123 Main Street, New York, NY 10001
123 Main Street, New York, NY 10001
A buyer’s agent (or buyer’s advocate) is a licensed real estate professional who works exclusively for the buyer in a property transaction. Traditionally, real estate agents represent sellers – their job is to get the highest price and the best terms for the seller. In…
contrast, a buyer’s agent is 100% on the buyer’s side, helping you find the right property, advising on value, and negotiating to get the lowest price and favourable terms for you. Why might you need one?
Because buying property can be complex, competitive, and time-consuming. A buyer’s agent brings expertise, local market knowledge, and negotiation skills to the table – we can access properties you might not find on your own (off-market listings), identify pitfalls or red flags, and save you from overpaying. Essentially, we level the playing field against seasoned selling agents and make the process easier and less stressful for you. Many people, especially first-time buyers or those purchasing from out of town, find that a good buyer’s agent is invaluable in securing the right property at the right price.
Our primary focus is the Greater Brisbane area in Queensland. We service Brisbane’s inner-city and suburban regions across the north, south, east, and west – from the CBD and surrounding suburbs out to the popular family areas…
and up-and-coming outer suburbs. This includes Brisbane City Council and some surrounding localities in the metro area. If you’re looking in Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, or Moreton Bay regions, we can certainly discuss those as well, as they are part of the broader Brisbane property ecosystem. However, we brand ourselves as Buying in Brisbane for a reason – we specialise in this city to offer truly in-depth local expertise. For Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, or other areas of Queensland, we currently do not take on clients (though we’re happy to refer you to trusted colleagues in those areas or perhaps assist on a case-by-case basis through our network). Focusing on Brisbane means when you work with us, you’re getting a team that lives and breathes this market. We know the neighbourhoods, the streets, and the local market quirks intimately. If your needs ever expand beyond Brisbane, let us know and we’ll help you find the right professional to assist.
The timeline can vary widely depending on your requirements, market conditions, and a bit of luck. On average, many of our full-service clients find and purchase a property within 4 to 12 weeks from the time we start the search.
However, it could be faster if you have very clear criteria and the perfect property appears quickly – for example, some clients have bought in just a few weeks. Conversely, it could take several months if your brief is very specific or market inventory is limited. We pride ourselves on working efficiently (we start presenting options typically within the first 1-2 weeks), but we also won’t rush a purchase just to meet a timeline. Our standard engagement is 6 months to give plenty of breathing room. Once you’re under contract on a property, the settlement period usually adds another 4-6 weeks (common in QLD) before you can take possession. So, from start to finish, a typical journey might be 2-3 months of search and negotiation, plus 1-2 months of settlement process. That said, we move at your pace – if you have a particular deadline (e.g., moving to Brisbane by a certain date), let us know and we will do everything possible to meet it. And if you need to pause or take longer, we accommodate that too. The key thing is, with us handling the legwork, even if it takes a few months, the process will feel manageable and under control, rather than an endless, chaotic search.
In most cases, yes, we will either find you a better property, a better price, or both. Here’s why: First, we often show clients opportunities they wouldn’t have found themselves, like off-market properties or listings in suburbs they hadn’t considered – this…
can lead to securing a gem that other buyers missed. Second, when it comes to price, our negotiation expertise frequently saves buyers substantial money. We know the tactics of selling agents and how to counter them, and we come armed with data, so we don’t fall for overpricing. Many of our clients have saved tens of thousands of dollars because we negotiated more effectively or spotted an issue that we used to justify a lower price. Third, by avoiding mistakes (like buying a property with hidden problems or in a poor location), we save you from potentially costly regrets down the track. While we can’t promise a miracle, we stack the odds in your favour. Even if you’re a savvy buyer, having a professional advocate can give you that extra edge. At the very least, we ensure you don’t overpay – and very often, we’re able to secure a price or terms that an unrepresented buyer would find hard to get. The value we add tends to far exceed our fee, which is why our past clients say the service pays for itself.
The key difference is who we represent and our objectives. A regular real estate agent (the ones whose names you see on “For Sale” signs) is employed by the seller of a property.
Their job is to get the highest price and the best conditions for their seller – that means if you deal directly with a selling agent, remember that they are not working for you (no matter how friendly they are). In contrast, we represent you, the buyer. We have a fiduciary duty to act in your best interests. We seek to get the lowest purchase price, the most favourable terms, and the property that best fits your needs. Another difference is scope: a selling agent focuses on one property (the one they’re selling), whereas we can consider any property on the market (or off-market) that suits you. We’re like your property search consultants and negotiators in one. Also, while a selling agent’s role ends when they’ve found a buyer and the contract is signed, we stick with you through the entire process until settlement and beyond, as your advisor. Legally, we are licensed real estate agents too, but we choose to apply our skills exclusively to buyers. This exclusivity means there’s never a conflict of interest – we won’t be pushing a property on you because we have a listing or need to make a quota. We only succeed when you buy the right property at a great price.
