treehugger – I was once told by a smart guy that real-estate attorneys make real-estate transactions a nightmare. I believe him. Lawyers already drafed up all the forms. You just need a good escrow agent, really, to organize everything.
Realtors are not about finding a house, they are about getting you through the process. Though, for busy people, having a realtor preview places is very useful. If you don’t want to waste time shopping, a realtor is a big time-saver. If you like shopping around, it can be a little annoying that you need one to let you in. You could always call the listing agent and tell them you don’t have an agent. They’ll let you in in a heartbeat and try to sign you up. Just view the house, then decline their services as a buyers agent.
Piggs don’t need realtors, but the rest of the world does because it is a pretty complicated process. Sure, it is complicated, in part, due to the realtors, but most of the legal pitfalls are certainly real, and would be there with or without agents.
For sure, you can find a realtor who will work on an hourly basis to show you homes and sign the forms as your agent. You just do the legwork to minimize their time.
Still, your situation is the exception. Most people need help.
