I want to search for properties over a wide geographic area. How do I go about finding a real estate agent for this?

[rodentraiser]

OP, you might want to look for a real estate company online and see what they offer in terms of maps.

When I was searching for property, a real estate company here in the PNW had a website with a map that covered Washington, Oregon, and Idaho and you could set your own parameters and price. I would set the parameters for properties from the Canadian border to all the way down past Portland and from the coast all the way east to the state lines, and then set my price. And believe me, for my price, I looked at everything.

Once I found something I liked and thought I could afford, I tried to see it in Google street view and then actually visited the property. If it was something that looked promising, then I got an agent in on it to see if there were things that weren't mentioned, like HOA, stick built houses only, no water, etc.

That worked pretty well for me.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by HereToFarm

I'm casting a very wide net over hundreds of miles and multiple MLS zones in search for the property that is "just right" for me. I'm completely stumped on how to go about finding a real estate agent who can show me properties. Do I try to find an agent in each MLS zone? What is the best way to go about this? FYI, I own my current home and have experience with the homebuying process. I've just never done a multi-state real estate search and don't know where to begin. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

We went through the same process in 2007, looking for properties in Idaho, Montana,and Wyoming. It took us a year to zero in on two areas/four adjacent counties, and we ended up buying the property that had first come on our radar online! Rather amazing. Great advice on the preceding pages. Here is my contribution--I hope some of my experience can be applied to your situation:

Start online on Realtor.com (I prefer that to Zillow, because it is more accurate). Make it into a hobby. It got to be such an addiction with me that I kept looking for interesting properties even after we bought ours and were totally happy with it! List your "needs" and your "wants" and be prepared to compromise a bit. Don't get hung up about properties being sold and disappearing--you're just getting an idea of areas and layouts.

When you have decided on a few favorite areas, it's time to plan a trip, if you haven't been there already. Get maps with "Township and Range," that will help identify the exact location of the MLS listings, such as here: https://www.earthpoint.us/townships.aspx
And of course do Google Earth/Google Maps, Street View, and get a sense of neighborhoods. We got Forest Service maps that covered our chosen areas with T&R. We couldn't have made our selection without them.

Now pick one or two properties from each area, and make your list of needs and wants based on your extensive research, and get in touch with agents from the nearest towns. Make sure they know that you are serious, and you know what you're looking for. You just have to click on the agent listed on the property website in Realtor.com, and they'll be in touch with you. But contrary to the advice in an earlier post, I would not divulge from the start that I am in touch with several agents, just that I'm interested in several areas. If they hear you have contacted other agents, they will usually not get back to you--and especially these days when available properties are scarce in so many states. You can always let them know that you're also looking elsewhere, once you've met them.

Your agents will start sending you listings. Narrow them down to what you think you'll have time to see in person during a short trip, and arrange to travel to the area(s) and have the agent show them to you. Notice the surrounding area: Any rail lines close by? Any superfund areas? Flood plain? Construction plans? Etc. Personally I saw 30 properties in 5 days, in four counties in two states. Since you're probably going to be looking at a lot of properties in a short time, take pictures or video of each property plus the plat map, so you know which place is which! Once you have found the "right place," it's time to be extra cautious about what you're buying into, but you know that, being a homeowner.

Good luck. I realize the market has changed dramatically since 2008 when we bought our property, but the method should still be effective.

[johngolf]

Originally Posted by adjusterjack

You don't need realtors to show you homes.

Use on of the realty websites that have homes for sale and look them up by zip code. When you find something interesting you call the listing agent and arrange to see the property.

Good advice.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

If your user name is really an indication, there are realty companies that represent farms and ranches, and especially horse farms, over a large area. I keep getting "spam" from them (I suppose not really spam as it is welcome, ) at any rate, ads for their listings. There are some super nice things offered for sale in Texas.

Their listings are for fairly major properties, not a tract house on 2 acres, but depending upon what you are looking for, they might be useful.

[HereToFarm]

Thank you all so much for the advice. This really put my mind at ease and gave me some much needed direction. It's really appreciated!

[prestonnuliving]

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[jetgraphics]

Most Realtors are "listing agents," who get a cut of the sale.
You can certainly hire a "buyers agent," who will also get a cut of the sale.
But since the cut is fixed, if you hire an agent, the cut is split in two.
Thus listing agents prefer buyers who come alone, without professional assistance.
So hiring your own agent is a wise choice - it costs you nothing more.

Give your agent as much information as possible, ranging from what you really want, to what you really don't want. Remember, a "3 bdrm, 2 ba, 2 car garage" can cover a wide gamut of sizes and shapes. Some are cramped 1100 sq ft, and some are spacious 2400+ sq ft. And some have been remodeled to those specifications. I've seen quite a few houses that had their garages modified into living space.
If you have photos of houses you like, that, too, is helpful. Ditto, for houses you might hate (i.e. McMansions, Double wides, ephemeral & shoddy, "Starter homes," etc).
Other "buzz words" that may represent what you want : "Forever Home", "Autonomous building", Net Zero, Universal Access, Multi-use (built in private office), and so on.

A forever home is one that you can imagine living in for a very long time. Unlike a starter home, a forever home has everything (or almost everything) that you might want. For example, it may have a larger kitchen, more bedrooms, a backyard, easy access to public transportation – whatever you envision. The latest trend is to have universal access, suitable for handicapped and elderly - which is a wise choice, since you wouldn't wish to be pushed out of your home because of a misfortune changed your capability to climb stairs, etc. (A friend had a serious accident and broke a hip. She had a long convalescence in an uncomfortable house, and eventually sold it for a loss. Another friend was so weak from Covid-19, he spent months on his living room couch, unable to climb stairs to his bedroom.)

Folks pushing past 60-70 also need a few "upgrades" - higher chair seats (or powered lifters) when the knees start going bad. Higher toilet seats. Walk-in bathtub. Hand rails. Wheel chair clearance. Upper cabinets that pull down to the counter top. Bed lifts. Elevators & chair lifts. Some folks wisely planned for live-in care givers, and have an efficiency apartment suite ready - with separate entry. (Which can double as a "mother in law" suite, or grampa flat)

According to the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey, the monthly median cost of nursing home care in the United States is $7,908. . . Methinks you can hire professional care for far less - IF - you can stay in your own paid-off home, and offer room & board to the care giver.