With buyer lined up, who needs an agent?

DEAR BENNY: I plan to sell my house and have already found a buyer and believe we can come to agreeable terms. Do I need a real estate agent or should I just retain an attorney? --Katherine

DEAR KATHERINE: I know that the real estate industry will send me letters objecting to my response, but because you have already found a buyer, I see no reason to spend 6 percent, 4 percent or even 3 percent of the sales price on a real estate commission. Any real estate attorney can assist you with the negotiations with your potential buyer, and can easily -- and clearly at a much lower cost -- prepare the purchase and sales contract. The attorney can also give you guidance throughout the entire process.

All rights reserved. This article may not be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in part or in whole, without written permission of Inman News. Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright law.