An agent pushing you toward homes outside your budget is a major red flag.
Couldn’t agree more. I had one agent who kept showing me places that were “just a little stretch”—which, in my world, means “a lot of extra stress.” If they’re not respecting your budget, it’s time to move on. I always say, if you feel like you’re being sold a car you can’t afford, you probably are. Trusting your gut is underrated in this process.
If they’re not respecting your budget, it’s time to move on.
That’s spot on. I always tell people, if an agent keeps nudging you past your comfort zone, that’s a sign they’re not really listening. The right one should help you stick to your financial plan, not test its limits. I’ve seen folks get in over their heads because they trusted the “just a little more” pitch... It rarely ends well.
Honestly, I’ve always wondered—how do you tell the difference between an agent who’s just being persistent and one who’s actually pushing their own agenda? I mean, sometimes it’s a thin line. Ever had one try to “upsell” you on stuff you didn’t even want?
I mean, sometimes it’s a thin line.
Yeah, it really is. I had one agent who kept showing me houses $50k over my budget “just in case.” Felt more like they were chasing a bigger commission than actually listening to me. Persistence is fine, but when they ignore your limits, that’s a red flag.
Yeah, that's a huge pet peeve of mine. If an agent can't respect your budget, how are they gonna respect anything else you want? I get that sometimes there's wiggle room, but $50k over is just tone-deaf. Honestly, if they start pushing their own agenda instead of listening, it's time to move on. I once had someone try to convince me that "stretching" was normal—like, sure, if you want to eat ramen for the next decade...
