Buying a Home in Salt Lake City, UT

Most Utah Homebuyers believe that the appraisal is being done to protect the Buyer. Although it may ultimately do so, the appraisal is really to protect the lender.

Appraisers are hired to protect the Buyer's lender(s). A main part of their job is to determine if there is enough collateral value in the property to protect the lender's lien-holder position.

In some markets, appraisals may be routinely performed before presenting offers. In Utah, it is more common to order an appraisal after a contract price has already been agreed to. In this case, most Buyers will include an appraisal contingency in their offer, allowing them to have the option of cancelling the contract (and getting back their earnest money) in the event the home appraises for less than the contract price.

Buyers should not rely on a past appraisal value in determining how much they will pay for a property. Sellers or their agents will sometimes promote that a property was recently appraised for thousands (or tens of thousands) more than the asking price. An appraisal which was done for the purpose of securing a home-equity or consolidation loan is different from an appraisal which considers the value of a property to secure a first mortgage. At any rate, that is a topic for another discussion.

As your Exclusive Buyers Agent, we will help you determine fair market value before writing an offer on a property. Our goal as your representative is to protect YOU and your best interest ONLY...

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

In Utah, THE APPRAISAL CONTINGENCY allows a Buyer to cancel the contract and have their Earnest Money returned, if the property under contract appraises for less than the contractually agreed price. This contingency has deadlines by which the appraisal and cancellation need to be made. 

Almost all Buyers should include this contingency in their offers. Leaving it out could subject you to the possibility of not only paying more for the home than it is worth, but also the chance that you would need to come up with Thousands of Dollars out-of-pocket to pay for the difference in price up front. (Your lender will likely only lend up to the appraised value.)

In the event a property appraises for more than the contract price, you can try to negotiate with the Seller, and the appraisal can be a powerful tool in those negotiations, but there is no guarantee that the Seller will agree to sell you the home at the appraised value.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

In Utah, THE FINANCING CONTINGENCY in an offer is a protection to the Buyer if their financing falls through.

It allows the Buyer to cancel the contract without forfeiting their Earnest Money. If not included in the offer, and the Buyer's financing falls through, the Seller can either cancel the contract and retain the Earnest Money deposit as liquidated damages, or return the Earnest Money and sue the Buyer for not performing thier duties of the contract. They can also pursue other legal remedies, if available and if they have chosen not to retain the Earnest Money as liquidated damages.

If the financing contingency is included in your offer, and you work diligently to obtain the loan, but the loan is denied (on or before a specified deadline), the Seller has no recourse against you. You can cancel the contract and your Earnest Money deposit will be returned to you.

In almost all transactions involving a loan, the Buyer should insist on making the financing contingency a part of the contract.

As each transaction is unique, there may be situations where it is in a Buyer's best interest to not have a financing contingency as part of the offer or to choose to include such a contingency with a short deadline. An Exclusive Buyers Agent, working on your side, can help you determine what is best in your situation.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

Most people think of Earnest Money only as a protection for the Seller.

In some cases a Buyer gets cold feet. Other times, a Buyer ties up the property and is ultimately unable to perform after all contingencies have passed. The Earnest Money is widely considered to be a fair sum, to pay the Seller back for lost time on the market or other inconvenience.

What many Buyers do not know, however, is that: In Utah, the Earnest Money Deposit is also a protection to the Buyer.

In Utah, Section 16 of the standard Real Estate Purchase Contract states: "If Seller defaults, in addition to return of the Earnest Money Deposit, Buyer may elect either to accept from Seller a sum equal to the Earnest Money Deposit as liquidated damages, or may sue Seller to specifically enforce this Contract or pursue other remedies available at law. If Buyer elects to accept liquidated damages, Seller agrees to pay the liquidated damages to Buyer upon demand."

So, if the Seller Defaults, the Buyer's Earnest Money is not only returned to the Buyer, but the Seller is contractually obligated to pay an equal amount to the Buyer as liquidated damages. Therefore, when you set the amount of Earnest Money, you may want to consider how much would be sufficient to cover your costs in the event the Seller were to default...

