fbpx

10 Best Sydney Suburbs
To Buy Property 2023

This brand new FREE report reveals the top suburbs an experienced Sydney buyer’s agent keeps returning to in 2023. A must-read for anyone wanting to purchase property now or in the near future.

 
“Where should I buy?” 

 

It’s probably the number one question we are asked by our clients. 

 

And while the response can be different depending on your lifestyle and investment profile, and whether you are buying to enjoy as a home or to perform as an investment, there are a number of suburbs we keep coming back to. 

 

Hi, I’m Dan Sofo – founder of Unicorn Buyer’s Agents. There are 10 suburbs my team and I keep coming back to. Suburbs that make sense not just because the data and research stack up, but because we’ve spent time there, inspecting, talking to the locals, and of course buying for our clients. 

 What you can expect to learn from this newly written FREE report
 
  1. The 3 key drivers and performance indicators behind the most valuable areas in Sydney to buy a home or investment property
  2. A deep dive into the 10 Sydney suburbs an experienced property buyer’s agent recommends investing in 2023, 2024 and beyond
  3. An insider’s perspective on the factors that make certain areas in Sydney more appealing to invest in than others

Simply fill out the fields below to have this must-read guide sent to your inbox immediately.

As seen on:

Written By Seasoned Buyer’s Agent Dan Sofo

 
 

What Recent Clients Have To Say...

I have had the pleasure of working with Dan on many of my property sales and every single time I have been incredibly impressed with his professionalism and his dedication in getting the best outcome for his clients. Whether it’s a pre auction negotiation or on the auction floor, Dan’s success rate is very impressive.

If you are searching for a home and you need someone who will go above and beyond to not only find you the perfect home, Dan will secure it for you! Highly recommended!

Nathan Antunes

Dan was very professional and provided a valuable service from the start to finish of the buying process. Highly recommend.

Dilan Ashton
Dan has been an amazing buyers agent to work with, all whilst I was overseas. Communication and understanding exceeded expectations and his skill shone through coming to a very impressive result. I’ll be recommending him to friends and I’ll be using him again in the future.
Sanjana Mistry

Highly recommend Dan as a buyers agent. A great guy and incredibly knowledgeable. Dan guided us from starting with a wide brief to finding the location and home that was ideal for us and our life. Dan managed every aspect of the process and kept in close contact with us throughout. The support he provided was truly invaluable to us and we are so grateful!

Kate McMahon

Fantastic buyers agent to deal with quick and seamless negotiation for all parties would recommend Dan to purchases!

James Sarzano

I recently had the pleasure to deal with Dan for a house that we recently sold at auction. Dan is very professional, transparent and communicates very well. He kept in regular contact throughout the process and is extremely knowledgeable about the sales market in Sydney. He worked very hard for his clients that absolutely loved the home and wished to be the next new home owners. I would definitely recommend Dan to any Buyers that are looking to purchase their new home. I can confidently say Buyers are in safe hands with Dan!

I hope to deal with him again in the near future.

Victoria Voulgelis
I had the pleasure of meeting Dan in an off market transaction and found him to be a delight to deal with. His communication and professionalism was outstanding throughout the deal and his tenacity meant that he was able to secure the property that his client had earmarked.
Anthony

We want to express our sincere thanks to Dan for his incredible guidance throughout our first investment property purchase. As first home buyers living overseas, we weren’t sure what to expect, but Dan’s patience and expertise made everything smooth and positive.

From the very beginning, Dan took the time to understand our goals and answer all our questions, no matter how small. He expertly guided us through each step, from initial viewings to offer negotiations and closing. We truly felt supported throughout the entire process. We can’t recommend him enough!

Jacqueline Page
Dan was a pleasure to deal with recently for an off-market property sale. He communicated effectively, swiftly and made negotiations seamless. He always acted with integrity throughout the whole process and I would definitely recommend him to other purchasers in the market looking to engage a buyers agent.
Ben Langsam
As a first time home buyer, Dans knowledge of the market and skill set in negotiating proved invaluable. I found him really engaged and interested and very resourceful. I got my dreamhouse! I highly recommend his services.
Phil Hannaford
Dan was an absolute pleasure to deal with during a recent purchase he completed with me off market. Dan was at all times working in his clients best interest and helped find them the perfect property in exactly the location they wanted to buy. Dan displayed excellent market knowledge and was able to provide confidence to his clients who were located interstate, helping them secure the property before it hit the market.
Andrew Cary

Dan is very transparent and professional, has a strong knowledge of the property market, respectful, warm and a genuine person. This was my third time purchasing a property as my residence (never used any buyers agents). However my personal life situation has changed since, as well as the current Sydney property market has gone crazy and getting trickier to buy a property and without knowledge of the current market situation or strong negotiation skills.

Nobody wants the feeling that of “Am I overpaying for this property more than the property value?”, are there any development plans around the house forthcoming?

After my own research on what buyer’s agent should I go with, then I found Dan. He gave me complete confidence, clear directions in his services throughout the entire process.

I’m so grateful to have found Dan. I couldn’t have got this successful outcome at auction without him!!!

Junko Tomita

Dan recently helped me secure an investment property in Sydney and blew my expectations out of the water. I anticipated a lengthy and complicated process but Dan was able to break it down into easy to understand phases and found me a gem within 4 weeks. I look forward to being able to work with Dan again in the future. Cheers, Dan!

Kate Weinert

Dan is a pleasure to deal with. His expertise and knowledge of the local area is very strong. He bought structure and an evidence-based approach to our search.

