Recommendations for Buyers with Low Budget

Your question relates to agents who work in the particular neighborhoods that you've identified as reasonable targets for your price range and requirements.

What areas are those?

SC, as you have found, to your chagrin, you are not a desirable client to most agents. If the commission on a $500K apartment is 5%, then the brokerage firm that you're working with will make $12.5K on your purchase, and the agent will make about half of that.

Given how imbalanced this apartment is towards buyers and sellers, you are asking someone to work for you for possibly months without any real certainty that they'll pocket that $6K.

The only people (as you have found) who will take this deal are agents with nothing better to do. I would suggest that rather than trying to find an experienced agent with nothing better to do (because that implies to me that he/she might not be good at what he/she does) that you, as alanh suggested, target a neighborhood or two where you are likely to buy.

Then walk into a brokerage in that neighborhood and ask for a rookie agent. What you might lose in negotiating experience you will gain in that person's zeal to work hard for you, because he/she is trying to get his/her career started.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

I don't believe that studios or 1-beds are entirely sold to buyers without buyer's brokers, particularly since so many are first-time buyers. You just have to find them and give up the desire of an established track record.

You don't need an agent, but you do need more money and /or you need to lower your demands. You're shopping for a unicorn but they only exist in fantasy.

Why is everyone assuming the op is looking in Manhattan? In Jackson Heights that will get you a two bedroom, easily, in a nice pre-war with low maintenance.

Plus, I don't get some of the comments here. Are all seasoned brokers so busy in this day of lack of inventory that they wouldn't have time to try and grow their business through entry-level buyers who may very well move up later? Really?

If your in Manhattan try Ken Berman at the Mason Group really nice guy and he is like a tiger he will find what you want with his keen eyes and sense for a bargain.

I purchased an apartment in 2012 with a budget under $500. I did the legwork myself using street easy . At the open house I indicated that I was working with broker on sign-in sheet, but did not give broker name. Once I identified an apartment that fit my criteria, I contacted Keith Burkhardt of the Burkhardt Group. He did the offer,negotiation, board package and walk through. At end of process, he provides a cut of his commission back to you. Just do a search on the Discussion Board for "Burkhardt" and you will get his contact info and the recommendations of the many who worked with him. Also, once my offer was accepted, I worked with my RE lawyer to vet building and do contract work. If you are in NYC, this process might work for you. Good luck.

Contact Dan at Digs Realty Group -- 212-496-2975. He is a broker with a background as a real estate attorney and, like Keith Burkhardt as new2RE states above, offers a rebate of the commission. He can work with you and your budget.

Please contact me at mestatenyc@gmail.com

I highly recommend the Burkhardt Group as well. Keith and his team are long time trusted members of the Streeteasy Community and many posters like new2RE have used them and have been very satisfied. You have to be willing to do your own "looking" but that's the fun part of buying a place.

> "If you're in Manhattan try Ken Berman at the Mason Group"

Agreed

Another vote for the Burkhardt Group. Keith and his team are both extremely professional and a pleasure to work with throughout the process.

Stay away from Bruce Solomon: a jerk, a moron, and so full of himself.

Bruce Solomon was awesome in Mary Hartman Mary Hartman; less so in Beverley Hills 90210.

--alanhartman alanhartman

PS -- OP has left the building.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will get in touch with some of the people suggested.

Agree with the above... The Burkhadrt Group, Christian Bari

christian@theburkhardtgroup.com, 917.721.2740 Cell

You're expecting white glove service from agents in the Rolls Royce of real estate markets in this country -- with a Chevy budget. Sorry, but it's true -- you simply are not worth most agents' time. It's like walking into Tiffany and expecting the staff to drop everything to engrave your tin ring you found in a box of Cracker-Jack.

LOL why would you do all the leg work yourself? You PAY for a broker by the commission being included in the price. Why not take advantage their services?

it is cheaper to go coop but limited budget usually means coops will not accept if strict. stay within your means