No. Our ethical stance is very clear on this: the only compensation we receive comes from you, our client. We do not accept commissions or referral fees from selling agents, developers, builders, or anyone else who might try to influence our advice.
For example, if we recommend a certain solicitor or mortgage broker to you, we get nothing in return – we’re suggesting them purely because we believe they’re good and will help your cause. If a developer offered us a secret commission to sway you into one of their new units, we’d flatly refuse (and honestly, we’d be unlikely to recommend new developer stock in most cases unless it truly matched your criteria and value). This independence is crucial to maintaining your trust. Sadly, in some parts of the industry, there are operators who double-dip (charging the buyer and taking a fee from the seller/developer). We consider that a conflict of interest and not in the buyer’s best interest. When you work with Buying in Brisbane, you can be confident that every piece of advice and every property suggestion is based solely on what’s best for you.
We focus exclusively on buying services, but we understand that many buyers also have a house to sell. While we don’t list or sell properties ourselves (remember, we stay on the buy side to avoid conflicts), we are more than happy to assist you in a couple of ways. First, we can recommend trusted selling
agents in your area who have good track records. Think of it as a mini “matchmaking” service – because we know who the good operators are on the sell side, we can point you to someone reputable instead of you picking an agent at random. Second, as part of our commitment to you, we can offer guidance during your sale: we’ll give our two cents on your sale strategy if you want it or help interpret if a selling agent’s advice to you (as a vendor) makes sense. While officially we won’t be your selling agent, we certainly don’t mind being a sounding board to ensure your sale goes well too, because it’s all connected to your buying goal. Some buyer’s agents (in other cities especially) offer a “vendor advocacy” service where they manage the selling agent for you – if you need that level of assistance, let’s discuss, and we may be able to provide a similar service or refer a specialist. The bottom line: we’re here to support you through the whole journey, and that includes making sure your current home is sold advantageously if that’s part of your plan.
Our fee structure is designed to be straightforward. Typically, when you decide to engage us and we sign an agreement, we request a modest engagement fee upfront (this may be a fixed amount like a few thousand dollars, which is essentially a commitment retainer). This engagement fee ensures we can dedicate our resources to your search and is generally non-refundable.
The remaining balance of our fee is only payable upon success, i.e., once you have successfully purchased a property (or at settlement, depending on our agreement). We will invoice you for the success fee at that point, and it’s typically due around settlement time. We’ll clarify these exact terms in our initial discussions and in the written agreement, so you know the amounts and timings. We accept payment by bank transfer, and because we’re a licensed agency, we adhere to all regulations regarding trust accounts etc., when handling any funds. Rest assured, we do not expect full payment unless we’ve delivered you a property – that’s part of us standing by our service. If for some reason the purchase falls through (for example, you withdraw during cooling-off due to a building and pest issue, and then we go on to secure a different property later), we simply carry on – you only pay when a successful purchase is achieved. We aim to make the payment process as hassle-free as everything else.
Absolutely – one of the perks of using a full-service buyer’s agent is that we have a network of reliable professionals and we can coordinate a lot on your behalf. Need a recommendation for a great mortgage broker who…
knows how to structure a loan for a tricky situation? We’ll introduce you. Don’t have a solicitor or conveyancer? We can suggest a few who specialise in property purchases and get them talking to you. When it’s time for a building and pest inspection, we can schedule it with a trusted inspector (we have a few we regularly use who are thorough and reputable) and often attend the inspection ourselves on your behalf. If the property needs a valuation for the bank, or a quick renovation quote during your decision process, or an insurance quote – we can either organise it or point you in the right direction. Think of us as your property concierge. Our goal is to make the entire journey seamless, and that means bringing together all the pieces needed for a successful purchase. We’ve spent years vetting and building relationships with other experts – from town planners to pool inspectors – so that our clients have access to the best. You are, of course, free to use any providers you like; we don’t force you to use our contacts. But many clients appreciate that we can one-stop-shop a lot of these needs, saving them time and ensuring quality control. And again, we do this with no kickbacks or referral fees – we simply want you to have good people on your side.
