More and more homebuyers are using the internet when purchasing real estate. Not only are they doing their initial "how to buy a home" research online, but they are getting pre-approved, selecting an agent., researching homes, and learning about Open Houses online as well. Buyers are increasingly trusting the internet for help, but often get stuck when they find a home they are interested in buying. They don't know what to do next.

To help these internet shoppers save some money, the brokerage for which I work, Buyer's Edge, offers an alternative fee structure. This option allows us to accept 2% rather than our traditional 3% commission when the buyer comes to us after identifying a property. When a buyer cuts the search out of the work we do, we offer them the chance to reduce the commission. Read below for a quick description of the two distinct fee options we offer.

1. Three Per Cent (3%) Fee – Buyer's Edge fee of 3% is the same as the co-op commission offered on most residential properties listed for sale with a real estate firm. Here's how it works: the listing broker receives a commission from the seller and agrees to share that commission with the Buyer Broker who sells the property. Most often this commission is 6% of the sales price, and one-half, or 3%, is offered to the Buyer Broker. This is called a co-op fee, or co-op commission. Usually that co-op fee completely offsets the Home Buyer's obligation to the Buyer Broker. Ninety-nine percent of all transactions are handled through the co-op commission. To date, only a few clients who
have chosen this option have had to write a check for out-of-pocket costs.

2. A Fee of Two Percent (2%) of the Purchase Price with a One Percent (1%)
Retainer Fee. – This option is available only to purchasers who have identified a
property (Subject Property) they wish to purchase prior to entering into an agreement with Buyer’s Edge. Purchaser shall pay Buyer’s Edge non-refundable retainer fee upon execution of this agreement in the amount equal to One Percent of the listed sales price of the Subject Property. The retainer fee shall be credited to purchaser at settlement.

Should purchaser proceed with purchase of any property other than the Subject Property during term of this agreement the payment shall be Three Percent (3%) of the purchase price and the retainer fee will be credited to the purchaser at settlement.

BONUSES: Sometimes a Seller will offer a bonus to the broker who brings in a Buyer. Buyer's Edge will collect a bonus on behalf of the Buyer, and the sum is credited to the Buyer at Settlement. We do not accept bonuses on our own behalf.

Buyer's Edge requires No Up-front, Processing or Transaction fees!

As you can see, for the web-savvy home buyer the Buyer's Edge offers a great alternative way to save money by searching the web.

Contact me if you are ready to get started.