Buyer Agency and Fiduciary Duties: No Nonsense Here

In a recent blog, I read one person's argument stating that: "fiduciary duties and buyer agency cannot co-exist based on the current method of compensation."

While I can appreciate that this person is expressing his views, I have to say that I totally disagree with this idea, because--as I pointed out to this person--not all real estate agents are the same. Not all will share the same worldviews, values, and norms.

Although Washington state may not require real estate agents to provide fiduciary duties, it does not mean that they cannot, or should not, provide such duties. His blog was based on the quote of a local Realtor--found in a story by the Seattle Times called, "Agent commissions inching upward," that said:

“In a market flooded with unsold listings, she says, a 3 percent co-op split 'is always going to attract more attention than 2 percent. We call [inadequate splits] ‘getting eliminated at the office.'”

My response:

"This is only one agent’s perception–and there may be others that share this view, but this person does not speak for all agents, or brokers. She certainly does not speak for me. I am an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, and my only concern is showing properties according to what my clients need, and what they can afford. I earnestly make it a point to maintain fiduciary duties with my buyer clients–and because of this–I don’t take listings.

It is not right, nor is it fair, to make sweeping generalizations about buyer agents, because it is a fact that not all real estate agents–let alone buyer agents–operate in the same way, nor do they all maintain the same values."

The Six Essentials of Qualifying for FHA Loans

While FHA is a very helpful program designed to help Americans achieve homeownership, there are a few helpful things to know about what it takes to qualify for this type of financing. The six main points of pre-qualifying for this type of mortgage program--as described by fha.com--include, as a rule of thumb:

1. Steady employment history, at least two years with the same employer.

2. Consistent or increasing income over the past two years.

3. Credit report should be in good standing with less than two thirty day late payments in the past two years.

4. Any bankruptcy on record must be at least two years old with good credit for the two consecutive years.

5. Any foreclosure must be at least three years old with good credit for the past three years.

6. Mortgage payment qualified for must be approximately 30 percent of your total monthly gross income.

For more information about FHA mortgages, and other helpful homebuying tips, please visit the official web site of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). FHA can help buyers whether they are first time homebuyers, or they are buyers who would like to buy and renovate a fixer. FHA also has a reverse mortgage program for seniors, as well as, programs for buyers of manufactured homes. Information about these different programs can be found by visiting HUD's loan program page.

Basic eligibility requirements for an FHA mortgage can be found through their knowledge base.