We understand that circumstances can change or you might have second thoughts – maybe you get a job transfer to another city, or you decide to put buying on hold, or you’re not gelling with our process for some reason. While we certainly…
hope you’ll be thrilled with our service, we want you to feel comfortable. Our agency agreement (which is as per Queensland law for buyer’s agents) will outline terms for termination. Generally, you can cancel the agreement by giving us written notice. Depending on the timing, there may be provisions around retaining the initial retainer (since we’ve put work in) but not charging the success fee if you haven’t bought anything. If you decide to terminate early, we typically would invoice for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred on your behalf (which are usually minimal or none, unless we paid for a report for you or similar) and keep the engagement fee to cover the work done up to that point, but you would owe nothing further. We strive to be fair and understanding – if you were genuinely unhappy and it was early days, we’d discuss a fair arrangement (fortunately, that’s not happened before!). One thing to note: if we have found a property you love and negotiated it and you’re under contract, then you decide to back out of our agreement, the terms might specify that the success fee is still payable if you proceed to buy that property without us. That’s just to protect from very rare bad-faith scenarios. However, in a normal situation, if you didn’t end up buying at all or you want to stop the search, we’re not going to hold you hostage. We only want to continue working together if you’re confident in our value. And remember, our approach is to earn your trust every day – our 6-month commitment policy speaks to that. If it’s not working, we can shake hands and part amicably. Your peace of mind is most important.
A buyer’s agent (or buyer’s advocate) is a licensed real estate professional who works exclusively for the buyer in a property transaction. Traditionally, real estate agents represent sellers – their job is to get the highest price and the best terms for the seller. In contrast, a buyer’s agent is 100% on the buyer’s side, helping you find the right property, advising on value, and negotiating to get the lowest price and favourable terms for you. Why might you need one? Because buying property can be complex, competitive, and time-consuming. A buyer’s agent brings expertise, local market knowledge, and negotiation skills to the table – we can access properties you might not find on your own (off-market listings), identify pitfalls or red flags, and save you from overpaying. Essentially, we level the playing field against seasoned selling agents and make the process easier and less stressful for you. Many people, especially first-time buyers or those purchasing from out of town, find that a good buyer’s agent is invaluable in securing the right property at the right price.
Our primary focus is the Greater Brisbane area in Queensland. We service Brisbane’s inner-city and suburban regions across the north, south, east, and west – from the CBD and surrounding suburbs out to the popular family areas and up-and-coming outer suburbs. This includes Brisbane City Council and some surrounding localities in the metro area. If you’re looking in Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, or Moreton Bay regions, we can certainly discuss those as well, as they are part of the broader Brisbane property ecosystem. However, we brand ourselves as Buying in Brisbane for a reason – we specialise in this city to offer truly in-depth local expertise. For Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, or other areas of Queensland, we currently do not take on clients (though we’re happy to refer you to trusted colleagues in those areas or perhaps assist on a case-by-case basis through our network). Focusing on Brisbane means when you work with us, you’re getting a team that lives and breathes this market. We know the neighbourhoods, the streets, and the local market quirks intimately. If your needs ever expand beyond Brisbane, let us know and we’ll help you find the right professional to assist.
The timeline can vary widely depending on your requirements, market conditions, and a bit of luck. On average, many of our full-service clients find and purchase a property within 4 to 12 weeks from the time we start the search. However, it could be faster if you have very clear criteria and the perfect property appears quickly – for example, some clients have bought in just a few weeks. Conversely, it could take several months if your brief is very specific or market inventory is limited. We pride ourselves on working efficiently (we start presenting options typically within the first 1-2 weeks), but we also won’t rush a purchase just to meet a timeline. Our standard engagement is 6 months to give plenty of breathing room. Once you’re under contract on a property, the settlement period usually adds another 4-6 weeks (common in QLD) before you can take possession. So, from start to finish, a typical journey might be 2-3 months of search and negotiation, plus 1-2 months of settlement process. That said, we move at your pace – if you have a particular deadline (e.g., moving to Brisbane by a certain date), let us know and we will do everything possible to meet it. And if you need to pause or take longer, we accommodate that too. The key thing is, with us handling the legwork, even if it takes a few months, the process will feel manageable and under control, rather than an endless, chaotic search.