In the instance of a Seller Default, the Buyers' options are:

1. to accept the sum equal to the Earnest Money Deposit and walk away, or
2. REJECT the money and pursue other remedies (lawsuit, etc)...

If the Earnest Money amount is minimal, the "equal sum" may not be sufficient to cover costs of re-scheduling movers, re-instating (if possible) temporary housing, etc. etc. And a lawsuit can take its toll on both the losing and prevailing parties... Determining the right amount of Earnest Money involves thought and planning.

If the Earnest Money is substantial enough, it could keep a Seller from backing out of the deal.

Just as many Buyers feel compelled to follow through with a transaction because of the amount of money they will lose if they default, Sellers will also have to consider the financial implications of backing out of a deal. If it will cost the Seller $500 to cancel (by default), they just might do it. They may have an offer for $3000 more just waiting to be accepted! But if it will cost them $5,000 or $10,000 to cancel out of the deal, they will likely spend a lot more time thinking about it, and will be less likely to choose that option. 

If the Seller Defaults, the Buyer may wish to consider whether or not to accept the liquidated damages being offered by the Seller. Once accepted (deposited, etc.) the Buyer forfeits their rights to pursue the other available remedies...

In any case where the Seller chooses to default and pay the "equal sum" to the Buyer, they are gambling that the Buyer will take that money and not reject it and sue the Seller to force the sale, or to pursue other remedies.

As your Exclusive Buyers Agents, we protect your best interests. We make you aware of your options and give you the information you want and need to empower you to make the best (informed) decisions throughout your homebuying experience.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

Let's Talk More about Earnest Money...

DETERMINING HOW MUCH EARNEST MONEY TO PUT DOWN when making an initial offer. (Very Important)

The amount of Earnest Money you include with your offer is important because it can create advantages or disadvantages in setting the stage for successful negotiations.

If you were working with the Seller's Agent, they would likely try and get you to put down a very large sum of money. Then, if you were to default on the contract, the Seller could cancel the contract, keep your Earnest Money, and leave you without a home and less money to make an offer on another property.

What happens more often is that the Buyer feels forced to go through with the purchase, even though it may no longer be in their best interest, because they don't want to lose all that money.

There ARE times to use a substantial Earnest Money Deposit, but a typical fair amount for an initial offer is between .5 - 1% of the price of the home. (I know you wanted to know...)

Depending on the situation, a smaller amount may even be appropriate. As agents on YOUR side, we can help you determine whether or not it could be to your benefit to offer a larger or smaller amount in your initial offer.

In order to protect you and your earnest money, we will craft an offer that has favorable terms for the Buyer. You can be assured that as Exclusive Buyers Agents, we will do everything possible to protect you and your money.

A future article will contain information on common contract contingencies and how they can be used to protect you in the real estate transaction.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

You have seen the available homes on the market that fit your budget and match your criteria and have decided on the one you want to make an offer on. GREAT!

In Utah, in order for your offer to be valid it is required to be backed by "good and valuable consideration."

In almost every case, this really means that the offer must be backed by a monetary deposit, called Earnest Money. The larger your earnest money, the stronger your offer, but if you breach the terms of the contract, you can lose your earnest money to the Seller. If the transaction comes to a successful close, however, your earnest money deposit is credited back to you.

One of the best ways to protect your earnest money is to get Pre-Approved for your loan before writing any offers.

You can be assured that as your Exclusive Buyers Agent, we will craft an offer that has favorable terms for the Buyer. We will do everything possible to protect you and your money.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

FTC Consumer Alert - Buying a Home: It's a Big Deal

The Federal Trade Commission just released a Consumer Alert (May 2007) titled "Buying a Home: It's a Big Deal."

It can be accessed here:

http://ftc.gov/bc/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/zalt001.shtm

It clearly explains agents, brokers, commissions, disclosure and many other important items consumers should be aware about before they purchase a home. I highly recommend all persons considering a home purchase read the Consumer Alert and act accordingly.

