If you have been searching for a home online, you may have seen ads for “discount agents,” or agents that will pay you to use them. Beware of these types of tactics to get your business. There is a lot that goes into a real estate transaction, a lot of room for error, and there is no substitute for having an experienced Realtor on your side. Navigating these issues takes experience. Given enough years, an experienced agent will have come across just about every issue you can think of. This could be the difference between a blown-up deal and one that holds together. Ultimately, you have to decide which route is right for you and your family. The chances are good that going with a discount broker probably won’t help you get a better deal when all of the final numbers are negotiated and calculated. There’s a reason why traditional agents and brokers stick around through even the toughest real estate markets, but new discount brokerages tend to pop up only when the market is hot.