The first person who will be involved in the purchase of your new home is your real estate agent. The real estate agent is responsible for helping you to work within your budget and find a home that will satisfy your needs. Depending on the terms of your personal agreement, this individual can work as a Buyer’s agent (an agent contracted to represent only your best interests in the sale), a Seller’s agent (an agent working for the company that holds the Seller's listings on the homes that you will be seeing), or a dual agent (an agent who works for the firm that holds a Seller's listing and has signed a contract to represent you and your best interests in the sale).

The real estate agent will ask you some basic financial questions to help you determine the size of the loan for which you may qualify. The agent will also ask you questions about your preferences in a home, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, whether or not you want a basement, a garage and even about the size of the yard. So, be prepared to describe the home you are imagining and be honest with the agent if a home doesn’t interest you or if it is in an area you are uncomfortable with.

Note: Unless you have a written agreement with the selling agent stating that the particular agent represents you (Buyer, Broker), then both the selling agent and the listing agent (the agent who has an agreement with the Seller to market his house) work for and represent the Seller. However, agents have a legal obligation to treat you fairly and honestly. They can show you any home that is on the market through the Multiple Listing Service, help you qualify for a loan, write the contract for that home and provide you numerous other services. In this scenario the Seller typically pays the agent's commissions, so these services cost you nothing at all!