This is great information for all homebuyers.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

Many buyers in the Salt Lake City, Utah area have been unsure of their standing in the credit department. This has led them to agree to pay a higher interest rate, convinced that they should, when in reality, their credit may not have been low enough to merit the higher rate. 

Those who believe their credit score is excellent are often correct.

Many who are unsure are often surprised to find out that their credit actually is still great or excellent.

Some don't understand how scores are calculated or they may have had a late payment or two a while back. This usually isn't enough to drive your score low enough to merit a higher interest rate.

Others find they have errors on their credit history that are causing them to have a lower score than they expected. Many of those errors can be easily cleared up or even eliminated with supporting documentation. We have had clients who have cleared up their credit and qualified for a loan in less than 30 days.

A trustworthy mortgage professional can help you review and prepare your credit file in advance. As your Exclusive Buyers Agent, we can help point you in the right direction and let you know if we think you are paying too much for your loan.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this post.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

Get Technology Working For You

With our Preferred Buyer Search, Salt Lake City Area Buyers help us program our database to search the entire inventory of listed homes for sale. Our computers will easily find the homes that match YOUR specifications.

This search accesses the Wasatch Front Regional Multiple Listing Service's mainframe database (The MLS). You'll know about new listings the day they are entered into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). We can program the database to flag new listings, price reduced listings or otherwise changed listings that match your criteria and email them to you that same day! (And daily thereafter!)

No matter what style of home you want, you'll find it with our computers. Do you want two baths? A garage? How about a finished basement? Do you want an acre of land in the country?

You will know about new listings, price reductions and otherwise changed listings that match your criteria that same day! You no longer need to surf through hundreds of homes on the public sites trying to guess which homes may be the new listings! We can also be more specific about the listing criteria than the other home search sites allow you to be!

You Decide Which Homes You Want To See - At Your Convenience

Our computers will provide you with information on every home available meeting your specifications. You obtain all the facts you need. You see exactly what is available for sale. Then, simply tell us which homes you like. We'll make private showing arrangements, at your convenience, for any home, anywhere, listed by any real estate company. Since we do not list homes and you hire us directly, there is no pressure to convince you to buy any particular home. Exclusive Buyers Agents work for Buyers ONLY!

To sign up for our Preferred Buyer Search, just call Homebuyer Representation, Inc. and ask to speak with an Exclusive Buyers Agent, or fill out our form requesting a FREE CONSULTATION by clicking HERE.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

Breaking News!

CNN Money just posted their Spring Home-Buying Guide for Spring 2007!

The link is:

CNN Money - Spring Home-Buying Guide: 6 ways to do it right

They say to get pre-approved first, shop at least 4 or 5 lenders, work with an agent who will represent you only, etc. etc. etc. The same things I have recently posted in my blog.

Hey! If there was any doubt, check out the CNN Money article.

Do it Right!

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

A VERY Brief Explanation of Different Types of Agents in Utah 

Listing or Seller's Agent:  Sometimes referred to as a "traditional agent", the most common real estate agent works on behalf of the Seller and represents their interests during the sale.

Buyer's Agent:  Usually a traditional agent who assists the Buyer during a transaction.

Exclusive Buyers Agent:  An agent who represents Buyers only and never Sellers in a transaction.

Dual-Agent or Limited Agent:  An agent who works to assist in negotiating a mutually acceptable transaction. The agent cannot provide both parties with undivided loyalty, full confidentiality and full disclosure of all information known to the agent.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

With so many lenders, loan types and loan programs, how can you REALLY know which loan is best?

At Homebuyer Representation, our Exclusive Buyers Agents can assist you in looking at your financing options and possible sources of financing. We are not lenders. Our only goal is that you understand the total cost of each loan, loan type, or loan product or configuration which you are considering.

With this in mind, we created the TOTAL COST OF THE LOAN EVALUATOR®. Our TOTAL COST OF THE LOAN EVALUATOR® allows you to understand what you are really paying for your loan based on the actual dollars you will put into the loan at each phase along the way.