Erin Bourne

I have known Dan Sofo for a number of years professionally and in that time I’ve always found him to be very knowledgeable and aware of the market. I would not hesitate to recommend Dan to anyone looking to purchase their dream property at a fair price.

William Tsagaris

I have met Dan a few times in the past, but this was the first deal we had worked on together and can say that it was a seamless and easy transaction. Dan was straight forward in his approach and negotiations which in turn benefited his clients in securing the property. Looking forward to working together again.

Nick Arena

We recently completed a successful transaction with Dan. I appreciate his personable, efficient, and professional approach. He certainly prioritizes his clients’ interests.
Dan has excellent market knowledge and stays well informed. I can confidently say buyers are in good hands with Dan.

Renee Cross

A pleasure working with Dan. He had a very professional, yet a very unassuming approach. It was a fine balance of someone who was easy to speak with, and extremely pleasant, to someone who was ready to haggled over even just a $1000 in every conversation. Now having dealt with Dan in that transaction, I would feel confident in trusting him, with not just properties my team and I have off market but addresses of properties that we are in the process of signing up, well before they have become available to the general public. Thank you for the professional wrestle, I enjoyed it.

Patrick Cosgrove

We were introduced to Dan through our mortgage broker having had no experience in purchasing property and having a slightly cautious approach with engaging a buyers agent. We couldn’t have had a better experience with Dan. He showed the highest level of professionalism whilst being down to earth and easy to talk to. He showed patience with our limited knowledge in the property market and was great at helping us understand every step of the way.

 

We had a fairly restrictive timeframe and criteria, Dan was very straight forward and accommodating with the options he generated. His experience and analysis in the market instilled great confidence when we finally made our purchase.

Kilian Flego

When we were looking to purchase our first family home, we met with several buyers agents before we engaged Dan. Dan was the only one who really listened to us and understood our requirements. Being a young family, we wanted an agent who could help us get time back during the inspection process, and who was willing to negotiate hard on our behalf.

 

Within 6 weeks of having Dan on board, we exchanged on a home that exceeded our expectations. We couldn’t have achieved this outcome without Dan’s experience and relationships. Thank you Dan!

Jacqueline Osborne

I engaged Dan earlier this year when I was looking for my first property. He helped me refine my brief, tirelessly inspected properties and was able to get me access to a series of great off-markets. When I found two places I liked he negotiated BOTH simultaneously until I had two sellers ready to accept my offer! This resulted in me purchasing my Elizabeth Bay flat which had been my absolute favourite among everything I had seen.

 

Dan’s skills in landing my property were something to behold and I couldn’t be more happy with it. Dan is hard working, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him and to work with him again next time.

Roland Chanin-Morris

Highly Recommend!!! Dan made our first home purchase simple and stress free. Which is very important in a stressful process. What makes Dan different is his genuine care for his clients and their best interest at heart. Dan only showed us properties that matched our specific brief, and did all the heavy lifting by attending home opens etc. It just meant if we liked something & for our brief we could inspect – without wasting our Saturdays. Dan helped us understanding the strata report and did all the negotiating with the real estate agent. If it wasn’t for Dan I believe I would have paid more for our property than I needed to.

Luke Patterson

Dan made the process of buying our first home such a seamless one. We had been looking for months on our own and felt so overwhelmed with competition. Immediately when we signed with him we saw so much value in his service like getting access to off market properties we would have never known about. Dan got us our dream home that’s better than we could have ever imagined and I know we wouldn’t have gotten it if it weren’t for him!

Jessica Samson-Doel

Dan was absolutely incredible to work with. He is patient, smart, and experienced and knows his stuff when it comes to the inner Sydney property market. As a first home buyer myself I found Dan to be a wealth of knowledge and a huge support during my property search. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Dan to anyone who is looking to purchase property in Sydney. Reach out to Dan, you’ll be glad you did.

Ian Murphy

I recently worked with Dan as a first-time homebuyer and would highly recommend his services to anyone. After spending what seemed like forever searching on and off for a property, I started to feel like I could use some professional help, so I reached out to Dan at Unicorn Buyers Agents. Dan is very professional, friendly, and efficient, getting started right away to help me find my first home and taking the time to understand what I was looking for.

 

He’s very easy to work with and has impressive knowledge of the Sydney market, home values, and what to consider when purchasing a first property, which gave me great peace of mind that I was making a solid financial decision before I purchased. Navigating the complexities of conveyancing, financing, and settlement was also a breeze with his assistance.

 

I’m writing this from my new home, so the experience was a success! With Dan’s help, I purchased a great unit well under my original budget and I feel confident that I made the right choice. Thanks again for all of your help!

Katie D

We connected with a few buyer agents and then finally met Dan. We felt a great connection with him as he understood our requirements and outlined the process in a simplified way.

 

Knowing our budget, we gave Dan the criterion to find us an apartment, however, our ideal choice was a house. We are still surprised that how Dan presented us the option of the house and then helped, guided and supported us to close the deal professionally. We highly recommend Dan to anyone who is looking for professional, knowledgeable and skilled buyers agent.

Sonal Vashist

Dan is incredibly helpful, knowledgeable and generous. He made the process of buying our place in Sydney way less stressful, and helped ensure we got it for a good price. Worth his weight in gold.

Andrew Clarke

We engaged Dan through a recommendation from a friend to bid at a critical Auction for us as we were nearing the end of our pre-approval period and risking a significant reduction in borrowing capacity. In our particular case, we were lucky that the bidding was focused around our level of affordability but I am confident that Dan’s approach kept the bids as low as possible while securing us our property.

