Well let me 1st say Congratulations on hiring an agent. 2nd, its ok to find another agent. There is obviously a communication problem going on. Find an agent whom you gel well with and understands exactly what you require.

FIRE YOUR AGENT! Don't think about it. I hope you did not sign a contract with your agent. There are better Realtors out there than that, my gosh, look at all of us who have responded. Your agent should be able to tell you what they are responsible for (Agent's responsibilities) and what you the buyer's dudiligence is (or more simply put buyer's responsibilities). You are fed up from what I read above and should be. THIS is not SERVICE, this is Dis-service.

Hello Jerseygirl and thanks for your question.

First, I am sorry to hear of your experience, but I think, perhaps, the problem may be in the communication with your agent, and in understanding the job of your agent.

I can appreciate that you hired your agent thinking that it was the agent's job to help you "weed out" undesirable neighborhoods and locations. In reality, agents may no more "suggest" neighborhoods than we can steer a potential client away from one. In fact, some of the tasks that you are hoping your agent will perform can be, as "Joe the Builder" suggested below, a very slippery slope for most agents as it can suggest steering and making lifestyle judgment calls--all of which, we cannot, by profession or ethics, be caught doing.

I know that you've come to resent the amount of research you've had to do, while knowing that your agent will be collecting a commission at the end of the job. But, unfortunately, there is a lot of information that only the buyer can review and that the agent may not present. For example, here in California, we may provide our clients with the web addresses or contact information for the sex offender and crime websites, but the client (the buyer) is required to do the research to determine if he/she is comfortable with the information presented. We do not present that information to our clients nor can we make any suggestions about the suitability of the information. Similarly, determining if a location is a "ghetto" or undesirable is the call of the buyer, and not one that can be suggested (under any circumstances) by the agent.

Granted, there are things that your agent should be doing, and for which you can request. For example, I provide my clients with a list of comparable market prices for every home that we review for their reference. Agents do not do appraisals, but we can provide you with factual information about what has been sold and what is currently being sold. Further, it is not unreasonable for you to request that your target area be, for example, between "12th Street and Main" or in the "Kennedy School District." These are all legitimate requests. Requests to find homes in "English speaking areas" or "where there are mostly professional people" are actually violations of Fair Housing Acts and cannot be performed.

I hope that this can help you understand and work with your agent more effectively. I would suggest talking with your agent to discuss your thoughts and to see who he/she responds. If you still feel that your agent is not responsive to your needs, then, by all means, seek another agent to help you!

Good luck and happy house hunting!

Sincerely,
Grace Morioka, SRES, e-Pro
Area Pro Realty
San Jose, CA

If you think her performance is lacking now, wait until you are trying to SELL your house!! Imagine getting this sloppy service and having to PAY thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars for it to boot!

You should definitely find a different realtor. And these days, there is a wealth of good information available via the internet: property tax info, sales records, crime stats are all public. What is also very useful is to actually walk thru the neighborhoods you are interested in and chat with folks who are living there.

Good luck with your house search!

Dear Jerseygirl in PBC,

I am sorry to hear about your experience. Buying a home is a very personal experience and it is obvious you lost all trust in your agent and you should look for another one.

Although you might run into the "She did not do any research on the neighborhood and I ended up doing it all." again since this could become what we call in the real estate world an "Illegal Steering" issue. April is Fair Housing month and the National Association of Realtors published an article about it and how we Realtors can stay out of trouble. I copy/paste it below for your convenience. The article strongly suggest that we Realtors do not give any particular information about a neighborhood but refer the client to the police department, census bureau, etc. Even if it makes no sense to the client, but laws prohibit a Realtor to make any statements about neighborhoods, schools, etc.

Here is the article from the April 2009 issue of the National Association of Realtors magazine:

6 Ways to Avoid Illegal Steering


Make sure you don't inadvertently violate the Fair Housing Act by steering a customer to or from certain neighborhoods.

