Buyer Agent for first-time homebuyer in Crockett
Hello BPN advice-givers,
My husband and I are hoping to find a real estate agent to help us purchase our first home in Crockett.
We are considering Chris Stuart, who is an Exclusive Buyer Agent. Has anyone worked with her, and is anyone willing to share their experience with her? Do you think that her being an "Exclusive Buyer Agent" matters that much?
We are also considering John Sloss. He seems bright, and he knows the area. Has anyone worked with him, and have any opinion of their experience?
We're seeking someone who is not a breezy, sales-pushing agent. We'd like someone who will understand that we are ok with old things--not necessarily splashy granite counter tops and stainless appliances. While we aren't picky looky-loos, we'd like someone who is okay with us not being in a rush. We'd also like someone who knows Crockett.
Thank you all very much for any insight you can offer!
Parent Replies
If you are not already renting there, I'd highly recommend living in Crockett for at least a few months before buying your first home there. I worked in the area at one point, and ... just rent first.
That other post worries me, it sounds very negative. We bought our first (and only) home in Crockett without having lived here first. 20 years later we are still here, and love it. It's been a great place to raise a family.
There are many realtors working here in town (Sian Yap, Jan Orsi), but I think they all work with sellers. So, probably a conflict of interest for them. But you might try contacting the Crockett Chamber of Commerce and seeing if they have any ideas.
Hello! I'm the original poster. I hope that it's ok to post this follow-up. I am curious about the response I received about renting in Crockett before buying a home there. Could the person who replied to my question please offer some insight into their experience? It's worrisome that someone has had a negative experience there--the people I've met there seem nice. If there is something flat-out horrible with the place that I'm not seeing (beyond freeway noise), I'd rather not live there at all first. My husband and I have two little kids and we don't want to uproot just to uproot again. I would very much appreciate further insight into this posters' experience, or more input from anyone else. Thank you again.
OR here - original respondent, who suggested renting first. I stand by that, although happy you got a respondent who actually lives there too. As I said in my first response, I worked in the area at one time. It was for a neighboring city gov't., with friends in public safety who had experience there from mutual aid responses. The OP didn't say that s/he had any experience there, I guess I am assuming you are considering Crockett because it has a lot of cute houses and it as cheap as you can get on the I-80 corridor before crossing a bridge. If you have been renting there, working there, or otherwise already know the community well, go for it! But if not, Crockett is a different kettle of fish from the El Cerrito/Berkeley/Oakland area, IMHO, and I would highly recommend living there first in some capacity before investing your life savings there. It is much more like Martinez/Benicia/Vallejo, not that those are bad places, but they are definitely different than what you're used to if you're coming from the inner East Bay.
Crockett is down wind from a large oil refinery. http://crgna.org/blog/refinery-odors-what-you-can-do/