 

He was extremely thorough in his research to support the process – both in deciding to take on the job and to inform our expectations so we can set bidding limits that we were comfortable represented the true value of the property to us. We’ve been in our new family home for a week now and couldn’t be happier to be here, for the price we paid. Thank you Dan for heling to make it happen!

Kellie Adlam

We recently engaged Dan at Unicorn Buyers Agents to find, negotiate and ultimately purchase our first home. After our initial meeting, Dan understood the position we were in and what we were after. He was regularly in contact providing updates on properties he had viewed on our behalf and within a month we had purchased our first home.

 

His knowledge of the industry is incredible as is his ability to negotiate. Without Dan we would have paid significantly more for our home. We will definitely be using Dan and Unicorn Buyers Agents if we are ever in the market again.

Mike Meletopoulo

Fraught with first-home-buyer, house-hunting fatigue I turned to Unicorn Buyers Agency. Within 4 days I had my dream apartment in Sydney. Dan worked quickly  to arrange an inspection, develop a wholistic profile of the property including its intrinsic value and price appraisal. Dan’s professional networks within the real estate community ensured a seat at the negotiating table as pre-auction offers were made whilst I completed my due-diligence.

 

It seems counterintuitive for any buyer, let alone a first homebuyer, not to put all your money toward your deposit – but a buyers agent is the best investment you can make at this time in your life.

Armed with Dan’s expertise in the field and market I had the confidence to pursue the property, someone to guide me through the legal maze and ensure that the property and conditions of sale were fair. But perhaps, most importantly, an assurance that the long term prospects and potential for improvement of the property would continue to increase in value.

 

I’m stoked! I’ll be seeing the New Year in from my top floor balcony, looking out across the city skyline and toasting to Dan who secured me my dream first home! I’ll be grateful for the next 30 years!!

Rachel Ross

I’d like to thank Dan Sofo, the manager of unicorn buyer agent company, for finding me a good property on a land of 740 square metres with a frontage of 27 metres in the Kings Langley suburb with good advice and reasonable suggestions.

 

It’s important to note that the actual worth of such a property is at least $200K higher. I owe this profit to the unicorn team’s bargaining power and persuasion. Because the presence of such a skilled and experienced team in uncorn can persuade sellers and real estate brokers (I believe Dan mesmerised them🤩).

 

I recommend that you avoid emotional and irrational emotions when purchasing a property and instead follow Dan’s advice. I remind that you pay a very small fee for the profit you make from buying your property, and that the amount paid to Unicorn buyer agent is, in my opinion, an investment rather than a cost. This transaction has made me very happy.

Peyman Soltani

Dan was the absolute key to my journey of acquiring my first commercial property. He goes above and beyond for you and you only. He doesn’t stop even when an excellent opportunity was uncovered and presented to you he will find a better one, one after another until you are so spoiled for choice that you have the wonderful difficulty of choosing from multiple excellent opportunities. As always he over delivers and Dan is all you need in your property journey. Highly highly recommend

Tsz Kit Law

Dan was recommended to me by two different friends, and I have no hesitations in recommending him to a prospective home, or investment buyer. From the get-go, Dan was professional, patient, responsive, adaptive, and went the extra mile in helping me secure the home I am now happily in!

Catherine Anne

Dan was the buyer’s agent for a house that we recently sold. Dan was extremely clear and transparent with his negotiations from the start. Dan is a true professional and a huge asset for any buyer looking to buy in the Sydney market. Dan’s communication was on point – he kept in regular contact throughout the process and is extremely knowledgeable about the sales market. As a real estate agent, I deal with a lot of buyer’s agents and Dan is up there with the best!

Michael Murray

Thanks Dan for helping find and secure the perfect home for our family! It was amazing being able to enjoy our weekends, knowing Dan was scouting places on our behalf and would arrange for us to see any which he thought met our needs. He also handled pre auction negotiations expertly to secure the property despite tight competition.

Cameron Rabbett

Dan recently helped me buy in Neutral Bay. He is the consummate professional – really knows his stuff – but also a really lovely guy and such a pleasure to work with. He listened, adjusted the brief when necessary and communicated exceptionally well. I engaged a buyers agent because I just didn’t have the time to do the running around and had put it in the ‘too hard basket’ for years. Dan exceeded my expectations and the whole process was complete in under 4 months (which included the month or so over Christmas when nothing happens). Thank you Dan – I recommend you without hesitation. Worth every cent!

Erin Wilson

For a first time buyer it was a blessing to work with someone like Dan. He went above and beyond to support me through the process, to make sure I felt comfortable with everything that needed to be done before and after the sale. He’s extremely thorough and well versed in the local area, giving me complete confidence in his services throughout.

Victoria Brennan

It was a lot of fun looking for our first home with Dan. He is funny, charming, smart and makes an immediate connection with you. We are first time buyers who are new to Sydney property market. Dan did all the research work, coordinated with agents on our behalf and was always prompt with his replies. Through the process he educated us about what we should and should not be looking for. He definitely challenged us at every step. 

He will not let you slip into an emotional spiral making sure that you don’t overspend and get the best value for your buck. He is an absolute delight to work with. If you are a first time buyer (like us), an investor or moving to a bigger family home, Dan is your go-to person. I am glad that we went ahead with Dan.
Parsim Kaushik

Had recent dealings with Dan Sofo. Thorough, quick, knowledgeable and easily one of the best negotiators I’ve done a deal with. Plenty of buyers agents don’t negotiate for their clients – instead just find properties and make the buyer pay top dollar, Dan cross examines and executes with absolute precision, doesn’t waste yours, mine or my Vendors time and leaves every last cent not needed to be spent for his clients in their account. That’s a buyers agent on your side and the buyers agent you want on your team. Dan – I look forward to more dealings. I somewhat also don’t 🙂 Can’t go wrong with Daniel, worth every penny.

