Hi,

I am just wondering what it is a real estate agent can do for you, I lived in only two houses all my life, so I really have no clue what it is they do. I seen on t.v commercial where the real estate agent actually comes and picks you up at the aiport. Can they pick you up at your hotel your staying at? I know they help with the process,you sign a piece of paper and you baisically give them a percentage, but thats about it. I am going to be house hunting in Alberta. Can they actually take you to the houses that they have searched for you, or do you have to make an appointment with them and meet them there. Will they do the bulk of the research for you and bring you to houses that fit your criteria. Sorry to be sounding so dumb, I am just in my mid-twenties and this is my first time buying a house.

Also I not british but happen to come by this forum, and find you guys very informative and knowledgeable. Thanks in advace for your reply.

Every province is difference but here in Toronto, Real Estate Agents are regulated by RECO (real estate council of Ontario) and they have strick guidelines to adhere to so that you dont get ripped off. Here in Ontario you dont pay them if you are buying a house, they get the commission from the listing agent. The listing agent is the person representing the seller of a house and the buying agent is the agent representing the buyer. so your agent will be the buying agent. you wont pay them a fee but you will sign an agreement that they are working solely for you. you can terminate this agreement if you think that he / she is not working in your best interest. both will try and get the best deal for their client. Most agents will drive you around if they know that you are unable to drive around. cramming a few places in one afternoon. also they will do the leg work and look for places that suit your needs but it is a good idea to have a price, and area in mind it makes their life a little easier. as for picking you up at the airport that is stretching it a little bit. if you are going to make them quite a hefty commission then probably (commissions range from 2 - 4% of the price of a house so if your buying a million dollar house they are gonna jump through hoops for you, but if your budget is limited then I would guess so is their services.) Its also a good idea as a new immigrant to get pre approved for a mortgage if your needing one. most real estate agents have a mortgage broker that they recomend if you are unsure of the process. New Immigrants here in TO anyways usually pay a premium interest rate. but most banks will offer mortages shop around.

When you find a house you want your real estate agent will prepare an offer for you that he/she will present to the listing agent and their client. some offers have clauses like a home inspection, and arrangement of a mortgage. which can be waived in the negotiation stages. the offer will also include whats called an irrecovable date, this is a date that the offer has to be accepted by. also a closing date when you will move in. if the offer is accepted then you will pay a deposit and the rest you are aware of with lawyers and what not, your real estate agent can recommend a lawyer as well.

Sorry if ive gone on and on LOL I work as admin for a real estate agent and im just typing what i have to do every day LOL. Hope it helps.

Hi Lin, whether they are good or bad is not for me to say as I have never used one either. I believe that if you are buying a house in Canada then they won't cost you anything because they charge a fee to the selling client only. Don't know what the fee is but I believe it is a percentage of the sale price. So if you are buying then I presume that you could use one without cost.
Ask around in this forum for 'Realtors' (that's what they are called in Canada I believe) that people would recommend and I am sure they will supply you with some good ones for whatever area you are heading to.
God Luck
Stuarty

Our realtor was great. We'd make an appointment to spend some time with him, he'd pick us up and take us around. If we didn't like any houses he'd picked for us (as did happen) he would drive us about to see if we preferred any particular area, if we saw a house advertised during a recce he would get us in.

However NOW with the market sooo crazy, I would say you need a really good realtor, as here in Red Deer if a board goes up saying a house is for sale, it's already got an offer on it.

Our realtor was in the process of putting ours on MLS, we had two viewings that afternoon and signed the offer the following morning

If you have a good realtor, he/she should be able to do everything for you and smooth the process along, including picking you up, taking you around to houses they have picked out from your wish-list. I work as admin in real estate in BC, but the successful realtors across the country are hard-working and ethical, and will do their utmost to service the client. I'm sure someone on here can recommend a good realtor for your area.

Hi Lin

Our realtor is great. Met him on a reasearch trip and when we landed he and his wife picked us up from the airport and took us to our hotel (which they had got us a discounted rate on) They ferried us around for our first 2 weeks whilest we didn't have a car and even threw a birthday party for my Hubby so we could get to know people.
They were really helpful when we were looking for our house, especially with the real estate market being the way it was in Calgary. We are now in a lovely house and still friends with our realtor, popping in for tea and even house sitting for them when they went away.

Would definately recommend using a realtor for your first home in Canada and especially in Alberta. They will offer advice that is suited to you and your situation and you may even make a freind out of it.

HTH, PM me if you have any further questions.
Best wishes
Tanya

This has little to do with the original thread but I can't be the only one....

Does nobody else find it weird to see people's faces attached to homes up for sale/on the sides of buses etc? While they're all probably lovely people I get uneasy looking at shiftily-friendly people's mugs knowing that whatever else, all they're really after is your money...

Difficult to extend trust which must be the point of the whole exercise.

You sound paranoid.

But if you are the one purchasing a home, they are not after "your" money.

[QUOTE]........they charge a fee to the selling client only. Don't know what the fee is but I believe it is a percentage of the sale price. So if you are buying then I presume that you could use one without cost. [QUOTE]

No fee for buying in Ontario - a whopping 5% if you're selling! :scared:

I'm just wondering if anybody had any response from the original poster .... or are we atlking to ourselves???

[QUOTE=grumpy][QUOTE]........they charge a fee to the selling client only. Don't know what the fee is but I believe it is a percentage of the sale price. So if you are buying then I presume that you could use one without cost. Not all that bad. Done here I've seen percentages over 5% to the seller to the agent.

Talking to ourselves me thinks, so how are you doing?

Wished id never bothered with my mammoth explanation!!! LOL
im doing good, hotter than the devils a**hole but good!!

Sorry can't resist, got to say it, "i just love your pussy" their did it