My husband and I live in a nice suburb of Philly and have been looking for a special property in the same area the past 2 years. We own our home and are preapproved for the price range we're seeking. We want something not in great supply here - a yard to garden in that has sun, and we're looking to renovate or build new if we can't find what we want.

We've had difficulty finding what we want in our area, and recently expanded our search to nearby cities, and last year pulled out of a deal when the inspection revealed more defects than we could see on our own.

Our buyers agent has been hinting recently that our criteria are too stringent and that we should have found a place by now. It took us 4 years to find our current house (same reasons! not many like it in the area) and we explained to her 2 years ago that this would take some time. Recently she said that she was dropping us as clients.

We will buy eventually, and at that point will sell our house, so someone will be getting these commissions. Does anyone have any advice for me as a buyer? I don't want to waste anyone's time, especially in this market/economy (things have slowed down here lately), but will need an agent at some point.

Pay-as-you-go - provide a daily stipend or something for the amount of time you're asking an agent to provide because the agent may never get the reward of the fruit of their labor, you do the driving, and, don't expect the agent to drop everything and everyone at a whim's notice.

We have not had the agent show us houses; we've driven by or gone to open houses. I've considered some sort of "retainer" like you suggested but can't find anything like it on the web to guide how I would structure it. Any ideas?

So your plan is to try to sell your house after you find another place to buy? Im guessing then that if you do write an offer, it would have to be contingent upon you're selling your current home?

That can be a tough sell to a seller.

Maybe you can find a buyers agent in your area willing to take you on. Some agents prefer working with buyers.

[quote=Sassy411]So your plan is to try to sell your house after you find another place to buy? Im guessing then that if you do write an offer, it would have to be contingent upon you're selling your current home?

That can be a tough sell to a seller.

Maybe you can find a buyers agent in your area willing to take you on. Some agents prefer working with buyers. [/quote]

Our house is paid for and we would not make an offer contingent on selling ours. We will live in it during the renovation or new construction. Do you know a good way to find agents who prefer working with buyers?

It sounds to me like you have not asked very of much of this agent if she has in fact not shown you any property. If she has not put much into this other than maybe phone calls or sending you some emails it does not seem to me she even knows you well enough to consider you too picky. I would keep looking for your special place on the internet or open houses and when you think you have found it try another agent in the area. I would definitly tell them up front that you are looking for a special hard to find property and you will not settle for less. Explain all of your financial situation to them up front so they will know what they are dealing with. As in the posts above try not to be to demanding. You may have to go thru several agents to find the one that will spend the time with you to find the right place, but there is one out there. Most important be truthfully up front on everything and you will save you and the agent a lot of grief. Good Luck

If the picture you paint is real then you are a dream client and your agent is an idiot.

If you explain your situation to a few agents you should not have a hard time finding someone to help you.

Ask the agents if their MLS or their personal website will allow them to set you up to receive automatic email updates of new listings as they come on the market. This way you stay up to date and the agent doesn't spin their wheels.

If your side of the story is somewhat accurate, then it doesn't seem like you've asked much of your agent thus far. And well, it's her loss if she was so anxious to drop you as a client. Best of luck in your endeavors, hopefully soon you will find the right property for you.

I think this is just a problem with the setting of expectations.

You acknowledge that it took you 4 years to find your current home.

You've already been looking for the replacement home for 2 years.

Actual Pre-Approvals are usually couched in wording that limits the Bank's commitment, or approval to no more than 90 or 120 days . . . . it's not going to be issued to be good for "years". Pre-Qualification letters mean hardly nothing because they're all written with language saying that they're subject to the future verification of any infornmation that was used to pre-qualify . . . . and everyone's circumstances change.

If this Agent was "Your Agent", then you would have entered into some written form of Buyer Broker Agreement, which should have a built-in clause regarding a Retainer.

Many Agents are shy about asking for any dollar amount to be inserted in this area, to show evidences of commitment by the Buyer. After a couple of years of helping you look, they should overcome that hesitation. Perhaps you don't even have a "Written Contract" with this Agent but just a causual relationship . . . . in which case, they are NOT "Your Agent"; you're NOT a Client

And also, most Real Estate Contracts - Listing Agreements or Buyer Representation Agreements are limited to no more than One (1) year's duration. That's true here in Vermont, and most other jurisdictions; includng Pennsylvania but I'm not sure of that. This time limitation is to protect the public from being locked into agreements that seem to tie their hands for an "excessive" period of time. This business is predicated upon the normal expectation that the activity isn't going to be drawn out into the category of years . . . . just weeks or months.

My read is that if the perfect property appear today, you wouldn't want to acknowledge it because not enough time has gone by. It would appear that you will not feel that you've sufficiently scoured the bushes looking until at least another 2 years goes by.

Already satisfied with where you live now, I'd have to say that you're not a serious Buyer, but a perpetual looker. There's nothing wrong with that . . . . it's just that your Agent has lost the confidence that you'll ever get around to making a decision on a new purchase, and would prefer to cut her losses.

But that's just my observation based upon what you've said.

I agree with Bigtoe. This agent is a dope. Why cut you as a client esp. if you are not asking her to show you houses all the time?

Bizarre.

If I were you, I would post your situation on Trulia Voices for your area. You'll have agents falling all over themselves trying to be the one you pick.