Bianca Field

My partner and I had the great pleasure of engaging Dan from Unicorn Buyers Agents to assist us purchase our property in Darlinghurst last year. Although we had viewed the property, we asked Dan to come on board to guide and work through the due diligence, planning and eventually auction. This was an awesome experience with Dan going above and beyond to research and negotiate for us. Dan is professional and knows his stuff! We can highly recommend using a buyers agent and Dan is the man!

Adam Fergusson

Dan Sofo was our buyers agent during a very hot market period where it was extremely challenging to secure a property without going through a great deal of stress and uncertainty. Dan knows his business, he knows real estate agents and how to negotiate with them. Furthermore he is able to snap off-market properties which is a big plus in a competitive market. Dan is extremely professional, ethical, honest and transparent and will always aim at assisting his clients in getting the property that meets their needs and expectations, at a good price (market price or within the client’s budget).

Dan became almost "part of our family" during this hectic house hunting period with daily texts and phone calls, which was very pleasing and reassuring as it comforted us that we were in very good hands. We truly believe that we wouldn't have been able to purchase our house without Dan's assistance, which goes beyond securing the property as Dan is always happy to answer any questions many weeks later.
Alexandre Girard

We engaged Dan to help us find a family home. He was very professional, was always engaging and did a great job dealing with the agents. He was extremely poker faced during the auction, which helped us land a house that we are extremely happy with. He was definitely worth the investment.

Guy Gunasekera

I engaged with Dan after 2 months of property search into the hot Sydney eastern suburbs market. Even though I was a bit skeptical at the beginning, I could instantly appreciate the immense value of a good buyer’s agent when it comes to be quick to jump on a good property, discover off-market opportunities, analyse all the paperwork, assess the property’s right value, negotiate the final price and understand the market trends before everyone else. Dan has been awesome at a personal level too, as he guided us through the journey and made sure we were always using our rational part of the brain (-: I 100% recommend him to anyone buying an investment property or something to call home!

Gianluca Bazzon

Dan Sofo helped our family to find our new home and we were extremely satisfied with his services. First, my husband and I couldn’t quite see the value of having a buyer’s agent, now I can say with confidence, Dan proved us wrong. Dan quickly understood what we were after and saved us lots of time and effort in finding a very special home. He presented numerous off market opportunities and managed to close the deal smoothly in the middle of the largest covid outbreak in Sydney to date.

Dan has an excellent knowledge of the market, very thorough and is a strong negotiator. He is very professional with a calm and polite but firm manner. It was a genuinely good experience and a real pleasure to work with Dan. Dan’s added value was very significant; he helped us navigate the hectic Sydney residential market and kept us on track throughout the whole process. Dan was our trusted advisor throughout the property search and beyond. He also helped us finding the right professionals we needed to carry out renovations. If you are looking for a strong, reliable buyer’s representative, without hesitation I highly recommend Dan Sofo.
Niki Deutsch

This was my first time using a buyer’s agent. I was referred to Dan by a friend and instantly felt he was in my corner. I’m time poor and often miss out on looking at properties ……that in this market don’t last long. Dan kept me and himself to my brief and after looking at 3 properties I settled on one. Dan helped me purchase the apartment prior to auction and managed the real estate agent, vendor and myself so we were all in sync and fully briefed. 

Dan is professional and warm and goes above and beyond. I too am now referring him to others so don’t look any further than Dan. Firstly you need a buyers agent to see what’s not on the market yet available, and secondly, Dan has built his business on relationships …….. and he is highly skilled and managing those whilst he works for you the buyer ! Thank you Dan and I ♥️ my née home. Cathy
Cathy Doyle

Dan was very professional and courteous, it was an absolute pleasure for us to deal with him. His professionalism and knowledge of the market are second to none. His experience in auction was outstanding, he bought the house at the lowest estimate for similar houses in the same area, so on top of saving us time, effort and stress, he also saved us money, And his services didn’t not stop then. He kindly introduced us to trusted D&C companies for renovation work. I can only praise Dan and his work. I would highly recommend his services.

Az Lachemot

Dan was a pleasure to deal with. Very responsive, honest and a hard negotiator for his client to get them the best possible price. One of the better buyers agents I have dealt with Would recommend to anyone needing assistance it’s purchasing property.

Matthew Marano

Dan recently purchased 87 Haig St, Maroubra for his clients from me..I found Dan to be a pleasure to deal with. He was always on the ball and his communication was always great. Throughout the negotiation he really displayed a great deal of care for his client. He is truly a great Buyers agent.

Amanda Rekes

My partner and I have nothing but praise for Dan and his agency in buying our first home! Dan was able to help us focus on searching for the right property, and kept us positive, motivated, and realistic. Crucially, he inspected, appraised, and negotiated on our behalf once we found the place we wanted. Last but not least, Dan’s a wonderful bloke, a pleasure to work with, and not afraid to have a laugh or crack a joke. If you’re looking for some sanity in the chaos of the Sydney property market, look no further than Dan.

Adrian C

Dan’s service was second to none. All of the of concerns and worries of buying a home disappeared as soon as we signed up to his services. He made this whole process a pleasure, and we now have our dream family home in Bondi. Whether it was talking us through the legal quagmire involved when buying a home, or getting feedback from surveyors and builders, Dan was fair, honest and worked day or night when it was needed. He took care of all the negotiations from conveyancing, real estate agents and builders. He added a calm level head, when all around were piling on the pressure, he was never rattled and always charming. He’s exactly who you need on your side when you go into the Eastern suburbs real estate jungle. The money and time he saved was priceless.

