Buying a home is a milestone, but it can feel like an emotional obstacle course. Ninety-two percent of hopeful home buyers said the process was stressful, according to a 2025 home buyer survey conducted by “U.S. News & World Report.” For some, stress levels can be major — higher than for dating, potty training a child, job hunting, or divorce, according to a survey by Redfin.
Agents do the heavy lifting, from negotiating offers to arranging inspections and navigating closing day curve balls. A statistic that underscores how much buyers value real estate agents is that 88% of home buyers work with an agent.
Why Do You Need a Real Estate Agent?
Factors like interest rates, high prices following the pandemic, inflation, and insurance have generated affordability and home buying challenges, says Cara Ameer, a broker with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., who is also licensed in California.
On top of knowing market and economic conditions, agents specialize in home buying steps. “Agents can help with not only the purchase decision but also the offer process, making recommendations and negotiating,” says Chris Lim, executive vice president and chief growth officer at RE/MAX.
They can also advise you on crafting strong offers. If other offers on the same house exceed the asking price, “sending a lowball offer might irritate the seller and cost you the chance to even negotiate,” says Tamara Suminski, broker and co-owner of Beach Real Estate Group in Manhattan Beach, Calif., and 2025 president-elect of the California Association of REALTORS®.
An agent can also help you avoid mistakes, Suminski says. “If you’re buying a condo and plan to rent it out later, you need to check the HOA and city rules first. You don’t want to learn the hard way.”
What Buyers Want from a Real Estate Agent
A 2025 survey from the National Association of REALTORS® found that buyers want their real estate agent to help with these activities, listed according to the priorities:
- Finding the right home to purchase
- Negotiating the sale terms
- Assisting with price negotiations
- Helping with paperwork
- Identifying what comparable homes are selling for
- Figuring how much home the buyer can afford
- Helping to find and arrange financing
- Informing buyer about the neighborhood and area
- Assisting with finding renters for buyers’ property
How to Choose a Real Estate Agent: Look for These Qualities
Here are six capabilities that can point you to the right agent:
- Local expertise: Buyer’s agents understand pricing trends, market shifts, and the inventory in your market.
- Experience and credentials: Look for strong track records or designations, like the ABR® (Accredited Buyer’s Representative), which means the agent has extra training working with home buyers. Some agents may also have earned designations in specialized areas such as working with military customers, seniors, or sustainable housing.
- Strategy and negotiation skills: Capable agents prepare a comparative market analysis, or CMA, to help determine fair value and prevent buyers from overpaying.
- Evaluation skills: Consumers ranked the top benefit of working with an agent as guidance from an experienced professional about less-visible faults when viewing properties, according to the NAR survey. That will help you focus on big-ticket structural issues, says Lizette Sinhart, a real estate professional with Christie’s International Real Estate in Chappaqua, N.Y.
- Practicality and long-term thinking: An agent can help you “find the right house that’s going to fit your family needs for the next 10 to 20 years,” Sinhart says.
- A strong network: Buyer’s agents can connect you with lenders, inspectors, and other qualified professionals.
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Real Estate Agent
Before choosing a real estate agent, ask questions like these:
- Are you a REALTOR®? (A REALTOR® is a licensed agent who is a member of the NAR and agrees to uphold its strict code of ethics.)
- How long have you been in real estate? Do you work full time?
- How many homes have you closed in the last year?
- What certifications or designations do you hold?
- How long does it typically take you to help a client buy a home?
- What’s your pricing and negotiation strategy?
- Do you represent buyers exclusively?
- Can you connect me to qualified service providers?
- How will we communicate during the process?
- Can I speak with any of your past clients?
- Have you worked with buyers in my circumstances (first-time buyer, investor, or someone relocating)?
- What services are included in your buyer representation agreement?
- What are my options for paying you?
A key factor in how to find the right agent is considering multiple agents and looking for a good fit. Sinhart says: “Make sure the real estate agent you hire does deals, knows how to get winning bids, and can strategize with their clients.”