By not focusing on any specific facet of the loans and loan products, the TOTAL COST OF THE LOAN EVALUATOR® lets you clearly see the Total Cost of each loan or loan product after 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 years. We can also customize it for any other time period you would like us to.

The TOTAL COST OF THE LOAN EVALUATOR® can be used to help determine whether or not paying discount points makes sense. It can be used to find out whether or not that low interest rate is actually saving you any money (you may pay more than the difference in up-front fees or in ongoing mortgage insurance)! It can be used to evaluate the possible benefits of a slightly higher interest rate, but with no mortgage insurance premium (or vice-versa).

Our special TOTAL COST OF THE LOAN EVALUATOR® frees you from the common mistake of relying on any specific facet of the loan when you evaluate which loan or loan product is best for YOU.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

The wrong mortgage can cost thousands of dollars in needless fees, interest and other costs.

Many lenders have a handful of loan types that they use with almost all of their customers. You may qualify for special programs, but never hear of them. Many lenders use the loans that are most similar to what the Buyer is familiar with, but which provides the lender with the highest yield or fees (the loan that will put the most money in their pocket...)

Others will find out what your "hot-button" is: lowest interest rate, lowest fees, lowest payment (to name a few).

They will quote you the best deal based on your "hot-button" and make their money on another part of the loan.

A savvy homebuyer will look at the loan as a total package, considering the costs involved in each facet of the loan package.

If you so choose, we, as your Exclusive Buyers Agent, will help you review all your options before you make the final decision on which loan to use.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

Utah Homebuyers should be Pre-Approved BEFORE they make an offer.

We strongly recommend that all our clients get Pre-Approved for a mortgage so they know in advance exactly how much you can afford and that their loan will go through. It also adds credibility and strength to their offer and is a powerful card in negotiations.

Not Pre-Qualified, PRE-APPROVED.

Pre-Qualified only means that the Buyer knows what the price of the home is and what the payments would be. This does not mean that a Lender is willing to lend them that much money to buy a home. Lenders have guidelines they need to follow in order to lend money.

Pre-Approved means your credit has been checked and your loan has been approved with some normal conditions (such as appraisal, no change in employment, etc.).  The lender has evaluated you as a Buyer in accordance with their guidelines and sees no immediate concerns with lending you the money to buy your new home.

In Utah, it is becoming more the norm for a Seller to ask for a letter of Pre-Approval to accompany all offers.

In a multiple-offer situation, the difference could determine whether or not you get the home.

If you are only Pre-Qualified, a Seller may accept a lower offer from a Pre-Approved Buyer. (Especially those who have already had a sale fail because they accepted an offer from a Buyer that was not Pre-Approved.)

If you are the Buyer that is Pre-Approved, you just may beat out the other Buyer in the same scenario. A Pre-Approval makes your offer much stronger and more attractive to Sellers and their agents.

It also gives you, as a Buyer, peace of mind that you will be able to purchase the home you have made an offer on.

Remember: Pre-Approved, not Pre-Qualified.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

Utah's smartest homebuyers have found that the best way to buy a home is to make sure the agent working for them, works ONLY for them!

Think about it:

In Utah, the Seller's Agent is bound to get the Seller the best price and terms. Can the Seller's agent prepare a market analysis for you and recommend that you make an offer well below the list price? NO. Will the Seller's Agent recommend that you ask the Seller to make repairs, or ask the Seller to pay your closing costs? And then do thier best to negotiate with the Seller on your behalf and get them to accept your contract? Will the Seller's Agent show you all the ways you can protect yourself if you discover something that reveals the home to be a really bad deal, helping YOU cancel the contract, and working to protect your interests while doing so?  NO!

By law, the Seller's agent cannot. Her obligation is to the Seller. An offer prepared by the Seller's Agent (Or a Dual Agent) could leave you with very few ways out if things start looking ugly. Even a Transaction Coordinator will not be able to give you the advice that will best protect you, your dollars and your interests.

