Using the Listing Agent as Your Buyer’s Agent?

[Steve A]

What do you think about using the listing agent to help facilitate a buy?

For the last three months, I’ve been using a seller’s agent to make offers on a SFR.
But have been outbid on three houses.

For my next try, I’m thinking about using the listing agent. I see a couple of definite advantages:

1. Enables the total cost to be reduced by up to 3% (if the agent forgoes the buyer’s agent’s portion commission). Some agents are amenable to this, others aren’t. One guy I’ve talked with was very upfront about it. “If you have me represent you, I can lower the commission from 6% to 3% and the seller can drop the price by 3% and still net the same amount from the sale.â€

2. The other advantage is information sharing. “If you have me represent you, I can help you make the winning bid because I’ll know what the other bids are.â€

I understand that both “advantages†may have some ethical issues attached to them. But, putting that aside…

What are some of the disadvantages to having the listing agent (or someone from the same office) also represent me (the buyer)? I understand that conflict of interest makes this practice illegal in some states, but not in CA, where I’m located.

Are there some specific issues I should lookout for as a buyer?

Please, this isn’t meant to be an ethics lesson.

Thanks,