What is a Sellers Agent?

A seller's agent or listing agent is the works for the seller. If an real estate agent shows you one of his listings chances are the agent you are working with will be a seller's agent or subagent. A seller's agent is required by law to represent the interests of the seller. SELLER'S AGENTS ALWAYS REPRESENT THE SELLER.

A seller's agent or subagent can show you the types of homes you're interested in, discuss the physical conditions of each, present any offers you make to the seller, and provide you with information about financing, inspection services, attorneys, title companies, and related services.

Seller's agents are paid through the commission the seller is charged when the house is sold. As a buyer, you don't directly pay a seller's agent. But you pay indirectly, since the commission is built into the price of the home, which you do pay.

Because a sellers agent works for the seller, the agent cannot legally provide you with any information when it's not in the best interest of the seller to do so. An example is the price the seller may be willing to accept for the home. Likewise, a seller's agent must disclose to the seller any information that you share with him, however confidential you think it might be, such as the price you ultimately would be willing to offer for the house.

Because of these limitations, a new kind of agent has recently
come into existence: the buyer's agent.