Dan Evans

Dan was incredibly patient with us as first home buyers, and helped us above and beyond the search/negotiation. He is incredibly knowledgable about the market, and provided really insightful advice at the begining and throughout our search. Dan has built strong relationships in the industry, which is a definitely a positive when trying to navigate through the smoke and mirrors of Sydney real estate. We ended up with our dream home, and cannot wait to move in! Could not recommend highly enough – thanks Dan!

Emily Fletcher

I was completely new to the world of property when I found Unicorn Buyers Agents. This was my first home and I honestly didn’t expect it to be so stressful. Connecting with Daniel Sofo meant having someone fight for the buyer (me), someone to explain the ins and outs, someone I could trust who I knew was fighting for my best interests. Daniel helped me and my husband wade through the mountains of properties and ridiculous mind games with real estate agents to find a home which was below budget and above expectations. 

He handled negotiations with the agents, advised whether properties were at true value and lead the final bidding process - which we won. I was initially hesitant to commit to the fee of a buyers agent, until I realised that the money I saved actually buying the property far exceeded the cost of his services. It was a net positive and we are so grateful for all the help we received. I recommend Dan highly and will go with him again when we’re back in the market for our next property.
Samantha Arcata

I have had the privilege of working with Dan on numerous occasions in helping clients with the legal side of the transaction once they have found a property. I have been impressed by Dan’s knowledge of the market and his promptness in always being available to answer numerous questions and emails. He is professional and easy to work with. I would highly recommend Dan to anyone in search for a Buyers Agent.

Jane Park

Dan is one of the professional agent we come across. very knowledgeable and will make sure you get your property you want.

Sharon Danieli

Really happy with the service Dan provided for a recent property that I purchased. Right from the outset, Dan assisted with due diligence with respect to what to look for in an investment property as well as having a detailed understanding of the stock-type I was interested in. This really helped home in on the investment I wanted, all the way to contract mark-ups and a sounding board for financing advice I received from brokers.

I had Dan run the bidding process for me and he set up a clear strategy for us to stick to both before and during the bid given I was overseas at the time. Dan's transparent and disciplined strategy paid off excellently and we got the price well within our expectations. Finally, Dan stuck with me right until settlement and provided all the relevant advice and information for pre-settlement inspections and what to look out for. Thanks Dan for a thorough, honest and diligent service.
Joseph Gaudioso

After a decade of rental in Sydney, I found one of the main reasons my small family and I hadn’t seriously looked at property purchase was our lack of knowledge, fear and the feeling of the seemingly impossible task ahead of us, our early attempts left a feeling pretty awful about the prospect. After engaging the services of Dan at Unicorn buyers agents I can honestly say the process I feared so much was incredibly smooth. 

We were guided, educated and supported through every step from searches, engaging legal representation, mortgage brokerage, financial management, buildings inspections, every call was answered even after we were safely settled in our new home. I am forever grateful that someone with such exceptional knowledge, experience, understanding and care was there to help me achieve something I had for so long been nervous about. Thank you Dan, to say you are the epitome of what I believe such service should represent would be an understatement. Geoff and Olivia O’Hara
Geoff O’Hara

Being a real estate agent myself, Dan is a pleasure to work with. He’s transparent and focused on getting the best outcome for all parties involved. To anyone looking to buy, I would highly encourage you to reach out and have a chat to Dan. To any agents, I would encourage you to add Dan to your buyer mailing list.

Christopher Breedon

As a mortgage broker, it has been a pleasure working with Dan, who has assisted a number of my clients in securing their home or investment property. Dan is very professional to work with and has been tenacious when negotiating with vendors, to ensure his clients receive the best price on their property purchase.

Samuel Bowler

Download FREE Report Now
To Access Insider Secrets

Don’t guess where to buy! Get a trusted Buyer Agent’s shortlist of the best Sydney suburbs
 to buy personal or investment property in 2023.
Scroll to Top

12 popular buyers agent questions answered 

 

When it comes to buying a property, many people assume that they can navigate the process on their own. However, purchasing a home or an investment property is often a complex and time-consuming process that requires expert knowledge and guidance. This is where a buyers agent can be incredibly valuable. A buyers agent is a licensed real estate professional who specializes in representing the interests of homebuyers. 

 

In this article, we will explore what a buyer’s agent is and the benefits they offer, as well as when it is appropriate to engage their services. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, understanding the role of a buyer’s agent can make all the difference in finding your dream property.

 

What You’ll Learn From This Article

 

  1. What is a buyers agent? 
  2. What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a buyers agent?
  3. How much do buyers agents charge?
  4. Are buyers agents worth it?
  5. How much will it cost me not to use a buyer’s agent?
  6. Do i need a buyers agent in today’s market?
  7. How to choose a buyers agent?
  8. What questions should i ask a buyer’s agent before hiring them?
  9. Can you claim buyer’s agent fees on tax?
  10. Can a property seller contact the buyer agent directly?
  11. Do i have to sign a buyer agent agreement?
  12. Can you have multiple buyers agents?

 

What is a buyers agent?

A buyer’s agent is a fully licensed property agent who works on behalf of a homebuyer or property investor in a real estate transaction. The primary responsibility of a buyer’s agent is to help their client find and purchase a home that meets their specific needs and budget.

