"Una" wrote in message ...
Mac wrote:
Our buying agent was paid by the seller. We were assured that she
represented our best interests by law.

Sorry, no. "Your" agent was the showing agent, legally working for
the seller, and splitting the commission with the listing agent. A
buyer's agent is someone who contracts with the buyer, usually for
a flat fee (not a commission), to represent the buyer and only the
buyer. Unfortunately, many people who go around calling themselves
a buyer's agent are nothing of the kind: they are agents who are
not good enough at selling to have any listings of their own. They
survive by trying to be the first to show buyers a house, and then
they demand half of the commission if "their" buyer ends up buying
the house. Consequently, these agents are keen to show you lots of
houses, which impresses some buyers tremendously.

I spent a day with one of these agents, driving around to look at
houses I had researched, I had found driving directions to, etc.;
all this guy did was use his magic dongle to unlock the lock boxes
on the doors of unoccupied houses. I'd given him a list in advance
but he didn't bother to arrange for us to see any of the occupied
houses. I guess he figured a drive by would pass as first showing.
After that experience, I dealt only with the listing agent of each
house I looked at.

Una

Oh my gosh, we were warned NEVER to deal with the listing agent. Again,
live and learn. Next time, I'm doing my own inspection (along with the
required hired inspector), hiring a buyer's agent, and passing up any house
that won't let me get up on the roof (or at least a ladder), empty the
closets, and maybe camp-out in front for a day or two. Oh yeah, and I'll
pass on the third bedroom to get a my fireplace back.