Buyer Tips: Hire the right agent

After you have your financing squared away and a preapproval letter in hand, your next step as a first-time homebuyer is to hire a real estate agent.

An experienced real estate agent who knows local neighborhoods (Hint hint) can advise you on market conditions and whether homes you want to make offers on are priced properly. Agents can identify potential issues with a home or neighborhood you’re unaware of, and they’ll go to bat for you to negotiate pricing and terms.

As a buyer, it costs you nothing to work with a Realtor, but they can save a lot of time and hassle in your search.