How to Find a Real Estate Agent in 2023

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  Written by Steve Nicastro

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  Edited by Jessica Johansen

Where to find the best real estate agents | How to choose the right realtor | What to look for in an agent | Realtor red flags

In an uncertain market, you need a good realtor

Real estate agents vary greatly in knowledge, experience, personality, and commission rates. While most people commit to the first real estate agent they interview, you’ll have better results if you compare multiple options before making a decision.

An agent with a hustle mentality may be great for when you need to sell a house fast but not necessarily for holding your hand through your first home purchase. Similarly, the agent who helped you sell your suburban starter home probably isn’t the best fit to help you buy a rural homestead.

You want a realtor who has experience with your area, property type, and price range — and who can offer the level of service and support you need.

To quickly find and compare agents, we recommend using a free agent matching service like Clever Real Estate, which has a strong reputation for connecting people with top local agents who meet their criteria.

🔍 Start with Clever: Compare the best agents in your area to find the right fit. 

Where to find the best real estate agents

Agent matching services | Family and friends | Loan officers | Online search

1. Agent matching services

Using a free agent matching service is often the most convenient way to find a good realtor. 

These companies have large networks of pre-screened real estate agents, and they send you recommendations based on your location, situation, and goals.

Once you have your agent matches, you can easily compare their credentials, schedule interviews, and weigh your options to decide the best fit.  If you don’t find an agent you like, you can usually request more matches or simply walk away.

The best-rated services have strict quality standards for their agents, vetting them for experience, sales performance, past customer reviews, and ongoing service ratings. Some companies, like Clever Real Estate, even offer built-in savings, such as 1.5% listing fees for sellers (about half the typical seller’s agent commission).

Other well-rated agent matching services include HomeLight, Ideal Agent, and UpNest. But their savings aren’t as big, and their service quality varies.

💰 SAVE: Choose from the best local agents, get built-in savings when you buy or sell!

2. Family and friends

When a referral comes from a family member or close friend, you know you can trust the person doing the recommending — and a lot of people find an agent this way.

Just make sure the agent has the type of experience you’re looking for. A realtor who doesn’t typically work in your neighborhood or price range is a bad choice — even if they come highly recommended.

» JUMP TO: How to choose the right real estate agent

Also, things could get awkward if the agent is a family member or friend. In a transaction as high stakes as a home sale, you should probably hire someone you’d be comfortable firing if they don’t meet your expectations.

A final drawback is that you won’t save on realtor fees like you would with an agent matching service. If savings are important to you, you can try negotiating on your own, but you won’t have the same leverage as a company.

» LEARN: What companies offer the lowest real estate commission?

3: Loan officers

Loan officers in particular — but also builders, contractors, and property managers — tend to know a lot of local agents. They’re usually happy to provide names.

Like agents, lenders get paid only if you close on a home, so they have incentive to refer you to an agent they trust. Plus, a good working relationship between your agent and lender can create a smoother real estate transaction for you.

However, a lender will probably only refer agents who refer clients to them, so your pool will be limited. Also, some lenders may care more about maintaining a business relationship with an agent than looking out for your best interests, so you’ll still need to vet their recommendations.

» JUMP TO: What to look for in an agent

4. Online search

You can find a local agent using search engines like Google and sites like Zillow and Realtor.com — but the sheer quantity of results can be overwhelming. And the featured results prioritize agents who pay to have a presence on the platform.

Rather than using these sites as a starting point, we recommend going online to research agents you’ve already found via better sources — like personal referrals or an agent matching service.

» JUMP TO: How to screen an agent

Bottom line

Any of these options are a decent starting point for finding real estate agents. What matters more for your success as a buyer or seller are the steps you take to vet them.

If you want to speed up the process, it’s worth starting with an agent matching service, like Clever Real Estate. Clever vets all the agents in its network and sends you matches based on your specific criteria.

How to choose the right realtor for you

Think about what you need | Screen agents online | Interview multiple agents

1. Think about what you need in an agent

Real estate agents differ in their areas of expertise, services, and communication with clients.