In most cases, yes, we will either find you a better property, a better price, or both. Here’s why: First, we often show clients opportunities they wouldn’t have found themselves, like off-market properties or listings in suburbs they hadn’t considered – this can lead to securing a gem that other buyers missed. Second, when it comes to price, our negotiation expertise frequently saves buyers substantial money. We know the tactics of selling agents and how to counter them, and we come armed with data, so we don’t fall for overpricing. Many of our clients have saved tens of thousands of dollars because we negotiated more effectively or spotted an issue that we used to justify a lower price. Third, by avoiding mistakes (like buying a property with hidden problems or in a poor location), we save you from potentially costly regrets down the track. While we can’t promise a miracle, we stack the odds in your favour. Even if you’re a savvy buyer, having a professional advocate can give you that extra edge. At the very least, we ensure you don’t overpay – and very often, we’re able to secure a price or terms that an unrepresented buyer would find hard to get. The value we add tends to far exceed our fee, which is why our past clients say the service pays for itself.
The key difference is who we represent and our objectives. A regular real estate agent (the ones whose names you see on “For Sale” signs) is employed by the seller of a property. Their job is to get the highest price and the best conditions for their seller – that means if you deal directly with a selling agent, remember that they are not working for you (no matter how friendly they are). In contrast, we represent you, the buyer. We have a fiduciary duty to act in your best interests. We seek to get the lowest purchase price, the most favourable terms, and the property that best fits your needs. Another difference is scope: a selling agent focuses on one property (the one they’re selling), whereas we can consider any property on the market (or off-market) that suits you. We’re like your property search consultants and negotiators in one. Also, while a selling agent’s role ends when they’ve found a buyer and the contract is signed, we stick with you through the entire process until settlement and beyond, as your advisor. Legally, we are licensed real estate agents too, but we choose to apply our skills exclusively to buyers. This exclusivity means there’s never a conflict of interest – we won’t be pushing a property on you because we have a listing or need to make a quota. We only succeed when you buy the right property at a great price.
No. Our ethical stance is very clear on this: the only compensation we receive comes from you, our client. We do not accept commissions or referral fees from selling agents, developers, builders, or anyone else who might try to influence our advice. For example, if we recommend a certain solicitor or mortgage broker to you, we get nothing in return – we’re suggesting them purely because we believe they’re good and will help your cause. If a developer offered us a secret commission to sway you into one of their new units, we’d flatly refuse (and honestly, we’d be unlikely to recommend new developer stock in most cases unless it truly matched your criteria and value). This independence is crucial to maintaining your trust. Sadly, in some parts of the industry, there are operators who double-dip (charging the buyer and taking a fee from the seller/developer). We consider that a conflict of interest and not in the buyer’s best interest. When you work with Buying in Brisbane, you can be confident that every piece of advice and every property suggestion is based solely on what’s best for you.
We focus exclusively on buying services, but we understand that many buyers also have a house to sell. While we don’t list or sell properties ourselves (remember, we stay on the buy side to avoid conflicts), we are more than happy to assist you in a couple of ways. First, we can recommend trusted selling agents in your area who have good track records. Think of it as a mini “matchmaking” service – because we know who the good operators are on the sell side, we can point you to someone reputable instead of you picking an agent at random. Second, as part of our commitment to you, we can offer guidance during your sale: we’ll give our two cents on your sale strategy if you want it or help interpret if a selling agent’s advice to you (as a vendor) makes sense. While officially we won’t be your selling agent, we certainly don’t mind being a sounding board to ensure your sale goes well too, because it’s all connected to your buying goal. Some buyer’s agents (in other cities especially) offer a “vendor advocacy” service where they manage the selling agent for you – if you need that level of assistance, let’s discuss, and we may be able to provide a similar service or refer a specialist. The bottom line: we’re here to support you through the whole journey, and that includes making sure your current home is sold advantageously if that’s part of your plan.
Our fee structure is designed to be straightforward. Typically, when you decide to engage us and we sign an agreement, we request a modest engagement fee upfront (this may be a fixed amount like a few thousand dollars, which is essentially a commitment retainer). This engagement fee ensures we can dedicate our resources to your search and is generally non-refundable. The remaining balance of our fee is only payable upon success, i.e., once you have successfully purchased a property (or at settlement, depending on our agreement). We will invoice you for the success fee at that point, and it’s typically due around settlement time. We’ll clarify these exact terms in our initial discussions and in the written agreement, so you know the amounts and timings. We accept payment by bank transfer, and because we’re a licensed agency, we adhere to all regulations regarding trust accounts etc., when handling any funds. Rest assured, we do not expect full payment unless we’ve delivered you a property – that’s part of us standing by our service. If for some reason the purchase falls through (for example, you withdraw during cooling-off due to a building and pest issue, and then we go on to secure a different property later), we simply carry on – you only pay when a successful purchase is achieved. We aim to make the payment process as hassle-free as everything else.
