Starting Out
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/hospitable-deef083b895516ce26951b0ca48cf8f170861d742d4a4cb6cf5d19396b5eaac6.png)
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/equity_trust-2bcce80d03411a9e99a3cbcf4201c034562e18a3fc6eecd3fd22ecd5350c3aa5.avif)
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/equity_1031_exchange-96bbcda3f8ad2d724c0ac759709c7e295979badd52e428240d6eaad5c8eff385.avif)
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback
Updated over 6 years ago on . Most recent reply
![Todd Tyler's profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/750533/1621496645-avatar-toddt29.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/cover=128x128&v=2)
Newbie, Clueless on working with realtor, Am I doing this right?
I would love your input and help with this. Here’s the story. My partner and I are looking to invest in our first deal. We live in Los angeles and we are looking to get a duplex in the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area. (about 100 miles out of LA) Here’s where I need you help.
My partner is a home owner in Los Angeles. He hooked us up with the realtor that helped him buy his house. She's great, however she lives in Los Angeles. Wouldn't it be better for us to get a real estate agent in the area we are looking to buy? The Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area. I don't feel that just getting the MLS email alerts that she has signed us up with is enough.
After meeting her, and she said she would like to help us find a deal, I had no idea that we were basically committing ourselves to working with her.
How would you handle this?
Thanks!
Most Popular Reply
![David Hines's profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/375044/1621447540-avatar-davidh85.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/cover=128x128&v=2)
Ask your current realtor to refer you to someone in the area you want. A typical referral fee is 20-25% of the commission, so she wouldn’t be completely cut out of the deal.