When buyers ask you to recommend neighborhoods, be careful how you respond. It’s possible to inadvertently violate the Fair Housing Act by steering a customer to or from certain areas. Here’s how to help clients find their dream community without crossing the line.

Ask about hobbies. This will often elicit information that helps you determine properties in neighborhoods that fit their lifestyle without your having to get into questions of religion, ethnicity, or other sensitive matters. Swimmers might want to be near a park with a pool, while biking enthusiasts might prefer proximity to a nature preserve.

Offer school district resources. When buyers ask questions about schools, point them to the school district’s Web site and encourage them to schedule a visit to the schools. You can help them locate the district boundaries to ensure they’ll be purchasing within the school district they choose. But don’t say anything yourself about the quality of the schools.

Direct them to the police. If buyers want to get a picture of the area’s crime rate, direct them to the police department or other sources of information. Don’t disclose crime statistics or say a neighborhood is a safe place to live even if you believe it to be true.

Make a list of spiritual places. Develop a list of all houses of worship in the neighborhoods you serve and provide that as a resource to buyers.

Get to know the Census Bureau. If buyers want to know the demographics of the area, refer them to the "fact finder" section of the U.S. Census Bureau Web site, where they can find racial, ethnic, and income breakdowns. If buyers want to dig deeper, refer them to the city government or local nonprofits.

Stick to the rules. If buyers persist in asking questions that could result in a charge of steering against you, be polite but firm in telling them: "I’m sorry, but I can’t provide that information. Fair housing laws prevent me from steering people away from or toward a certain neighborhood based on race, color, or other protected categories." Help buyers get their own information.

I'm sorry for your experience so far. If the first realtor you use doesn't work for you then just move to another. Each person has their own areas of expertise, but the most important thing to me is that 1) you feel comfortable with who you're working with and 2) they actually listen to what you're saying.

I became a realtor myself for those same reasons. Trying to find someone I could work with as an investor became too tedious. I specialize in working with buyers, especially first time buyers. My guarantee to you is to find the best match, at the best price, with the best financing available, with the least amount of hassle. If I can't provide those things to your satisfaction, I fire myself!

Please visit my blog at http://www.SouthFloridaRealEstateReport.com for more information on how I can help find the perfect home for you. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best Regards,

Rodney Forbes
Realtor/Broker
Forbes Realty of South Florida Inc
561-283-6497
Rodney@ForbesRealtyOnline.com

Dear Jerseygirl in PBC,

I apologize to hear about your experience. One of the first things a realtor should ask you is your home criteria, as it can narrow your list of homes from hundreds to a couple dozen. I like to listen to my clients, and get feedback about what they like/don't like. Usually, after the first time seeing a person's reactions to different homes (with features, floor plans, etc.) a realtor should get a feel for what fits for his/her client.

Feel free to call or email Linda@LindaBassitt.com me with any questions. I would appreciate working with you.

You can also search my website http://www.LindaBassitt.com for homes for sale (click on "MLS Search") and search by map location, developments, etc. in advanced search.

Linda Bassitt, P.A.
Lowell International Realty Group
Harbour Financial Center
2401 PGA Boulevard, Suite 196
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Direct Line: 561.313.6961 http://www.LindaBassitt.com

You answered my question on Ponte Verde vs. Emerald Isle... I am actually in contract to buy a unit now. Thank you for your advise -- you are right on the money from everything I heard so far.

I had a similar situation with a broker I originally contacted in the area. As a NY broker, I expected they would treat me like gold in Florida ... BOY was I wrong! Just because I'm not licensed in FL doesn't mean I forgot everything about real estate. I ended up ditching the first agent who couldn't seem to help me find a decent property at the right price (like you said, she kept sending me listings that were in complexes that I already said I didn't like)... I found an awesome agent. Are you looking to stay in the area? I would be happy to give you a referral to the agent I am using. He exceeded my expectations and I cannot praise him enough!! Please e-mail me if you are interested: Diana@theNYrealtor.com.