| Seller's Agent | Exclusive Buyer's Agent |
| Can show you all the homes in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). | Will show you all the homes in the MLS, For Sale By Owner properties, foreclosures, even properties that are not on the market! |
| Can tell you the price the seller's are asking for homes but cannot suggest an offering price. | Will calculate the fair market value of the home for you, and assist you in developing an offering price by using comparable sales data. |
| Can provide "raw" information on comparable homes that have sold in the area. Not allowed to interpret that data for you. | Will provide and interpret information on comparable homes that have sold in the area and help you formulate an offering price and negotiating strategy. |
| Can convey your offer to the seller or their agent and convey their response back to you. | Will negotiate on your behalf through the entire home buying process offering advice and information every step of the way! |
| Can provide you with a "list" of title companies, home inspectors, and other professionals for you to choose from but cannot recommend any particular company or professional. | Will recommend title companies, inspectors, and other professional services you will need! |
| May tell you some general information about the seller. | Can tell you everything they can find out about the seller and their motivation for selling! |
| Must tell the seller everything they know about you, your financial status, and your motivation for buying. | Will keep any information about you confidential if it would weaken your negotiating position! |
| "Thinks" in Seller's terms (i.e.: Get the highest price possible for the home) | "Thinks" in Buyer's terms (i.e.: Get the lowest possible price and best terms for the Buyer, not the Seller). |
San Diego County:
Agua Caliente, Agua Caliente Hot Springs, Allied Gardens, Alpine, Alpine Heights, Alta Vista, Ballena, Bankhead Springs, Banner, Barona Mesa, Barrett Junction, Barrio Logan, Bay Park, Bear Valley, Birch Hill, Blossom Valley, Bonita, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Borrego Wells, Bostonia, Boulder Oaks, Boulevard, Broadway Heights, Buckman Springs, Buena, Cameron Corners, Campo, Camp Pendleton, Canebrake, Canyon City, Cardiff by the Sea, Carlsbad, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Carmel Valley, Cas De Oro, Castle Park, Centre City, Chollas Creek, Chollas View, Chula Vista, City Heights, Clairemont, Combs Camp, Coronado, Coronado Cays, Cottonwood, "Crest, Crown Point ", Cuyamaca, Dehesa, Del Cerro, Del Dios, Del Mar, De Luz, Descanso, Descanso Junction, Desert Lodge, Dulzura, Eagles Nest, East Elliott, Eastlake, Eastlake Greens, Echo Dell, Eden Gardens, El Cajon, Emerald Hills, Encinitas, Engineer Springs, Escondido, Eucalyptus Hills, Fairbanks Country Club, Fairbanks Ranch, Fallbrook, Fernbrook, Fleetridge, Fletcher Hills, Flinn Springs, Foster, Glen Oaks, Glenview, Golden Hill, Grant Hill, Grantville, Green Valley Falls, Grossmont, Guatay, Harbison Canyon, Harmony Grove, Harrison Park, Hidden Glen, Hidden Meadows, Hillcrest, Hulburd Grove, Imperial Beach, Indian Springs, Irving's Crest, Jacumba, Jamacha, Jamul, Jesmond Dene, Johnstown, Julian, Kearny Mesa, Kensington, Kentwood in the Pines, La Costa, La Jolla, La Jolla Amago, La Jolla Shores, Lake Henshaw, Lakeside, Lakeview, La Mesa, La Playa, La Presa, Lemon Grove, Leucadia, Lincoln Acres, Lincoln Park, Linda Vista, Live Oak Park, Live Oak Springs, Logan Heights, Loma Portal, Lomas Santa Fe, Lomita, Lynwood Hills, Manzanita, Memorial, Mesa Grande, Middletown, Midway, Miramar, Miramar Ranch, Mira Mesa, Mission Bay Park, Mission Beach, Mission Hills, Mission Valley, Mission Village, Morena Village, Moreno, Morettis, Mountain View, Mount Helix, Mount Hope, Mount Laguna, National City, Navajo, Naval Amp Base, Nestor, Normal Heights, North Bay Terraces, North Encanto, North Jamul, North Park, Oak Grove, Oak Park, Ocean Beach, Oceanside, Ocean Hills, Ocotillo Wells, Old Town, Olivenhain, Otay, Otay Mesa, Pacific Beach, Pala, Pala Mesa Village, Palm City, Palomar Mountain, Palo Verde, Paradise Hills, Paso Picacho, Pauma Valley, Peninsula, Pine Hills, Pine Valley, Point Loma, Potrero, Poway, Puerta La Cruz, Rainbow, Ramona, Ranchita, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Del Rey, Rancho Palo Verde, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Rincon, Rock Haven, Rolando, Rosemont, Roseville, Sabre Springs, San Carlos, San Diego, San Diego Country Estates, San Felipe, San Ignacio, San Luis Rey, San Luis Rey Heights, San Marcos, San Onofre, San Pasqual, Santa Ysabel, Santee, San Ysidro, Scissors Crossing, Scripps Miramar Ranch, Serra Mesa, Shady Dell, Shelltown, Shelter Valley Ranchos, Sherman Heights, Skyline, Solana Beach, Sorrento Hills, Sorrento Mesa, Sorrento Valley, South Bay Terraces, Southcrest, South Encanto, South Oceanside, South Park, Spring Valley, Stockton, Sunnyside, Sunshine Summit, Talmadge, Tecate, The Narrows, The Willows, Tierra Del Sol, Tierrasanta, Tijuana River Valley, Torrey Pines, Twin Oaks, University City, University Heights, Uptown, Valencia Park, Vallecito, Valley Center, Via De La Valle, Victoria, Vista, Warner Springs, Whispering Pines, Winter Gardens, Winterwarm, Witch Creek, Wynola
What Is An Exclusive Buyers Agent?
What are Fiduciary Duties and why are they important?
The Secret Big Corporations Have Known For Years
Our Standards Of Practice - Exactly What We Will Do For You
What Others Say About Buyer Agency
Should you use the Agent who sold your home as your Buyers Agent?
Take Some Confusion Out Of The House Hunting Process
Find an Exclusive Buyers Agent in a different city or state
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How Much Home Should You Buy?
You may have heard a real estate Agent or someone else say, "Always buy the biggest home you can afford. It is a good investment and the larger the investment the larger the return on investment will be".
But is that good advice for you? Maybe, maybe not.
When deciding to buy a home the first thing you need to do is get a loan. Yes, get the loan before you shop for homes. The lender will give you a letter stating how the maximum amount they will lend you given your income, debts, and the amount of cash available for down payment and closing costs.
Now that you know the maximum amount you can borrow and what the monthly payment will be on that amount, ask yourself some questions about your "comfort level". We all have a different comfort level when it comes to debt.
Some things that affect each individuals comfort level are:
Do I worry a little or a lot about money I owe?
Am I comfortable that my job is secure and my income will be stable for the next few years?
Do I reasonably expect to have a considerably larger income in the near future?
Am I willing to change my lifestyle (travel less, eat out less often, keep our car for a few more years) in order to make a house payment?
Think about all of that and then decide what payment you are comfortable with. If it is the maximum amount the lender has stated, fine. But if it is less than that amount, then buy less home.
The new home should be a place of comfort, not a place to sit in and worry about how you are going to pay for it!
Besides, you can always "move up" later if you situation or comfort level changes.