buyers down from spending too much. I am always urging people to underspend and buy as few square feet as possible especially in the city. And of course this leads to greater property appreciation. Working with an exclusive buyer agent offers more than a dedicated representative. Data validates that buyers actually get better results. An exclusive buyer agent promises to work toward a better price and terms for buyers. A study conducted by Chandler & Chandler confirms that property purchased through an alliance with an exclusive buyer agent shows a 67 percent greater appreciation in value.