Before you look for a realtor, ask yourself questions like these:

• Do I need someone with particular expertise, like helping first-time home buyers or selling luxury properties?
• Do I want an agent who works with a team, or do I want a dedicated real estate agent who will provide more hands-on support?
• Do I want someone who will push me to act when the right opportunity comes along or someone who will let me take the lead?
• Do I want someone who offers their guidance and opinion freely or only when I ask for it?
• Do I want someone with lots of experience or someone new and ready to hustle?

You’ll also need to consider different factors depending on whether you’re buying or selling. For more information, read our guides on how to choose a realtor when selling and how to choose a realtor for buying.

2. Screen agents online

Check out agents’ online presence and reviews from past clients. Compare your needs to their experience.

» JUMP TO: What to look for in an agent

3. Pick a few agents to interview

While research can take you so far, you won’t know whether a real estate agent is actually a good fit until you talk to them.

We recommend interviewing multiple realtors before making a decision.

Basic questions to ask a real estate agent include:

• Can you tell me about some of your recent transactions?
• What price range and neighborhoods do you typically work in?
• What does the market look like for buyers and sellers right now?
• How quickly are homes in my price range selling?
• What’s your availability?
• How will we communicate?
• Will I work primarily with you, or members of your team?

More specific questions to ask a realtor will differ depending on whether you’re buying or selling.

» MORE: Questions to ask when selling | Questions to ask when buying

What to look for in a real estate agent

To find a good real estate agent, look for these qualities during the screening and interview process.

Experience | Full-time status | Recent similar sales | Relevant expertise | Good communication | Local knowledge | Solid network | Honesty and transparency

1. Solid real estate experience

Look for agents who have at least three years of experience as a licensed agent. Chances are they’ve handled a variety of transactions and know how to navigate challenges. 

You can see how many years of experience a realtor has by looking at their agent profile on Zillow. You can also look up a realtor’s license number in the Arello database to see how long they’ve held it and whether it’s still active.

2. Full-time status

A full-time agent may oversee 30 or more transactions a year, while a part-time agent may only close one or two.

We recommend working with an agent who has facilitated at least 12 home sales within the past 12 months. They’re more likely to be up-to-date on local market dynamics and have a strong local network.

The most accurate way to check out a realtor’s sales history is to ask them for it directly. They should be able to send you links to recent sales or provide a printout from their local MLS.

Active listings are also a good sign. You should be able to find these on an agent’s personal website or Zillow profile.

3. Recent similar sales

Your agent should have recent experience dealing with your target area, property type, and price point.

Look for agents who have closed at least two to three sales in the neighborhood you’re aiming to buy or sell in, preferably within the last one to two months.

Agents working primarily in your area know how to accurately value those homes. 

4. Relevant expertise and certifications

Some realtors carve out niches in a particular area of real estate, such as investment properties, first-time home buying, foreclosures, or military relocations. Look for agents with a strong track record of helping clients in your situation.

You can also look for matching certifications. Common realtor certifications you might come across include: 

• Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR): ABRs are certified to help clients navigate all aspects of the home buying process.
• Certified Residential Specialist (CRS): A CRS designation implies a high level of achievement as a listing agent. To be eligible, an agent needs to have closed dozens of real estate transactions and handled several million dollars’ worth of real estate sales over multiple years.
• Certified Relocation Professional (CRP): A CRP has experience helping home buyers relocate. The certification includes exams on aspects of relocation, like tax and legal issues.
• Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES): An SRES has additional training and expertise in helping clients ages 50 and older navigate situations like downsizing, transitioning to a retirement community, or applying for a reverse mortgage.

If you’re not sure where to find an agent with the right expertise, contact a free agent matching service like Clever to let them know what you’re looking for. Chances are they have an agent in their network they can recommend — or can quickly source one for you.

5. Good communication

Top agents are friendly and conversational. But they also take the time to learn about your specific needs, and they genuinely care about helping you achieve your goals. 

You can tell a realtor is a strong communicator if they ask about and use your preferred method of communication, keep the focus on you, set realistic expectations, and back up their claims with data and examples.

Good agents usually follow up with you after your initial phone call or interview to see if you have any other questions or concerns.

6. Local market knowledge

Real estate is local, so it’s important to hire an agent who knows your specific market.

