Recently divorced. Never really done any buying of anything non-apparel without my ex-husband's "help." Now I need to find someone to help me through the process so I need to get a realtor. I'm terrified these people will rip me off or try to screw me because I'm new to this. What should I ask a realtor to really vet them well before hiring? How do I know they're legit? Should I ask for referrals/reviews?

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I just went under contract for my first home, and am buying as a single woman. Apart from what’s already been said, my only other advise is: 1) be open minded - I ended up loving something completely different than I had envisioned when I first started looking. Along those lines, look at multiple styles of homes! 2) Take a friend/family member with you when you look. It really helped to have someone who knows me well see things, point things out, and even just to bounce ideas off of or talk through my thoughts on the homes. Plus it made it more fun!

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Totally agree - I dragged my friends to open houses and they pointed out things that I would have missed !!

Ask a friend for a recommendation!

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OP - I am divorced too and just signed the papers on my house. I had the same fears as you including how am I going to pay and manage everything on my own. There are few things you can do 1) ask your friends / coworkers for referrals. Interview as many as you want till you find someone who works on your behalf rather than just making a sale. My first agent with whom I worked was terrible and made me cry (as in made me feel like I was not worth owning a home). I kicked her to the curb. My current agent is beyond fantastic and has gone out of the way that helped me get a house 2) Get your finances in order I.e. get all your bank statement, stocks, 401k etc. Do a pre-approval soft check to see how much you can afford - this can help drive conversations with your real estate agent. You can get a soft check via your bank or from any of the online websites 3) Do you know where you want to buy a home? if not go to as many open houses as you can. Areas I thought I would love - I hated them. 4) Enjoy the process - I started my journey with a lot of fear but I came to enjoy the process and eventually got over my trepidations. Good luck to you !!

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M1 - I can't thank you enough. These tips coming from someone who's been in my shoes is so helpful! I am absolutely going to ask coworkers/friends about realtors in the area. Left the town where we spent most of our time together so I'm still a little new, but I would also look outside of my area if there were better options.

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Definitely check customer reviews for realtors who have offered the best service for the area you're looking in. My agent works with my mom elsewhere so it's easier for me but I've met alot of other agents who knew what they were doing and were helpful. Sometimes it depends on who you connect best with. You can change agents if needed.

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