<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fastflyer:
This process is called disintermediation.
Real estate agents are probably next on the chopping block. BearX220 is absolutely right: agency transactions can be handled programatically. People do not add a lot of value as "agents."</font>
A good real estate agent is irreplaceable. The importance of finding a home that is right for you cannot be overstated.
When I bought my house, the seller paid half the commission to my agent, and half the commission to the selling agent.
You can choose not to hire an agent when you're selling your home. Although, if you want to sell your home for a good price in a reasonable amount of time, you will hire an agent.
Simple stock transactions and most travel transactions don't require agents. Real estate is just too complicated and far too important to try to cut out the "middleman".
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"It's as easy as 1, 2, C" -- Kelly,
Married With Children