Cohousing-L Mailing List: Brokers/buying property

[Buzz Burrell (72253.2101]

>I'm not convinced that a buyer's broker does much more than drive up the 
>fee, unless the buyers are terribly naive; whomever they represent the 
>broker wants to make a sale!   But it might be worth going to talk to some 
>of each to hear what they have to say.

I'm not sure about Mass, but the above does not represent the situation in
Colorado.

Here, the buyer does not pay any fee no matter who is involved.  The Listing Fee
is paid entirely by the Seller, and generally the Listing Agent keeps it all, or
splits it, with those Agents involved with the sale.  Occassionally they will
discount the fee if they make a direct sale, but that discount rarely would go
to the Buyer.

Also, by retaining a Buyers Agent, then one is legally being represented.
Otherwise, even if its your best friend, then legally your agent is always
representing the Seller.


The paragraph about finding property "off the market" is certainly good advice.
I feel that forming a relationship or even partnership with the City Housing
Authority gives one a leg up.  Also, there are usually numerous NGO's working in
the housing field.  These are most usefull if you want to build some
affordablility mechanisms into your basic structure, and then work with them to
create a partially subsidized, or at least supported, developement.

If your project doesn't want to do that, then I would consider working directly
with developers, who may already own land that they are planning a subdivision
on, or know who has it. 

Lastly, what works really well although is laborious, is to bike, run, or even
drive around until you see something you like.  Then go to the Tax Assessors
Office, look up who owns it, and contact them personally.  I've learned how to
use thier computers, and bought my last house after sending out form letters to
about 50 addresses in neighborhoods I liked after personal inspection.

Buzz Burrell
Paonia, CO