Your agent should know how quickly homes are selling in a given neighborhood, whether the current climate favors buyers or sellers, how to price a home competitively (or tell if a home you’re interested in is over- or underpriced), and what challenges you may face as a buyer or seller given current market conditions.

How can you tell if an agent knows their stuff? They can answer your questions, and they back up their assertions with data and real-life examples. Inexperienced agents will struggle to come up with answers.

7. Solid network

Experienced agents are well connected within their industry. Their contacts include loan officers, contractors, title companies, home inspectors, plumbers, electricians, and more. A good realtor should be able to leverage their extensive network to help a deal move quickly.

8. Honesty and transparency

Buying or selling a home is a high-stakes decision, and you need an agent who has your best interests — and not just their commission — in mind.

To establish trust, your agent should set clear expectations and disclosures around:

• Their commission: A good agent will disclose their commission rate and explain what it covers. Realtor commission is negotiable, and they should be open to having that conversation.
• Market realities: No agent can guarantee that you’ll get a sky-high price for your home or have a stress-free transaction. Good agents set realistic expectations and don’t make promises they can’t keep.
• Their experience: Your agent should accurately represent their experience and how many home’s they’ve sold. Their experience should be apparent in the questions they ask and how they educate you on buying or selling and the local market.

🔍 Need a great agent? Get handpicked agent matches from top local brokerages — 100% free, with no obligation.

What makes a good buyer’s agent?

A great buyer’s agent will be your guide and confidant through the entire home-buying process. 

Apart from the basics, like showing you homes, they’ll structure and negotiate offers to make you stand out in a highly competitive market. They’ll also walk you through the forms, disclosures, and legal documents required to close. 

A good buyer’s agent will also be a reliable source of local knowledge. They’ll answer any questions you have about utilities, zoning rules, area schools, local taxes, homeowner’s association fees, and more. 

» MORE: How to Choose a Realtor for Buying

What makes a good seller’s agent?

A good seller’s agent (also called a listing agent) will know how to sell properties in various market conditions, and they’ll point out potential roadblocks ahead of time. 

Before listing your home, a strong seller’s agent will run a comparative market analysis (CMA) to determine a fair list price. They’ll advise you on what repairs will have the greatest return on investment and where to hold off. They’ll also have a solid game plan for marketing your home to buyers.

Finally, a good listing agent can explain how they screen offers and vet each buyer’s financing. They’ll know how to negotiate deals based on current market conditions and what’s important to you and the buyer.

» MORE: How to Choose a Realtor when Selling

🚩 Realtor red flags

1. They rush or pressure you

You don’t want a realtor who rushes or pressures you into making a decision when you’re not ready, just so they can get paid faster.

Here are some potential red flags:

• The agent insists that you sign a buyer’s agency agreement or a listing agreement ASAP in order to move forward with the relationship. 
• They push you into making offers on homes that aren’t a good fit, or they pressure you to accept an offer on your home that you’re not satisfied with. 
• They push you to sign an offer without you fully understanding its terms and conditions.
• The agent shrugs off major concerns discovered by a home inspector or appraiser.

2. They’re unresponsive

Avoid agents who don’t answer or respond to your calls, texts, or emails within a reasonable time frame (24 hours max). Responsiveness is important in the fast-moving world of real estate. You could lose out on an offer or a house if your agent doesn’t respond quickly enough.

3. They’re too commission-driven

Avoid realtors who make every conversation about them and their paycheck. Your agent should focus more on making you happy as a client.

Here are some warning signs:

• The agent emphasizes their commission rate in your initial conversation instead of focusing on your goals. 
• They’re overly positive or pressure you during showings, saying things like, “This home has everything!” or “If you sleep on it, you might not sleep in it.”
• They ask you to list your home at a price below what you’re comfortable with. Some agents would rather list too low than too high just to get a faster paycheck.

How to find a real estate agent: FAQ

Why you should trust us

Real Estate Witch’s mission is to provide accurate, actionable, and practical information you can use to make better decisions on your real estate journey.

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The Best Questions to Ask a Realtor: Before hiring a realtor, you should interview them to find out if they’re legitimate. We talked to experts to uncover the best questions to ask your realtor before you commit to working with them.

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