Our firm belief is this: Having an Exclusive Buyers Agent representing your best interests is the smartest way to buy a home. You need someone on YOUR side. Working to save you money and headaches.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is one of THE ONLY EXCLUSIVE BUYER BROKERAGES IN THE STATE OF UTAH. There are other companies that pretend to be Exclusive Buyer Brokerages, yet they still list homes, practice dual-agency and represent Sellers.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

Our Buyer-Agency Agreement requires us to be legally responsible and accountable to you. A Seller's agent, by law, must work in the best interest of their client, including giving any learned information about the Buyers to the Sellers. This can hurt your bargaining power and cost you money. We work in your best interest. We are obligated to get YOU the best price and the most savings possible.

In Utah, if the listing agent tells you she will work with you as your "buyer's agent", you will be asked to sign an agreement limiting your representation. This agreement usually states that the agent will represent the Seller only, or that the agent will attempt to represent both of you (I know it sounds strange, but it's legal in Utah!). In either situation, there is no agent devoting 100% of their time and loyalty to you and your interests as a Buyer.

Hiring an Exclusive Buyers Agent with Homebuyer Representation, Inc. assures you that the agent you are working with will work on your behalf ONLY and will protect your best interests, and not those of the Seller.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

1. You Become A Client, Not A Customer

Without the benefits of using Homebuyer Representation as your Exclusive Buyers Agent, you become just a customer to the Seller and their agent. According to the National Association of Realtors, "As a customer, a buyer is not represented by an agent... the agent cannot negotiate on the buyer's behalf nor reveal to the buyer any confidences of the client, the client is the seller."

2. You and only you are being represented

By signing our exclusive buyer agency agreement, you establish a contractual relationship with us. This makes us accountable to you and not to any seller. Sellers have their agents watching out for their interests and we will watch out for yours. We do not practice dual-agency and will NOT ask you to limit your representation.

3. The Seller's agent is legally obligated to get the most money for the Seller.

A Seller's agent, by law, must work in the best interest of their client. Their client is the Seller. The agent cannot negotiate on the Buyer's behalf. As Exclusive Buyers Agents, we work towards getting YOU the best price and terms.

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and will not ask you to limit your level of representation. We will be 100% on your side during the transaction, representing YOU, negotiating on YOUR behalf and protecting YOUR interests.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.

I had to post some comments from recent clients.

I have also posted them to my Testimonial Page.

Thanks Clients! I really enjoy working with you too!

"We wanted someone who would work with us and not be constrained or biased by their own listings or those from colleagues in their same office or group. Benjamin was extremely responsive and even did virtual walk-throughs with us via video on the web. With his help, we found the ideal home.
"Benjamin came up with a brilliant approach that gave us a real advantage in the negotiations. We closed at a price well below the original asking price. We are extremely pleased with the property. Thank you Benjamin!"
-Vance Checketts Family, Provo, Utah

"I really enjoyed my first home buying experience thanks to your help."
-Nhat Nguyen, Draper, Utah

"We wanted someone that represented us. Someone who understood our ideas, our interests, our needs and stepped in to insure those things were protected.
"Tricia and I would highly recommend Ben Clark/Home Buyer Representation to anyone who wants a great experience in buying a home. Ben was totally committed to helping the process be pleasant and rewarding. Ben has exceptional follow up and he really was on our side, keeping our interests in mind. We were grateful to have Ben with us and many times he kept our builder in check which saved us a lot of money."
-Mark & Tricia Peterson, West Valley, Utah

"Working with Benjamin Clark on the purchase of my first home in Salt Lake City was a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Benjamin's knowledge and experience make it easy, as he seems to have his finger on the pulse of the SLC real estate market. He will work tirelessly to find the right property for you; but most importantly he will be there to negotiate for you, the buyer.
Near the end of the negotiations for my new home, the deal began to unravel at a time when I was overseas on vacation. Benjamin stepped up to the plate and not only saved the deal, but saved me some additional money as well. He was able to spot an opportunity and capitalize on it for my benefit.
When I consider purchasing a new house here in Salt Lake, I will without a doubt count on Benjamin Clark to put me into my new home!"
- Brian Bender, Taylorsville, Utah

