Is a real estate agent necessary when making your first purchase

[FNU Dheeshakti]

How will having an agent help me? Are sites like Realtor.com and Trulia enough to land a deal?

Thank you!

[Terrell Garren]

I've not found a deal on the MLS for several years. Auctions and tax foreclosures have been my only source. No agent needed for that, just a good closing attorney. However, you still need someone to tell what a good deal looks like.

My first buy/hold was in 2009 and I was looking at a $170K SFH that was in good repair. Fortunately, a smart realtor told me to look at $70K properties that needed work. She put me on the right track. 20 SFHs later, the only reason I would use a realtor is if they are the listing agent on an MLS property I wanted.