When buying a house do I need to get my own REALTOR® or can I use the sellers realtor? I found a house I want to buy on a realtor app and they already have a REALTOR®.
Great question — and one a lot of buyers are asking right now, especially with the recent changes in how real estate commissions work. When you find a home you love on an app, it’s easy to wonder, “Do I really need my own REALTOR, or can I just work with the seller’s?”
You can use the seller’s agent. But whether you should is another story.
Using the Seller’s REALTOR (Listing Agent)
The listing agent’s job is to represent the seller — their price, their terms, their best interests. Even if they’re kind and helpful, their loyalty is already committed.
If you choose to work directly with them, you’re stepping into a situation where the agent can’t fully advise you. They can’t tell you if the home is overpriced, if you should negotiate repairs, or if you’re about to make a decision that doesn’t favor you. Their role becomes more of a neutral facilitator.
And when you’re making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, “neutral” often isn’t enough.
Hiring Your Own Buyer’s Agent (Under the New Rules)
This is where things have changed.
In the past, the seller typically paid both agents’ commissions. That’s no longer the default. Today, buyers hire and compensate their own agent, and if they want the seller to contribute toward that cost, it must be negotiated in the offer — just like any other term.
Even with that shift, having your own agent still brings huge advantages:
- Honest pricing guidance
- Help spotting red flags
- Strong negotiation on price, repairs, and terms
- Someone who explains the contract in plain English
- A professional who’s legally and ethically obligated to protect your interests
And remember: negotiating for the seller to cover part (or all) of your agent’s fee is absolutely allowed — it just has to be written into your offer.