"Your honesty and experience made the purchase of our condo smooth. We are looking forward to doing much more business with you."
- Jeff & Jonnica Kairn, Salt Lake City, Utah

"Conventional real estate agents do not have your interest 100 percent in mind.  They are always connected to the seller, regardless if they are helping buyers.  A Buyer's Agent, however, represents you and your interests entirely.  That's why I went with Benjamin Clark.  He will keep your needs completely in mind and will always be in your corner."
- Steve Sell, West Jordan, Utah

"Benjamin Clark was recommended to me by my daughter who was very pleased with his help finding her home. I enjoyed working with him very much.  He was very personable, friendly and patient.  We looked at many properties for several months.  Benjamin was very patient and willing to work us into his schedule as often as we wanted.
I liked working with a Buying agent because I knew he was concerned only with my best interests.  An Exclusive Buyers Agent doesn't have any properties to sell for another client or agency.  They can direct their efforts completely to finding the properties that fit the criteria established with them as well as consider and suggest any options you may have missed or overlooked. 
Ben is easy to communicate with personally, by phone or email.  He was always available to answer questions and set up tours.  He was very prompt in sharing all the newest listings with me, sometimes daily if necessary.  
I would work with Benjamin again and have gladly recommended him to others." 
- Kristine Higbee, Taylorsville, Utah

We recently moved to the Salt Lake City, Utah area. We had read a few books and they all recommended getting an exclusive buyer's agent since he/she would represent your interests only as a buyer and not the seller's.

We looked up buyer's agents in Utah and we found Benjamin Clark. Ben was very helpful recommending extended stay hotels. Our initial meeting was very informative. We decided to hire him as our agent and started looking at homes with him. He set us up to receive daily emails that had brand new listings so that we would look at the newest listings first. Benjamin worked around our schedules to go out with us every week, including mornings, afternoons and even a couple of late evenings. He was very accommodating and we really appreciated his flexibility.
Benjamin was absolutely great. He was on top of things throughout the whole process. The communication was always excellent. When we finally found our dream house, he did his research and we were able to negotiate on the price in a short amount of time. He even got the seller to pay a large amount towards our closing costs!
Benjamin was very professional throughout the whole process. We had gotten the best possible deal because he worked for US and not the seller. He has the buyer's interest in mind so he will try to get you the best possible deal on the price, the time-frame, and any repairs that need to be done to the house. He never pushed us into looking at any house we didn't want to and he was very patient throughout the whole process. We were very pleased with the whole process. Getting Benjamin Clark as our exclusive buyer's agent was one of the best decisions we made. We would recommend him to all my friends and family and he would absolutely be our first choice if we were to buy another house.
- Ernie Adkins and Tamara Mendez -Happy New Homebuyers- Tooele, Utah

"Benjamin was wonderful to work with.  He was an absolute lifesaver in what turned out to be a fairly tricky real estate transaction.  We were so glad he was on our side - we would have been lost otherwise! Since Ben works exclusively on real estate purchases, he KNOWS the market, and knows it well.  He knows fair market value on properties and can easily point out a good price or help avoid a not-so-good price.Overall, we got great dedication, great service and a great deal!  We have recommended Ben and his services to friends and family, and we'll definitely be using him for any future home purchases!"
-The Cieslinski Family, Murray, Utah

"When buying property, I will always use an exclusive buyer's agent.  I contacted Ben when my wife and I were interested in purchasing a condo in Park City.  He had no problem working with me for several days to show me all of the properties that met my criteria.  I never felt pushed as I do with other realtors, he is very mild mannered and easy to work with.  He handled all aspects of buying real estate with professionalism.  I would definitely recommend him."
-Dirk & Pat Mitchell, Park City, Utah

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. is a Real Estate Brokerage that services Salt Lake City, Utah and surrounding areas. Agents are Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) and represent BUYERS ONLY. For Free Reports or a Free Consultation, contact Homebuyer Representation at (801) 969-8989 or click the highlighted links in this paragraph.

©2007 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.