Finding a buyer's agent for a homestead
A couple of you
suggested tracking down a designated buyer's agent to narrow the list
of potential farms and also to negotiate the final deal. Financially, a
buyer's agent makes a lot of sense since sellers have already factored
the buyer's agent's fee into the list price, so you're not paying
anything extra for the service. Unfortunately, Mark and I spent a
couple of weeks contacting potential realtors and had trouble getting
anyone to give us the time of day.
Then I discovered Zillow's
realtor search feature.
By narrowing the field to a certain region, choosing "Buying a home"
from the "Service needed" dropdown, then going to "Advanced" and 
selecting
"Buyer's Agent" as the specialty, I was finally able to come up with
over a hundred possible choices.
My next step was to
narrow the playing field by clicking on each realtor's profile and
eliminating everyone whose "Past sales" listings were out of my price
range and/or in which the realtor acted as the seller's agent rather
than as the buyer's agent. Finally, reviews helped me select a realtor
who has a good reputation for answering emails and staying in touch.
And, sure enough, I
found a buyer's agent who's willing to give us the time of day! Maybe
now we can stop spending quite so much time househunting and can finish
getting our current homestead sorted and ready to move.
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About us: Anna Hess and Mark Hamilton spent over a decade living self-sufficiently in the mountains of Virginia before moving north to start over from scratch in the foothills of Ohio. They've experimented with permaculture, no-till gardening, trailersteading, home-based microbusinesses and much more, writing about their adventures in both blogs and books.
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Dear Anna and Mark,
I hope you all the best buying and selling. I wonder if in this rush from the thrill of new prospects if you are doing things in the wrong order. Maybe find a seller's agent before you find a buyer's agent? Or maybe do both?
Could you use part of your nest egg to live a trial year in a low rent place in Athens to test the waters, even be your own agent during that time?
I am asking a lot of questions and sure, they may be just for thinking. But they might be worthy things to really delve into for more than a minute.
It is awesome, you are crossing the mud and joining the world! Take it slow enough that no mistakes are made as you find yourself in this new place.
Hi Anna,
I will chime in to agree with Maggie. I am not sure what you are running from? Maybe just cleaning up your current digs and starting a careful study of options makes more sense?
Thanks for all you and Mark have taught me :).
John
I don't have a trouble with change or a hang up with watching you change or move (actually I said it is "awesome") for that matter. I made it clear in my first 2 posts that my main point is that you are rushing. John's main point seemed that it seems a move away more than to. I already had read the blog entry that you refer to, but I went back and double checked and didn't see anything new.
I just want you to be careful that this is a slow, sure process, because it is such a huge thing, is likely using most of your resources, is a huge investment of energy, and likely many changes would be made that you can't reverse.
I want to be proven wrong but as your watchful sister, I am concerned that you are changing everything. Mark may have things to pull him to Ohio. But what is pulling you to Ohio?
Everyone wants you to be happy, and I know Mom is turning 75, so you aren't the only person in the family who is changing. Of course, we all want you to follow your dreams and embrace your liberty, but "Ohio" in and of itself is not an full explanation. OK, Ohio has a certain social scene that draws you? Do you know the people at all individually or is it just hopes?
When I moved to Berea I talked with other recent new students and we all said that it takes a full year to acclimate and it is rare to feel the true connecting bond of friendship anywhere before then.
Maybe what is best for you and Mark are 2 different answers right now?