What is a Dual Agent?

Some real estate agents represent both the seller and the buyer in the same real estate transaction. This typically happens when a buyer working with a traditional seller's agent is interested in a home listed by that agent's company. Dual agents by law must disclose their status and obtain written informed consent from all parties involved.

Because dual agents represent both the seller and the buyer, they cannot give their undivided loyalty to either party or, more importantly, to you, the buyer. They cannot, for instance, reveal to you, the homebuyer, the price or other conditions of sale that may be acceptable to the seller without the seller's written consent. Dual agents also cannot provide other forms of negotiation assistance that a buyer's agent can.

A dual agent can perform the other common tasks that buyer's and seller's agents can also perform, such as assisting in the preparation of a purchase agreement, explaining closing costs and settlement procedures, and cooperating with attorneys, accountants, and inspectors to ensure a smooth settlement.