Is it important for your realtor to specialize in the area you are looking? (Houston: fit in)

[cityliving55]

We are beginning to look for a place in Bellaire, and were told by a realtor at an open house that many listings are sold prior to making it onto MLS, and that it is good to have a realtor that specializes in Bellaire.

We have a realtor in mind that we have used before, and who we would love to use again, but she does not specialize in the Bellaire area. Would this be a disadvantage for us... just wondering if we would miss out on many potential listings?

Any experience/ advise would be appreciated!

[cheryjohns]

A lot of sellers don't like to be "pocket-listed". It lowers the number of offers and could result in a lower accepted price than if it hit MLS.

Most Realtors that host Open Houses are new. They are there to pick up buyers. Bear that in mind when talking to one.

Your last Realtor did a good job before - call her again.

[predatorprey]

The bigger disadvantage is to work with someone you do not know, trust or get along with.

Go with the one you worked with before if I were you. Assuming you liked their work.

[Beto]

If the Realtor you used before met your expectation then i would advise to use them again. Where in Bellaire are you looking?

[cityliving55]

Thanks for the advice!! We will definitely use our previous realtor then..we definitely trust her. We haven't narrowed what area of Bellaire yet, but trying to stay zoned to good schools.

[cheryjohns]

Originally Posted by cityliving55

Thanks for the advice!! We will definitely use our previous realtor then..we definitely trust her. We haven't narrowed what area of Bellaire yet, but trying to stay zoned to good schools.

[Beto]

Originally Posted by cityliving55

Thanks for the advice!! We will definitely use our previous realtor then..we definitely trust her. We haven't narrowed what area of Bellaire yet, but trying to stay zoned to good schools.

Good Luck and happy house hunting!

[City Love]

I'd also recommend sticking with your agent. If you were completely new to the area and Houston, then it might be helpful to find an agent who pretty much strictly works the area. But an agent brings much more than just knowledge about the area, they bring experience about the process to make it simpler for yourself.

Good luck.

[crone]

What all the previous posters have said is true. I might add, be sure you are on the same page. On our current house we used an agent who had helped us buy and sell several houses. During the years that we were elsewhere, her attitude regarding schools changed a lot. Our kids were gone so we had no concern about schools. We were just looking for a house that our furniture would fit in, we could afford and we could resell on a moments notice.

I later came to understand that she thought all public schools were awful and that there was no difference between them. We bought in the Klein Forest attendance zone. We should have bought in CyFair, which is 4 houses west of me. Our lives would have been forever changed.

Just be sure the agent understands the words you speak. You may need to define what is is.