 

Buyer’s agents work exclusively with buyers and are therefore focused on helping buyers navigate the complex and sometimes overwhelming process of purchasing a home. They typically have extensive knowledge of a local real estate market and relationships with a network of selling agents in that area.  

 

Buyer agents offer purchasers transparency and clarity around price and market value by researching comparable sales transactions and will drive the due diligence and research process to mitigate the risk of a purchased property causing problems or stress to its new owner in the future. 

 

The way a property is marketed, negotiated, and sold depends on many factors including demand for that property type, the expectations of the vendor, and the particular style of the sales agent. Every transaction is unique and a buyers agent’s experience navigating the many variations of the sales process and the legal and financial requirements involved can undoubtedly give a purchaser an advantage.

 

Another of the key benefits of working with a buyer’s agent is that they can provide objective advice and representation throughout the home buying process which may otherwise become an emotional decision. 

 

Because they work solely on behalf of the buyer, they can help their clients make informed decisions without being influenced by any other parties involved in the transaction. Additionally, many buyer’s agents will deploy methods and resources that can help buyers find and evaluate the right property more efficiently than they might be able to on their own. This includes accessing properties not listed for sale by traditional means (off-market or silent listings). 

What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a buyers agent?

Buying and selling real estate can be complicated. That’s where buyers agents and real estate agents come in. A real estate agent is a professional who sells properties. Who does a real estate agent represent? The seller. Real estate agents are paid through commission from either the seller or the vendor. A buyer’s agent, exclusively represents the buyer. They act in the buyer’s best interest and help them through the process of securing the property they want.

 

How much do buyers agents charge?

Many buyer’s agents charge for service like a real estate sales agent ie, a percentage commission. This can make sense if you’re selling a property as the sales agent is incentivised to achieve a higher sales price. Paying more commission to your buyers agent the more you pay for your property can make less sense for buyers In hotter market years such as during 2020- 2021, Unicorn Buyers Agents offered fixed fees, to protect our clients.

 

In neutral or cooler years we offer a percentage-based fee capped at a pre-agreed rate. This way our buyers may benefit from a lower-than-expected commission whilst also having the peace of mind of knowing the maximum they’ll pay. 

For maximum flexibility and transparency, we offer clients the choice to lock in a fixed fee or to hire us on a percentage-based fee capped at a pre-agreed amount.

 

Are buyers agents worth it?

In Australia until recently the use of a professional buyers agent to undertake one’s search and property purchase was uncommon.

 

Sydney house hunters have long been resigned to the stresses of endless weekend inspections and annoying agent phone calls, not to mention having to negotiate with seasoned professionals trained in the art of extracting the highest possible price for their client- the seller. 

 

In the last few years however Australians are increasingly following the trend of their US counterparts to engage a buyers agent to find, negotiate and secure residential owner-occupied and investment property. Why?

 

 The competition for the best property in the most desirable suburbs has intensified, with a significant percentage invisible to the average house hunter. Property prices have spiked- and so has the cost of making a mistake. And we have increasingly become time-poor professionals who realise the value in deploying another professional to do what they do best.

 

Hiring a buyers agent does make sense but what can you expect for your money, and how will you assess the value of your buyers agent’s services?

 

A good buyer’s agent in Sydney will understand your brief in detail, then tailor their services and fees to your exact needs. This may be as simple as attending an auction to bid on your behalf, or appraising a property you have found, or conducting the entire search campaign all the way from day one to contract settlement.

 

  • ‘Bid at auction’ gets you a hired gun as your proxy on the big day. They will bid, deploying one of many strategies they have available, which they believe is best on the day to secure the property for you for the lowest price possible whilst taking into consideration other bidders, and the auctioneers style.
  • An appraisal and negotiate service will see a buyers agent provide you with a professional opinion on the market value and likely selling price of a property you have found, based on recent comparable sales, market momentum, and level of interest in that particular property. The agent will then deploy their negotiation expertise and relationships to negotiate a purchase by private treaty.
  • A complete search really should be just that. The best buyers agents will go beyond public listings to use real estate agent outreach, professional research tools, community networking , door knocking and letterbox drops to source and shortlist potential properties. 

Dozens of physical inspections will follow, accompanied by detailed research to validate the properties have no issues and can be secured within your budget. They will have a team of professionals including building inspector, engineer, solicitor, builder, handyman and property manager- to do all the heavy lifting, and will coordinate them all on your behalf. They’ll deal with selling agents, so you don’t have to. And they’ll package up a shortlist of desirable options to make your decisions. easier.

 

 A top buyers agent will show you the property that ticks your boxes, and sometimes that may be unconventional- but a buyers agent will also show you how an easy low-cost renovation can leave you with the property you dreamed of.

 

 An expert buyers agent will be your voice of reason- guiding you to avoid psychological pitfalls like analysis paralysis, FOMO, buyers remorse, and more.

 

 Finally, a good buyers agent will ensure you pay the right price, the lowest price possible given market conditions. 

 

How much will it cost me not to use a buyer’s agent?

I talk to buyers every day and a comment I often hear is “I’d love to use a buyers agent to find my property but I really can’t afford it because I need to put every dollar toward my purchase”.

 

I put one to three on-market and off-market property matches in front of my clients every week. These properties are within budget, they have been physically inspected and researched to make sure they’re problem free. 

 

I know how the sales agent will run the campaign and by deal time I’ll know the minimum price that needs to be paid to secure the property. This saves my clients thousands of dollars of search time  and many thousands more by not overpaying. I’ll also buy a better house on a better street which means tens, or hundreds of thousands of dollars more in your pocket. 

 

How? Let’s assume you manage to buy without overpaying and you’ve chosen a good suburb, street, and property type that grows in value at say 4% a year for the next decade.

