A buyer’s agent (also known as a buyer’s advocate) is a licensed real estate professional who works exclusively for the buyer (you), rather than the seller. Their job is to find suitable properties that meet your criteria, evaluate them, and even negotiate or bid at auction on your behalf. For expats who cannot physically attend inspections or spend hours researching the market, a buyer’s agent can be incredibly valuable.

Key benefits of a buyer’s agent for an expat include:

• Access to Properties: Buyer’s agents often have networks and can uncover off-market listings or opportunities before they hit the public market. This is useful if you’re abroad and not plugged into local real estate chatter.
• Time Saving and Convenience: They do the legwork – shortlisting the suburbs or properties that match your needs, inspecting them (often taking detailed photos/videos or doing virtual tours for you), and providing reports. This saves you from having your weekends (or nights due to time difference) consumed by scanning listings and making inquiry calls.
• Local Expertise: A good buyer’s agent knows the local market values and can tell if a property is overpriced or if there are any red flags. They will help you avoid bad buys. This local insight is something you might miss if you’re relying only on online information from overseas.
• Bidding & Negotiation: If a property is going to auction, the buyer’s agent can bid for you up to your agreed limit. They are experienced in auction tactics and can remain emotionally detached – improving your chances of securing the property at a good price. For private sales, they handle negotiation with the seller’s agent, again aiming to get the best terms for you.
• Representation of Your Interests: Remember, the seller’s real estate agent’s job is to get the highest price for the vendor. Having your own agent ensures someone with market knowledge is pushing for your best interest. This levels the playing field, especially if you’re not there in person.

Now, buyer’s agents do charge a fee for their service – typically either a flat fee or a percentage of the purchase price. This cost can be worth it for the convenience and potentially a better purchase price they negotiate. Many expats choose to use buyer’s agents for peace of mind, knowing a professional is handling things.

Whether you should use one depends on your confidence and availability to do it yourself. If you have a family member who is savvy in real estate and willing to help, you might manage without an agent. However, if you want a dedicated expert and you’re time-poor, it’s worth considering. AEXPHL can recommend reputable buyer’s agents in the major cities (we often work in tandem with them – we handle the loan, they handle the property search). Engaging a buyer’s agent is not mandatory, but for many overseas buyers it takes away a lot of stress and uncertainty. Ultimately, the choice is yours – we’re happy to work with whichever approach you take. Our main goal is that you find the right loan and have a smooth buying experience.