Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> Once you ask a single question of the sellers agent
> you are stuck.  No ethical agent can represent you
> then, and in the 2 states I'm familiar with it is
> forbidden by law.

Some state laws disallow dual agency. Beyond that condition, I know 
of no reason why a buyer may not ask several questions of the listing 
agent and then go find another agent for personal representation.

> I believe that any realtor, in order to keep that
> title is required to split commission with a buyers
> agent.

There is no such requirement. A listing broker can keep all the 
commission or split it any way they choose. No self-respecting 
Realtor, however, will sell a property listed by another unless: 1) 
the listing broker has agreed to split the commission, or, 2) the 
buyer is paying the selling agent's fee. There are in fact many 
buyer's brokers who specialize in representing buyers and who charge 
various fees for that service. They are often able to get the price 
reduced for their buyers in the amount of the selling commission 
thereby saved by the seller.