Absolutely – one of the perks of using a full-service buyer’s agent is that we have a network of reliable professionals and we can coordinate a lot on your behalf. Need a recommendation for a great mortgage broker who knows how to structure a loan for a tricky situation? We’ll introduce you. Don’t have a solicitor or conveyancer? We can suggest a few who specialise in property purchases and get them talking to you. When it’s time for a building and pest inspection, we can schedule it with a trusted inspector (we have a few we regularly use who are thorough and reputable) and often attend the inspection ourselves on your behalf. If the property needs a valuation for the bank, or a quick renovation quote during your decision process, or an insurance quote – we can either organise it or point you in the right direction. Think of us as your property concierge. Our goal is to make the entire journey seamless, and that means bringing together all the pieces needed for a successful purchase. We’ve spent years vetting and building relationships with other experts – from town planners to pool inspectors – so that our clients have access to the best. You are, of course, free to use any providers you like; we don’t force you to use our contacts. But many clients appreciate that we can one-stop-shop a lot of these needs, saving them time and ensuring quality control. And again, we do this with no kickbacks or referral fees – we simply want you to have good people on your side.
We understand that circumstances can change or you might have second thoughts – maybe you get a job transfer to another city, or you decide to put buying on hold, or you’re not gelling with our process for some reason. While we certainly hope you’ll be thrilled with our service, we want you to feel comfortable. Our agency agreement (which is as per Queensland law for buyer’s agents) will outline terms for termination. Generally, you can cancel the agreement by giving us written notice. Depending on the timing, there may be provisions around retaining the initial retainer (since we’ve put work in) but not charging the success fee if you haven’t bought anything. If you decide to terminate early, we typically would invoice for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred on your behalf (which are usually minimal or none, unless we paid for a report for you or similar) and keep the engagement fee to cover the work done up to that point, but you would owe nothing further. We strive to be fair and understanding – if you were genuinely unhappy and it was early days, we’d discuss a fair arrangement (fortunately, that’s not happened before!). One thing to note: if we have found a property you love and negotiated it and you’re under contract, then you decide to back out of our agreement, the terms might specify that the success fee is still payable if you proceed to buy that property without us. That’s just to protect from very rare bad-faith scenarios. However, in a normal situation, if you didn’t end up buying at all or you want to stop the search, we’re not going to hold you hostage. We only want to continue working together if you’re confident in our value. And remember, our approach is to earn your trust every day – our 6-month commitment policy speaks to that. If it’s not working, we can shake hands and part amicably. Your peace of mind is most important.
Our fee structure is designed to be straightforward. Typically, when you decide to engage us and we sign an agreement, we request a modest engagement fee upfront (this may be a fixed amount like a few thousand dollars, which is essentially a commitment retainer). This engagement fee ensures we can dedicate our resources to your search and is generally non-refundable. The remaining balance of our fee is only payable upon success, i.e., once you have successfully purchased a property (or at settlement, depending on our agreement). We will invoice you for the success fee at that point, and it’s typically due around settlement time. We’ll clarify these exact terms in our initial discussions and in the written agreement, so you know the amounts and timings. We accept payment by bank transfer, and because we’re a licensed agency, we adhere to all regulations regarding trust accounts etc., when handling any funds. Rest assured, we do not expect full payment unless we’ve delivered you a property – that’s part of us standing by our service. If for some reason the purchase falls through (for example, you withdraw during cooling-off due to a building and pest issue, and then we go on to secure a different property later), we simply carry on – you only pay when a successful purchase is achieved. We aim to make the payment process as hassle-free as everything else.
Absolutely – one of the perks of using a full-service buyer’s agent is that we have a network of reliable professionals and we can coordinate a lot on your behalf. Need a recommendation for a great mortgage broker who knows how to structure a loan for a tricky situation? We’ll introduce you. Don’t have a solicitor or conveyancer? We can suggest a few who specialise in property purchases and get them talking to you. When it’s time for a building and pest inspection, we can schedule it with a trusted inspector (we have a few we regularly use who are thorough and reputable) and often attend the inspection ourselves on your behalf. If the property needs a valuation for the bank, or a quick renovation quote during your decision process, or an insurance quote – we can either organise it or point you in the right direction. Think of us as your property concierge. Our goal is to make the entire journey seamless, and that means bringing together all the pieces needed for a successful purchase. We’ve spent years vetting and building relationships with other experts – from town planners to pool inspectors – so that our clients have access to the best. You are, of course, free to use any providers you like; we don’t force you to use our contacts. But many clients appreciate that we can one-stop-shop a lot of these needs, saving them time and ensuring quality control. And again, we do this with no kickbacks or referral fees – we simply want you to have good people on your side.
