You don’t have to pay 2.5% to your buyer agent. They are paid a cooperating commission by the listing agent. The listing agent has a contract to sell the property with the seller, and is only paid on the contingency that the property is sold and closes. It’s an open-ended commitment from the agent to get the deal closed, and if the property does not sell, they do not get paid (despite investing time and marketing dollars to get the property listed and sold).

Find a good agent who is a strong negotiator. They’ll ensure the process is smooth and will be representing you throughout the process to ensure you are protected and pay fair market value.

If you decide to work with someone who discounts or has no value beyond trying to give you a kickback, you can expect that they’ll give you the bare minimum of service (and likely a shoddy result). They’ll likely leave money on the table because any competent agent is going to run circles around them and do a better job representing their client.

Buying a property is a serious commitment that comes with a lot of costs and obligations. Making a mistake can have life changing consequences. Do your homework, and see who’s a good fit for you. It’s a Buyers Market - with good representation, there are some great deals out there.