Although you aren't required to use a residential real estate attorney when buying, selling, or building a home, the law surrounding the process is complicated and it is often wise to at least consult with a lawyer to make sure you're informed about potential issues and roadblocks.
You can definitely submit an offer without a buyer's agent (we just did this successfully with no issues) - the listing agent should have you sign paperwork that they are not representing you, but they are just facilitating the transaction.
Buying a house without a Realtor® is possible, but you should proceed with caution. If you're thinking of going this route, we'll highlight below a few factors to consider before you tackle a real estate transaction on your own. We also share an overview of how to do it the right way if you decide to take the plunge.
REALTORS® are negotiation experts. If you buy a home without an agent, you'll have to negotiate and decide how much to offer on your own. This may cause you to unknowingly overpay for your home – or lose out on one you want.
The Brokerage then pays out to both the realtor and the buyer's realtor. In that case, if there is no buyer's realtor, the entire commission goes to the seller's agent. Generally speaking, the seller's agent ends up doing a lot of work for the unrepresented buyer.
If you buy a home without an agent, you'll have to negotiate and decide how much to offer on your own. This may cause you to unknowingly overpay for your home – or lose out on one you want.