Exclusive buyer agent

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An Exclusive Buyer Agent (or EBA) is a United States real estate firm (or an agent or broker who works in such a company) which represents only buyers of real estate. As such, they are distinquished from all other real estate firms by their business model of 100% buyer representation. EBA firms never take listings and, therefore, never represent the seller in a real estate transaction.

Exclusive buyer agent firms have chosen this business model in order eliminate the conflict of interest which may exist when one firm attempts to represent both buyer and seller.

1 History
2 Method of exclusive servce
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

The EBA movement started in the late 1980's and, by the early 1990s as with the rise of Buyer agency in general in US states, firms came into being and a national trade association, the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, was formed. As of 2008, EBA firms now offer service to buyers in almost all 50 states.^{[citation needed]}

Traditional real estate firms in the US, which do not practice exclusive agency, represent both buyers and sellers, and when representing both, they may profit from both the seller and buyer side of the transaction. While some states have created various forms of Dual Agency to allow one company to represent both sides, other states have made it illegal. In the opinion of EBAs, it is not possible to represent clients with opposing interests simultaneously.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Method of exclusive servce

The service structure for EBA real estate practitioners is to show buyers all possible listings from other cooperating brokers as well as all other sources, such as for sale by owners. Then, they assist the buyer with evaluation and negotiaion and advocate in the buyer's interests without restriction.

EBA firms amount to less than 1/2 of 1 percent of all real estate firms in the US.^{[citation needed]} The EBA business model of clarified buyer representation eliminates the possibility the buyer being confronted with Dual or Limited Agency or Designated Agency.