The economy is strong. Interest rates are low. But as comfortable as consumers are feeling about their pocketbooks, buying a home remains a big decision. What, exactly, are an agent's responsibilities toward a home buyer? What services should consumers demand? "Buyer Beware!: Insider Secrets You Need to Know Before Buying Your Home -- from Choosing an Agent to Closing the Deal" ($16.95, Real Estate Education Company), takes the mystery out of the real estate game by laying the cards on the table.

Industry insider and author Carla Cross explains what motivates agents and delivers rare insights into the home-buying process. "I want to arm consumers with the insider information they need to demand -- and receive -- the best possible representation when buying their home." Cross illustrates the importance of:

• Looking beyond the fancy car to find the right agent
• Learning your agent's commission structure and its flexibility
• Understanding the ins and outs of buyer agency
• Spotting and dealing with high-pressure sales tactics
• Employing negotiation tactics to close the deal on your terms

Packed full of money-saving "Insider Secrets" charts, graphs, and checklists, "Buyer Beware!" has the hands-on tools consumers need to enact their Home Buying Bill of Rights.

Carla Cross is a consumer advocate, Realtor, speaker, trainer, and home owner. Her 20-plus years of experience in real estate make her privy to insider information good agents should want you to know. She's written several books and training programs for real estate professionals, and has earned the distinctive National Realtors Educator of the Year Award twice.

For more information about "Buyer Beware!," contact the Real Estate Education Company at (800) 621-9621, ext. 4549.

Published: May 7, 1998

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