When is the Best Time to Buy a Condo in Scottsdale
July 12, 2026Do You Need a Buyer’s Agent for New Condo Dev
Developers make it easy to walk into a new condo sales office on your own. But in most cases, once you sign in without a real estate agent, you’ve forfeited the right to have one represent you — at least one who will be compensated through the transaction. The agent in that sales office works for the builder, not for you. So what does that actually mean for you as a buyer?
Think of it this way: the difference between a car salesman and a lawyer. You’re a customer to the car salesman and a client to the lawyer. The lawyer’s job is to protect your interests. The salesperson’s job is to make sure you drive off the lot in one of their cars.
While there’s typically limited room for price negotiation in new condo purchases, there are plenty of important decision points where having an experienced advocate matters:
- Should you — and can you — upgrade to hardwood floors, or go with the standard carpet?
- Should you use the builder’s preferred lender, or shop for your own financing?
- Is the unit with the less desirable view worth the lower price?
- Should you even be buying in this development at this price point?
- Would it make more sense to wait and buy a resale unit once the development is complete?
- Is there a comparable resale community that offers better value?
Then there are the questions buyers often don’t know to ask — like “What happens if I change my mind before the condo is finished in two years?” An experienced buyer’s agent knows what to ask, what to look out for, and how to protect you throughout the process.
Think of a buyer’s agent as an extra layer of protection against a costly mistake. And the best part? It doesn’t cost you anything to have that protection.
Information in this article has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed.
