Buying a home is the biggest investment most people will ever make, but not all real estate agents are equal. What's the difference in a real estate agent and a REALTOR®? REALTORS® subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics. For over 100 years, REALTORS® have promoted and protected the dream of property ownership for millions of people just like you. When you're buying a home, here's what a REALTOR® can do for you.

  1. Act as an expert guide. Buying a home typically requires a variety of forms, reports, disclosures, and other legal and financial documents. A REALTOR® will know what's required in your market, helping you avoid delays and costly mistakes. Also, there’s a lot of jargon involved in a real estate transaction; you want to work with a professional who can speak the language.
  2. Offer objective information and opinions. A great REALTOR
  3. Give you expanded search power. You want access to the full range of opportunities. Using a cooperative system called the multiple listing service, your agent can help you evaluate all active listings that meet your criteria® will guide you through the home search with an unbiased eye, helping you meet your buying objectives while staying within your budget. 
  4. Stand in your corner during negotiations. There are many factors up for discussion in any real estate transaction—from price to repairs to possession date. A real estate professional who’s representing you will look at the transaction from your perspective, helping you negotiate a purchase agreement that meets your needs and allows you to do due diligence before you’re bound to the purchase.
  5.  Ensure an up-to-date experience. Most people buy only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years between purchases. Even if you’ve bought a home before, laws and regulations change. 
  6.  Be your rock during emotional moments. A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on the issues most important to you when emotions threaten to sink an otherwise sound transaction.
  7. Provide fair and ethical treatment. When you're interviewing agents, ask if they're a REALTOR®, a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. Every member must adhere to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism, serving the interests of clients, and protecting the public.