Do I need a realtor to buy a house with cash?

Get an agent unless you negotiate high dollar real estate for a business.

I hope you’re having a home inspection done, having a contract that goes to attorney review, have looked at utility bills for winter heating, etc. If you have not thought of all these things, a realtor could be useful. You don’t want to dig yourself into a hole.

The seller is supposed to be the one to pay commission so I doubt you would be shelling out.

@janbb Could we just use the seller’s realtor? Or is that frowned upon?

You never need a realtor. But buying a house is a pretty big business transaction. You need to make sure all your bases are covered. You should have an attorney at least look over the purchase agreement. Realtors know the ins and outs of home buying so they are probably the most well versed, but you never NEED one.

@seawulf575 Absolutely. We will definitely be using an attorney at the very least.

I worked at a title co closing dept and it’s actually very easy BUT you really need an experienced friend or someone to protect yourself from what can go wrong. You can negotiate a lower commission if you can share realtors, like split 3% instead of each paying 3%.

@KNOWITALL It’s been my understanding in my part of the country that the seller pays the 6% commission to their realtor who will often split it with the buyer’s realtor but not that the buyer has to kick in. It may be different elsewhere.

@ItalianPrincess1217 Sometimes the buyer and seller use the same realtor. You just seem to be quite a novice at of this so I wouldn’t want you to get screwed somehow. When I sold my condo in Florida we just had one realtor.

@janbb I think it’s probably safer to just go ahead and get a realtor to help us. It’s not like we pay their commission anyway. The seller would split that with them.

Kind of what I said.

@janbb Oops, I see that now.

You don’t “need” a realtor cash or mortgage. How you pay for it has nothing to do with needing or using a realtor.

In NYS you use a lawyer to help with contracts so the realtor is really only about the search. If you find a for sale by owner, a lawyer can easily do a contract for you. If you find a house that was listed by a realtor, that realtor can help you with the basics of the transaction, just know they aren’t working for you, but they are for the transaction and no matter what they are obligated to be truthful.

If you have a realtor, he can help you do price comparisons of other houses sold in the area, which can be valuable to you, but you can get that information on line too. You can make the contract contingent on an appraisal if you want. With a mortgage the lender requires an appraisal. With a cash deal it’s up to you if you do one.

You don’t need a realtor to purchase property BUT they have the expertise, supposedly, and have been through this once or twice. If you have reputable people on the other end then you are ok but who can guarantee that.

As @KNOWITALL said, there is usually a title company involved in the sale. These people are, in my opinion, the ones who do most of the work not associated with finding a property. They are the ones who produce the contract, get the signatures, etc. You might ask them if they can do it without a realtor, I believe they can but I have never tried or asked. Worth a shot. Particularly if you are doing the searching yourself.

Just remember the 6% commission goes to the sellers agent, if you don’t have an agent.
It gets split with your buyers agent. You pay nothing, free insurance the way I see it.

@rojo Yes, the title search and insurance is required (here) and we had a ton of Sale by Owner’s minus any realtors, but they were also educated and experienced in the situation.

Some people use Assist 2 Sell, not sure if that’s available in your area of course.

@KNOWITALL @ItalianPrincess1217 is the buyer not the seller.

@Tropical_Willie Right but Assist 2 Sell is a flat fee, full service, so if she had to go with one, may be cheaper.

She is looking for guidance (as a buyer) not the cheapest way for the seller.

@Tropical_Willie I only did it for a living and was very good at it. Carry on.

Carry on yourself !
SHE is looking for buyer’s broker not the seller friend or brother-in-law.

You probably did a good job for SELLERS; she is a novice buyer looking for support (I know it cuts back on the commission for the seller’s agent – - – YOU)

@Tropical_Willie Troll.

oh @KNOWITALL is a troll. LOL

@Tropical A title company checks history, plats, taxes, liens, will research, chain of title, deals with insurance underwriters, etc…no commission. We also do the actual closing documents and loan documents so its nice and easy. A necessary service, flat fee.

I just answered a question, no desire for drama.

AGAIN don’t think the seller’s agent is a good advocate for a BUYER !!

SORRY @KNOWITALL IT MEANS A CUT BACK YOUR COMMISSION !

I buy with a buyer’s broker and have for years.

Ok guys – play nicely.

@Tropical Yikes, you are freaking me out.
No commission and we work for the buyer and seller wirhout partisanship.

Now, good night sir.

She is a asking for a BUYER BROKER.

And somebody somewhere gets a commission.