Sa ... thanks for your good question about finding a buyer's agent here in the OC for your home and property search.

I agree with an earlier answer here that most real estate agents will represent both buyers and sellers at different times and situations, depending upon their relationship and how that person was referred.

Be sure and hire a Realtor agent who would be a member of the National Assoc. of Realtors, and that person would be guided and bound by the Realtor Code of Ethics.

Best wishes. Harrison K. Long, Explore Group Properties, Coldwell Banker Previews.

Good Evening Sa,

I, myself relocated my family from the Portland, Oregon area. I can tell you from experience that it can be tough... and I have lived in Southern California most of my life! I understand the obstacles, needs, and challenges. Orange County is a BEAUTIFUL place to life and I can help you discover all of its charming neighborhoods! I am currently helping a buyer purchase a home in Orange County who relocated from Minneapolis. I have another client who has moved from the Seattle area... he moved down here for work and due to difficulties in selling his home in Washington he is currently renting. I was happy to help make his transition easier in any way I could! If you'd like to speak or learn more how I can help.....please give me a call or email anytime.

Helping you build your dreams!

Danielle Ervin
714-747-HOME (4663)
danielle.ervin@yahoo.com

Sa, the website that Dunes contributed, the "http://www.naeba.org/ " appears to be a site where any agent can say they are a "buyer's agent", and then pay the website a fee to be "listed" as same. The only qualification seems to be a willingness to "make a statement" and to pay the requisite fee. That was my take on it, anyway.

Most such sites, just like Trulia, Zillow, and/or Realtor.com, allow an agent to pay for "preferred" placement.

Hi Sa,

You can also use our Find a Pro directory to obtain this information. The link below shows 117 buyer's agents in Orange County. You can easily check their profiles and their contributions to Trulia Voices to get a feel for each agent's personality and expertise and if you think one, or several, might be a good fit, you can email them directly from the site.

Best of luck with your search.

Emily Gibson
Community Moderator

Dear Sa,

Buying a home can be tricky, and getting an agent's help can prove to be quite useful! There are many ways you can look for agents, primarily you can contact a local Realtor association to get a list of its members. Also, you can search the internet. While using a firm that exclusively represents buyers may seem like the best thing to do, you may want to consider a firm that does both, so that you can the best service from both ends of the spectrum. Agents that have represented both buyers and sellers generally have a clearer understanding of the entire process and could potentially get you "more bang for your buck!"

While you are in the process of looking for agent, you may want to speak with a lender so that you can get pre-approved (which always makes the buying process smoother). We, at Crestico Realty, have an outstanding working relationship with a DIRECT FHA Lender in Orange County, American Guardian Home Loans. Please feel free to contact my dedicated representative at American Guardian so that he may help you with the financing of your purchase. His contact info is as follows:

Mr. Houtan Hormozian
American Guardian Home Loans
hhormozian@amguardian.com
Phone: 949-242-5215
Fax: 949-859-6364
27 Orchard
Lake Forest, California 92630

Feel free to visit my website for more information, and contact us so that we can show you what top notch customer service feels like!

Good Luck!

Mitra Karimi
Crestico Realty

Sa, Thank-you it is appreciated.
I wish you the best of luck in your move, Dunes

Hi,

I think that you will find many agents who can help you....I actually started my real estate career as a buyer's agent for a realty group. I think what's important is that you have your own representation and are not using the listing agent for the property, this creates a conflict of interest.

For instance...I never work both sides of a transaction! I am an honest person....but it's human nature to want both of your clients to get what they want. It makes it very difficult for an agent to fight hard for both clients when they are representing each side. I always send a potential buyer to another agent in our office if they call about a listing I have.

I would suggest that you find an agent who will do this also....I have some buyer resources on my website that will give you some ideas of what a buyer's agent will do...and of course, you can search for homes there as well.

Hope this helps....let me know if I can help you.

Karen

Try looking here...http://www.naeba.org/ ....Interview and interview again. Many agents are competing for those who are buying so take advantage of that by finding one who knows the difference between the sale pitch and the truth.
The agent is going to be paid for doing a job, make sure the agent you hire knows his job and what is expected.

Good hunting, Dunes

Hi there SA, I reside and work in Tustin, North Tustin, Orange. I am a buyers agent and area specialist for the Tustin Area. I would be happy to help you find a home. I can send you any information on the best properties available.. If you go to my site you will be able to search for homes.

Kind Regards
Michael Barron
Realtor/MBA
First Team Real Estate
(714) 552-6917
michael-barron@sbcglobal.net

Most firms represent buyers AND sellers...however some Real Estate Consultants within a particular firm could lean more towards working exclusively with buyers or exclusively with sellers. Each agent, and his/her expertise is different.
In the past, I would personally carry 10-15 listings at a time, representing seller's, but now with the swing of the market, I've completely shifted over to working exclusively with buyers...showing properties 6 days a week and writing many offers....mainly to banks.
There are quite a few of us out here in Southern California rigth now working primarily with buyers, especially with the influx of buyers recently due to great interest rates and price decreases.
Best of luck with the Home search! I'd love to interview with you for the job!

Aaron Mendez
Team Advantage Real Estate

Hello, I'm Bob Phillips, of Realty Executives,

Many of us Realtors are adept with either side of a buying/selling transaction. Your concern may be that you prefer exclusive representation, which is usually the case anyway. Very few properties are sold where the same agent represents both parties, although some buyers like to seek out the listing agent of a property, thinking they might be able to somehow strike a better deal, which is not likely.

I don't presently have an active listing, but I am working on a couple, coming up. I have been a Realtor in South Orange County for over 32 years, and have probably helped a much higher percentage of buyers, than sellers, perhaps 75%/25%.

Many agent websites SAY that agent only works with one or the other, but frankly, after 32 years I have seen and done pretty much every type of transaction. I have a website that you can use - linked below, to conduct searches throughout Orange County, and I would be honored to be able to assist you in your search.