Also, don't feel obliged to buy a home through one particularly helpful broker. Use several to have the widest selection of possible homes. You don't need to use a broker at all if the house you want is being sold by an owner himself. Check out Going Solo for more information on what you can expect. Of course not.
Agents can also recommend schools, local contractors, and mortgage brokers.
And they can often help steer you through the home buying process, while smoothing out bumps in the negotiations. Maybe it should come outof the broker's fee. They are supposed to help assure you get the best deal. They can be invaluable if you are moving to a town or part of the country you are unfamiliar with or have little time for house-hunting. Like a regular brokerthey are a font of listings.