 

 Now let’s assume I could buy you a slightly better property that grows in value at a slightly better 5% for the next decade. That 1% extra on a $2m property means my purchase will be worth $200k more than yours in ten years time. Not using a good buyers agent will cost you money.

 

Do i need a buyers agent in today’s market?

In a seller’s market with FOMO running high it seems easier to understand the value proposition for a buyers agent.

But great buyer agent work is just as critical in a cooler market. Here’s a few reasons why.

  1. Selling agents get much better at returning your calls in a tough market but they still have one thing top of mind – squeezing the highest possible price out of you. That’s their job. 
  2. We have the relationships with agents which helps us find opportunities in the form of off-market /silent listings by anxious and distressed owners. We also help bring things to market. Potential sellers are more likely to list when a buyers agent walks through the home during an appraisal. 
  3. We assess up to the minute market value. Sydney property prices are volatile. Price action varies suburb to suburb, street to street. Last nights’ sale resets todays suburb benchmark. On a $2M home purchase overpaying by 3% is a $60,000 mistake and buying at a 5% discount to market is a $100,000 win.
  4. Cooling markets are a minefield of second grade properties and unrealistic vendors. We shortlist, inspect and present only the best, most viable options saving you time money and stress. 

How to choose a buyers agent?

Hiring a buyer’s agent is a significant investment. Understanding how to prepare for the buying process and how to choose the right agent for your search will save you in every respect. Avoid the following mistakes and you’re well on the way to a profitable, and enjoyable buyer’s agent experience.

 

Mistake #1. Hiring an agent before your finance is approved.

Serious property hunting without the funds available is unproductive. You cant buy if you haven’t got the money! The first step of buyer preparation is to have your finance in place- preferably a fully assessed loan rather than just an approval in principle.

 

It’s certainly advisable to research your property market, write your brief, and get your buying team in place whilst arranging finance. However, the right time to put your buyer’s agent to work officially is when your finance is approved.

 

Mistake #2. Choosing a buyer’s agent without a buying team if you don’t have one of your own

A successful buying assault on a sought-after home or investment requires a crack team of experts; In addition to your buyer’s agent you’ll need a top broker and solicitor, and if the property is a renovation project, an architect, private certifier, a builder, or tradespeople, an engineer a  quantity surveyor as well. This group comprises your personal army, your buying team.

 

If you don’t have a team at hand make it a high priority to select a buyers agent who can bring one to the table. Hiring this agent means you’ll inherit their panel of experts who have worked together in the past. You’ll enjoy the advantage of ‘synergy’ when an experienced team works together with your buyer’s agent for a great result -all without you having to lift a finger.

 

Mistake #3 Not choosing a buyer’s agent who is completely independent and working for you

A buyer’s agent must be  100% working in your best interest.

 

This means they should not accept any type of incentive or remuneration that would affect their ability to give you independent advice.  A clear contravention of this principle would be a buyer’s agent accepting an incentive from a builder or developer for an introduction that leads to a sale. 

 

Standard agency agreements in all states generally make provision for an agent to disclose referral fees and commissions so you can understand whether there is a financial incentive involved with any of your buyers agents associations.

 

Mistake #4 Not choosing the buyer’s agent service that corresponds to your needs

Good buyers agents generally have three or four core offerings ranging from “Done For You” to appraisal, negotiation, and auction attendance. Choosing the appropriate service will require you to be realistic about your own property skillset and the time you can allocate to your house hunting.

 

 If you have the network, resources, and experience to access suitable properties then an ‘appraise and negotiate’ or ‘bid at auction’ service may really be all you need.


Be aware that although you think you can do the job using just these services, you can’t buy what you can’t see and this approach may cost you more time and money in the long run. 

 

Mistake #5 Not choosing a buyer’s agent who specializes in your desired area

An agent that works (and lives and plays) in the suburbs you are searching within is tuned into the important details that can affect a successful purchase. A formal appraisal or valuation is no comparison to the local knowledge of a seasoned area specialist. Bad neighbours, upcoming poor development, problematic executive committees..a local specialist will be aware and steer you clear of troublesome issues that are not apparent to an outsider.

 

Mistake #6 Not paying the right price for the service you’re getting

Buyer’s agents’ pricing can vary widely, and with good reason. Any good agent will tailor the scope of works to your circumstance and most will agree on a fixed price that reflects the work involved. It is worthwhile to understand what that work entails.

 

 A detailed, particular brief for a property in a tightly held suburb should command a premium and what you’ll be paying for is the buyer’s agent’s network of local selling agents, business people, and community, as well as their less conventional methods of sourcing property.

 

More abundantly available property in a less salubrious suburb will see you paying a buyer more for their time conducting inspections and putting together the deal, or their analytical skills if it is an investment property.

 

Paying an entry-level agent an entry-level fee for a challenging brief will not give you an expert outcome.

 

Be as wary of ‘cheap’ fees as exorbitant fees. Take a moment to consider the difficulty of the task at hand and the time and expertise required.

 

Mistake #7 Not assessing the methods your buyer’s agent will use to find your ideal property

Good buyer’s agents will apply multiple resources to source property and it merits asking how your buyer’s agent operates. Key activities you should listen for include personal outreach to a selling agent network, extensive use of research tools such as RPData, and personal outreach to potential sellers, amongst others. Opportunities arise from contact with people and the best agents spend all day talking and researching.

 

Mistake #8 Not choosing an agent with auction experience if that’s the likely method of sale for your property

If the common method of sale for your future home or investment is via an auction then your buyer’s agent should have extensive bidding experience.

