A top real estate agent is the most crucial component of a strong real estate strategy. Whether you’re buying or selling — or both — you need to have someone on your team that has the skills and insights necessary to help you navigate today’s market environment.

If you’re going to be transacting in the 2023 market, here was three reasons why your first step should be to get connected with a top real estate agent.

#1. A Top Real Estate Agent Knows How to Win a Bidding War

As top real estate agents with ample experience in the industry, the best agents have likely dealt with competing bids many times throughout their careers. This means that they know what to do when in today’s market where low inventory is ramping up the competition between buyers.

To ensure that your purchasing proposal stands out to sellers, a top real estate agent always includes offer-strengthening strategies, such as:

• An escalation clause
• Earnest money
• Proof of funding
• A personal letter
  

If the competition is extremely high, the best agents know how to guide you in dropping certain contingency clauses, where it makes sense to do so. By offering to remove certain contingencies from your contract, the seller may be inclined to do business with you — even passing up higher offers.

#2. Your Perfect Agent Can Help You Find What You Want at the Right Price

Home prices have been particularly high since markets reopened after the initial waves of the pandemic. In September of 2022, the median price of a home was $384,800 — slightly down from July 2022’s historic high of $413,800, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

Will real estate prices finally drop in 2023?

According to the research firm Capital Economics, home prices are set to fall by 8% next year. However, affordability will likely worsen due to interest rates and other economic circumstances.

No matter where home prices go, a top real estate agent will be able to help you find a great listing at a price you can afford. Your perfect agent customizes the buying strategy according to your unique needs and circumstances.

Your finances are at the forefront of your top agent’s strategy, and they’re able to create a flexible plan to help you achieve your goals.

Top agents are vital in 2023 because they can connect you with exclusive listings, help you adjust your buying direction, and represent your best interests during negotiations.

Throughout every step of the buying process, your agent can help you manage the financial responsibilities that add up when you’re buying a home.

Being experts at identifying the hidden costs of buying a home, your top agent can also help you prepare and budget for the transaction expenses. This can help you manage your money wisely so that you’re not caught off guard by sudden high-cost bills.

When you work with a top agent, you’re never in the dark. You always have a trustworthy and communicative guide that will make sure that you’re aware of the transaction’s latest updates and next steps.

#3. A Top Agent Knows What To Do in a Low Inventory Environment

Besides the competition that low inventory creates, it also introduces another challenge to buyers — finding a listing that checks off all of the items on your wishlist.

Buying a home is a major milestone in life, and there are many emotions attached to the transaction. If you’re incredibly excited about buying a home and you realize that there are not that many options due to the market’s low inventory, that can be disappointing.

But, a top real estate agent would never let you lose your morale!

The best real estate agents in the market have strong professional networks built up over the years. This means that they have the connections necessary to find off-market opportunities and exclusive listings.

In extreme cases where there really is a chronic lack of homes meeting your criteria, a top agent can help you make the best out of the situation.

Oftentimes, a top real estate agent has the skills and knowledge to help you calibrate your expectations based on the realities of the market. This allows a top agent to help you curate your wishlist so that you can clearly identify the best opportunities for you at the time of your transaction.

You have so much invested in your home purchase, so it’s a basic best practice to have an industry professional guide your actions.  

If you’re ready to find the top real estate agent that will help you achieve your homeownership goals in 2023, RealEstateAgents.com connects you with the top-performing agents in your area.

You can also learn more about buying or selling a home in 2023 by exploring other educational blog posts.