You can work with real estate agents during a transaction in various ways, and it's essential to understand their duty to you as fiduciary (or not!).
In North Carolina, real estate agents essentially "default" to seller's agents. This means you should carefully disclose confidential information until a buyer's agent represents you! See the North Carolina brochure below for more details!
If you are ready to interview us to be YOUR buyer's agent, click here
The buyer's representative (also known as a buyer’s agent) is hired by prospective buyers and works in the buyer's best interest throughout the transaction. The buyer can pay the agent directly through a negotiated fee, or the buyer's rep may be paid by the seller or through a commission split with the seller’s agent.
The seller's representative (also known as a listing agent or seller's agent) is hired by and represents the seller. All fiduciary duties are owed to the seller, meaning this person’s job is to get the best price and terms for the seller. The agency relationship usually is created by a signed listing contract.
A subagent owes the same fiduciary duties to the agent's customer as the agent does. Subagency usually arises when a cooperating sales associate from another brokerage, who is not the buyer’s agent, shows property to a buyer. The subagent works with the buyer to show the property but owes fiduciary duties to the listing broker and the seller. Although a subagent cannot assist the buyer in any way that would be detrimental to the seller, a buyer customer can expect to be treated honestly by the subagent.
A disclosed dual agent represents both the buyer and the seller in the same real estate transaction. In such relationships, dual agents owe limited fiduciary duties to both buyer and seller clients. Because of the potential for conflicts of interest in a dual-agency relationship, all parties must give their informed consent. Disclosed dual agency is legal in most states but often requires written consent from all parties.
A managing broker chooses designated agents (also called appointed agents) to act as exclusive agents of the seller or buyer. This allows the brokerage to avoid problems arising from dual-agency relationships for licensees at the brokerage. The designated agents represent their clients with all attendant fiduciary duties.
As always, let me know if you have any questions about the home buying process. I am here to help.
