Each Friday, Russ Anderson, the president and CEO of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, writes about luxury, trends, business and more in the advertising pages of the Mansion section of The Wall Street Journal. Below is his letter of August 23, 2024.
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S P.O.V.
A little risk in life can be a good thing — unless you’re about to buy house.
How real estate advisors may be paid for their services is evolving and will continue to. More buyers may be covering their advisor’s compensation, when for decades the custom was that the seller paid both their advisor and the buyer’s advisor from the proceeds of the sale of the house. More transparency is coming, and more combinations of compensation are, too. This is a good thing.
But a great thing is this: Part of the immense value of a buyer’s advisor is in their risk mitigation — watching out for your investment and for any future complications with that beautiful home you are about to buy. Is this a dream home or money pit? Is the price right? What are the sales trends in the neighborhood? How will this neighborhood do in the future? Your advisor will get the answers — or already knows them. All those reports, disclosures and contract papers? Your advisor also knows how to read between the lines, protecting you at every turn.
Of the many roles that a trained, educated and experienced real estate advisor plays for their buyers, there are two key ones: confidence increaser and risk reducer.
I happen to know some pros who are great at both. Come meet our risk reducers at briggsfreeman.com/advisors.
Russ Anderson
President and CEO
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty
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