Buying a rehab property, do I need an agent to make an offer?

[Jay Garrison]

Hello,

I am pre-approved for a mortgage and two days ago I walked through (with the listing agent) a 30K two flat that I am interested in. This is my first time buying a home, and I have a home inspector that I will work with to assess what needs to be done. I know that it will need a ton of work and that's fine, but what kind of agent do I need to make an offer? A friend of the family is going to help me, but I don't know if she has experience with distressed properties. 

[John Warren]

@Jay Garrison from what you just described, I would say you desperately need an experienced agent. Many people mistakenly think that the agent is just there to open the door and collect a check. If you are working with the right agent, they can guide you through re-positioning a property. You need to know the future value of the property (ARV), you need to know rental comps, you need to know current value of the property, you need a good attorney referral, and you need contractor referrals along the way.

As @Sam Valme said, you aren't even going to pay a buyer's agent. The sellers will! Which part of Chicago are you buying in? Due to the purchase price, it sounds like it is probably the south side. You should connect with @Ronan M.