What’s On My Mind This Week: Agents Tell Some Whoppers To Unsuspecting Homebuyers
In my latest Tracy Talks Real video, I tackle the topic of lies agents tell homebuyers.
And there isn’t just one lie. I was able to come up with five off the top of my head, and probably could have added more if I really wanted to dwell on this depressing topic.
Of the five lies, one is the sneakiest, one is very surprising in my own humble opinion, and one I call the “biggest disservice” to buyers in the history of real estate. Big statements for sure, but these lies are a big problem.
And sneaky lie #1 is big in the news right now with Compass’ name all over it.
Sometimes the lies come from the buyer’s own agent and sometimes they come from the listing agent. Buyers can’t control who the listing agent is, but they very much can control who their own buyer agent is.
Of course I wouldn’t hit you with the big problem and no fix. The first line of defense is to be aware of the lies and on guard. The second line of defense is to very, very carefully vet your buyer agent and put that person in charge of managing the listing agent.
To learn more about the five lies, watch my YouTube video. To learn more about the fix, check out my Buyer Agent Game Plan™ course, a course carefully designed to provide you with a step-by-step program to find, vet and hire the exact right agent for your unique situation.
Homebuyers just don’t do enough to vet the agent they hire, and all too often end up with big cases of buyer remorse.
Homebuyers in my experience simply fail to interview agents. Too often they get an introduction, show up and start acting like a client.
This vetting problem combined with the commission changes last year from the class action litigation caused me to develop an educational course I call Buyer Agent Game Plan™, designed specifically to lay out a blueprint for finding, vetting and hiring buyer agents efficiently and without a lot of hassle, with the extra goal of finding the exact right agent for your specific circumstances.
I understand that many people are not going to like the idea of having to take the time to educate themselves and go through the hassle of interviewing multiple agent candidates, but as everybody seems to know and even begrudgingly acknowledge on social media, good agents have the ability to lower homebuying anxiety and save money by finding deals or negotiating deals in ways to benefit buyers and their bottom line, so honestly, why wouldn't you spend a few bucks and a few hours to educate yourself before committing to an expensive agent and more expensive home purchase?
And with buyers now spending time thinking about the cost of a buyers agent thanks to the commission lawsuits, the time is ripe to introduce more intentionality into the agent hiring process.
My game plan blueprint describes exactly where to find good agents to interview and how to conduct multiple interviews efficiently. The program teaches you how to evaluate interview responses “apples to apples” and how to hire without burning bridges (in case you need that agent later).
All of this translates to buyers hiring the right agent best-suited to their specific needs, resulting in buying homes with confidence and less hassle. Most educational content on this topic has been created by agents who want you to hire them to represent you. I urge home buyers to take advantage of my long career, love of buyers and consumer-forward focus to learn about finding, vetting, hiring and supervising great agents.
Don’t end up being one of those bitter people venting your frustrations on social media later because you recklessly signed on with the wrong agent and didn't course correct. Knowledge is power and this knowledge-heavy program was designed with buyers in mind by me, a longtime broker and consumer-focused attorney. Avoid the devastating home buyer mistake of hiring the wrong agent.
Watch this week's Tracy Talks Video outlining the five lies here.
Introducing Buyer Agent Game Plan™
The new homebuying rules call for new strategies to pick the right agent to help you bring about your happy homebuying outcome. More at buyeragentgameplan.com. Buy your next home with confidence
Have You Checked Out My New Learning Center?
I’ve been very concerned about recent developments in residential real estate, and have been a vocal critic of the class action lawsuits last year because I think they did a huge disservice to consumers.
I’ve also been struck by the sheer vitriol of consumer sentiment against real estate agents in social media comments regarding the lawsuits. I’ve concluded that there is a huge lack of understanding how to leverage agents for positive outcomes. I’ve also concluded that too many consumers hire the first agent they talk to without doing any kind of homework. What could possibly go wrong with that plan??
But I’m not one to just sit around and complain. I jumped into action and developed my Learning Center for consumers. Content developed in the center to date includes my new signature course - Buyer Agent Game Plan™, a step-by-step strategic plan for home buyers to navigate the new rules in residential real estate, starting with hiring the right agent for their circumstances.
I also offer various fast action checklists and workbooks for buyers. Courses regarding Transaction Readiness, the new Buyer Rep Agreements and Supervising Buyer Agents were recently added.
I’m also busy putting the final touches on my forthcoming book - The Secret Handshake (Play The Home Buyer & Home Seller Game Smarter). This has been an exciting project.
I find myself increasingly obsessed with helping consumers understand residential real estate on a deeper level and how to make more lucrative choices, including how to find, hire and vet agents. Join me on this journey? Hop over to the Learning Center and click the follow button under my bio. You’ll be notified when new offerings are added to the Center.
Do You Need Help Finding Agents?
Whether you are in my backyard here in Los Angeles or someplace farther away, I am available to help you find agents to interview. There is a nominal fee for this service, but I will find and vet three agents for you to interview in your local market, as well as provide a list of interview questions and my proprietary strategy for interviewing and comparing multiple agents with ease.
Complimentary Home Buyer Resources
Please enjoy these resources:
Follow Local Trends - Long time readers know I like me some trends! 🤓 This resource explains how market trends impact your home buying and home selling choices and strategies.
Benefits Of A CMA - Wondering how much to offer when buying a home or how much to list for when selling a home? Learn about CMAs. They aren't just for sellers!
15 Tips To Save For A Down Payment - Is the down payment holding you back from buying a home? I've got 15 practical tips to help you save.
Do’s & Don’ts For Property Tours - Are you new to home buying? I've got tips for touring homes that might surprise you.
8 Expensive Home Buyer Mistakes - If you've never purchased a home or haven't purchased in recent years, you might be surprised to learn about these expensive homebuyer mistakes.
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I offer Office Hours as a low-key way to get your real estate questions answered without a lot of scheduling and commitment. Twice a week, I hang out on Zoom and am available to answer your real estate questions. Click on tracyonzoom.com during the designated hours and you will land in our waiting room. Tracy will bring you in when the person ahead of you is done. Everything is private. Here are your next opportunities to join Tracy for Office Hours:
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Sunday, June 13, 2025 from 10 am to 1 pm PT
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Content Authenticity Statement
90% of this week’s newsletter was generated by me, Tracy Thrower Conyers. AI created my nifty headline image and my cute bot friend in my video thumbnail. 😊
Legal Stuff
You are not my client unless we have a written agreement in place. This newsletter is offered for informational and/or entertainment purposes only. Neither I nor Silicon Beach Properties nor eXp Realty, Inc. is responsible for the consequences of how you implement the content of this publication and nothing herein is intended to address your specific situation. Additionally, the information contained herein may be outdated (legally and/or factually) by the time you consume this content, so consult a professional licensed in your jurisdiction for advice.
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Until Next Week…
Be well and use this link to refer others to The Tracy Talks. Let’s grow a community!