 

Auctions are volatile environments where the odds are stacked against the seller. There is plenty of room for error leading up to, and on the day and you will need an agent that, is calm, knows all the rules, and has multiple battle-tested bidding strategies. A well-chosen agent will often know the auctioneer and their calling style which can help.

 

It’s not considered rude to ask your prospective buyer’s agent about their auction experience, and their preferred bidding strategies.

 

Mistake #9 Not screening your agent for negotiating power

Buyer’s agents are negotiators. They are the conduit between you and all the other players in a high-stakes situation. They’ll likely even mediate between you and your spouse when the pressure is on at deal time! To screen for a good negotiator you’ll need to trust your instincts rather than ask questions. Your prospective hire should leave you with the sense that things are going to go your way. Chances are they’ll be waving that magic wand over the other parties too which makes a good deal more likely.

 

Mistake #10 Not having a well-defined brief for your agent

The more thoroughly you detail and communicate your wants and needs, the better your outcome. A good brief goes way beyond just the property attributes. If the property is to be an investment share your overall long-term goals, how the purchase will fit into your portfolio, and when and how it will be divested.

 

If it’s your family home share what you do for work sports and hobbies, what your evenings and weekends look, like where your kids spend their time. Property choice is driven by lifestyle and understanding this is key for your agent to find that perfect property match.

 

Mistake #11 Not confirming your buyer’s agent will be working exclusively on your brief

A buyer’s agent cannot work in your best interest if they have signed on other clients looking for the same type of home in the same suburb and a similar price range.

 

You need to ask the question- will your brief, price range and instruction have exclusivity in your agents’ portfolio, until they have found your property? It’s not a rude question to ask a prospective buyers agent what other types of clients they will concurrently be working on and what assurances they can give you there will be no conflict of interest.

 

It’s easy for buyer’s agencies large and small to blur the line by having multiple clients with similar briefs. In a tight market with short supply who gets first dibs on something matching multiple briefs?

 

Mistake #12 Choosing a larger agency and being assigned a junior or an associate.

As with many professional services sectors you run into the possibility of being pitched to by a senior expert only to have your brief delegated to a junior once you are on board.

 

 This can be a frustrating experience. If you are choosing a larger organisation always confirm that the agent you want to be looking after you actually will personally be responsible for your search.

 

Mistake #13 Not reference checking your Buyers Agent

Just as you would when you hire an employee- dont be afraid to ask your buyers agent for one or two names of past clients who would be happy to comment on how they worked. Confidentiality issues aside a good buyers agent should be able to agree to this. 

 

So there it is in a nutshell. Using a buyer’s agent will be a profitable and enjoyable experience so long as you can avoid the above mistakes.

What questions should i ask a buyer’s agent before hiring them?

 

When you’re hiring a buyer’s agent, it’s important to ask a few questions to ensure that they’re the right fit for you. Here are some questions you may want to consider:

 

  1. What experience do you have as a buyer’s agent?
  2. How do you plan to help me find the right property?
  3. How familiar are you with the local real estate market?
  4. Can you provide references from previous clients?
  5. How will you communicate with me throughout the buying process?
  6. How do you handle negotiations and bidding wars?
  7. Do you have experience working with first-time homebuyers?
  8. How do you get paid for your services?
  9. How many clients do you currently have?
  10. Do you work full-time as a buyer’s agent or do you also handle listings?

Asking these questions will help you get a better sense of the agent’s experience, expertise, and approach to working with clients, which will help you make an informed decision when hiring a buyer’s agent

 

Can you claim buyers agent fees on tax?

If you are using a buyer’s agent to purchase an investment property, for example, your buyers agent fees may be capitalised into the purchase and be deductible on sale. Even if you are using a buyer’s agent to purchase a personal residence, it’s worthwhile hanging on to the invoice. Check with your accountant and tax agent to see what portion of fees may be expensed and how. 

Can a property seller contact the buyer agent directly?

Yes, a property seller can contact the buyer’s agent directly. This does in fact happen. Here at Unicorn Buyers Agents we are contacted daily by sellers interested to avoid sales agents commissions by seeing if we may have a buyer for their property.

A property seller who already has their home listed with a sales agent is much less likely to contact the buyers agent directly as they trust their nominated agent to facilitate the transaction. 

 

A property seller who is selling privately will contact the buyer agent directly and we have conducted a number of purchases directly with the seller.

 

On occasion, a buyers agent may contact a seller directly even if they have a sales agent- but always with the permission of the sales agent. It may be to clarify some detail directly, to give a client peace of mind. 

 

Do i have to sign a buyer agent agreement?

Yes, you do have to sign a buyer agent agreement. A buyers agent operating in NSW is required to be either a class one or class two real estate agent and must operate under legislation set down in the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act and Regulation. The legislation stipulates that an agency agreement must be in place between an agent and a principal, outlining the terms on which the work will be conducted.

Can you have multiple buyers agents?

Whilst you could theoretically have multiple buyers agents working for you, it would be both unlikely and undesirable for you to enter into this arrangement. Most buyers agents will require you to enter into an exclusive agency agreement which recognizes they alone are working for you and their fee is liable to be paid even in the instance another buyers agent finds a property.

 

Here at Unicorn Buyers Agents we work with clients confident to trust us to find and purchase their home and as such only enter into exclusive agency agreements. We do not co-opt with other agents. 

 

So saying, we do occasionally collaborate with buyers agent colleagues outside of our organisation to assist us with a challenging brief. In this instance, we negotiate remuneration directly from our commission and no further fee is payable by our clients.