amyann16 asked:
We have been working with a realtor to buy a home. We recently went to an open house for a home that is not listed with a realty company (we went without our realtor), the home is being sold directly from the builder. If we decide to purchase this home and would like the services of our realtor to help with paperwork, etc. Do we then, as the buyers, pay for the realtor?
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The builder when they sell directly has their own realtor that you must use, but in some cases, you can use your own if the builder allows and your realtor then will be compensated anywhere from 1 to 3 % of the selling price if the builder allows an outside agent
YES, unless the builder agrees to pay him.
You may have the realtor include the demand for commission in the offer so that if it is accepted the commission is due, ( this is the usual way) however this may affect the sellers willingness to accept the offer.
the commission is negotiable/ no set percentage
If you work it into the purchase agreement, you can get the seller to show up at closing in a pink tutu playing a ukulele, especially in this buyer’s market we’re in. Just make it a part of the purchase agreement that the seller pays the realtor fees and closing costs on the loan. Are you using a broker for the loan? I’m assuming you are, since you have a realtor, and they usually have go-to guys, even though brokers and realtors can’t stand each other most of the time.
Around here the builder will usually coop with a buyer agent..So in essence the builder will pay the agent out of the sell of the home..However, If he will not cooperate with the buyer agent..You have two choices..You pay the buyer agent or you buy the home directly from the builder without representation..Good Luck..Keep your cool home building can be stressful!!..lol..
if you are going to buy a home directly from a builder you need a lawery not a realtor.
We did this exact thing - after being shown properties by a realtor we went to the open house of an unlisted property and bought it. We didn’t have any obligation to the realtor of course, since the house we purchased wasn’t listed. We maybe saved some money (or got a little nicer property for the same money) because the seller didn’t have to pay a commission to a realtor. We paid a lawyer instead to handle the sale and the seller paid theirs. Our lender saw to whatever paperwork they needed. Went fine.
On another occasion, we were selling some property and although we hadn’t listed it with a realtor, we got a tip on a potential buyer from a realtor. In this case we gave him something for passing along the information (it resulted in a sale for us) but not as much as the regular realtor’s commission would have been.
Builders do not need to have a real estate license to sell a new home that they built.
I would suggest having your Realtor get in contact with the seller/builder. Usually builders are open to paying real estate agents. This will decrease the profit for the builder by 3% (typical) or increase your price 3%. Another strategy you could use is to utilize the Realtor on a solely fee based schedule where you pay a certain amount for the services you are actually looking to utilize (review of contract, title work, closing assistance, etc.). Fee based services typically equal quite a bit less then the 3% that would usually be paid out, this way the builder may be able to pass on some of the savings to you.
If you signed an Exclusive Buyers Agency contract, or something of that sort, you may be required to work with that agent in their full capacity. Review the paperwork they gave you.
Good luck!
If you already registered with the Builder, your Realtor may not get paid from the Builder. It depends on the Procuring Cause, at least in Texas (where I am). The Builder can argue that they procure the buyer (you) on their own with the Open House, not because of your Realtor. However, check with the Builder anyway, or have your Realtor contact the Builder to discuss it. Just make sure everything is discussed and understood beforehand, so there are no surprises. Make sure your Realtor represents you by signing a Buyer Representation Agreement. If the Builder refuses to pay, but you still want representation, hire the Realtor or an attorney on a fee basis. Also, you probably won’t automatically get a 3% discount even if you are not represented by a Realtor.
Your agent should be able to structure it into the offer.
I.e. if the home is worth $200,000, you offer $200,000 with your agent earning his/her fee in the contract.
If the seller refuses to recognize the agent you write the offer for less than $200,000 and inform your mortgage company that you would like to roll the agents commission into the mortgage (purchase+commission=$200,000).
It’s a matter of semantics regarding who pays… however, in most cases you should be able to roll the commission into the purchase price (after all the seller want’s to sell) or the mortgage (the lender wants to lend too) and limit your out of pocket expenses.
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